VCA Canada Western Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre

Expérience fantastique: On February 26, I brought our dog Maisie in as an emergency. Right from having 2 employees come out with a gurney and lift her out of the car, I felt she was in good hands. We ultimately had to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye that day and I am so very grateful for the care and compassion shown both to her and to us. She was treated like she truly mattered and our heartbreak was not dismissed. There are no words to truly express how a devastating loss was made easier by how we were treated. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the kindness of the vet who took care of us that day, but I was in such a fog that I’m not sure I ever caught her name. We won’t forget your kindness though. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring for us and our girl as we said our final goodbyes.

Expérience fantastique: My chihuahua Sophie was a patient of Dr.Kong with cardiology and Dr.Henderson with internal medicine and they were so wonderful to us, patient and kind and thorough. They added years to Sophie’s life I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I never felt rushed in our appointments and I could ask any questions I had either over the phone or in person. At the end of Sophie’s life, the emergency/ critical care team took amazing care of her and did everything they could for her. Dr.Osborne helped with Sophie’s passing and I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive and kind experience during the hardest time of my life. Thank you to all the VCA Western team, the doctors, technicians, and front desk staff for your professionalism and kindness over the last few years.

Expérience fantastique: I had a great experience at this VCA. I was bit skeptic from reading all the recent negative reviews. But I found the receptionist helpful. Even tho they are understaffed and my dog is not a patient, they managed a vet to see my dog who was having blood in the poop. I saw people saying that this location tries to prescribe unnecessary treatments. But in my case the vet laid out all the options and sent us home with preliminary meds but also explained what might have to do in case situation doesn’t improve.

Expérience négative: Stopped in the middle of the night travelling through with a young dog in need to immediate help for an eye issue. Eye was puffy and swollen shut with yellow, green discharge. Vet performed a 3 stage ocular exam and came back fine. Was prescribed some eye hydrating gel and told it was just a lack of tear production and could be "dry eye". Confused and tired, I left. The eye continued to worsen the next 24 hours and managed to stop at a now open regular vet. One look and the dog was diagnosed with an eye infection to treat right off the bat, will be going back in to my regular vet to have the rest of the eye examined to rule out foreign objects that may have been missed by this vet. Dog has improved drastically with only two doses of antibiotics. Pretty disappointed.

Expérience négative: Beware of this hospital — they are known to overcharge. Always review the invoice carefully before making payment.

Expérience négative: Avoid this hospital if your pet has complex disease but doing fine at the moment. Our 3-year old cat, Tofu, was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure and HCM. After the second hospitalizations at VCA Western, he became extremely stressed, stopped eating and drinking, and was discharged with low body temperature and was so weak that he can’t lift his head. Tofu was not well taken care of at hospital either. His mouth was sealed by dry food from force feeding that he couldn’t open his mouth. His rectum was blocked by dry stool that I had to clean his butt and squeeze the dry poop out of his rectum so that tofu could poop. He was having running nose on the side that feeding tube was placed. The VCA western vet gave up on tofu completely, and recommended us to put him down within 1 to 2 days. The whole family was so sad when hearing about this. We took tofu home so that all family members and tofu’s little brother to have a chance to say goodbye. The little one didn’t give up and either did we. With daily medication, renal-support formula, and care at home, he slowly recovered—eating, drinking, using the litter normally, regaining 1/3 of his weight, and returning to normal body temperature. This made it clear he was not ready to be put down and it has been one month since he was discharged despite the vet saying he only had few days left. Recently, we took him back due to heavy breathing. The vet diagnosed that tofu has heart failure and fluid in the lung, and explained that there is no good treatment for his heart failure without damaging the kidney even more. They gave us the quote for sedation and x-ray for further diagnosis. We rejected their quote as we don’t see the point of risking his heart with sedation and doing more test without good treatment plan. We kindly asked to take tofu home considering how traumatized tofu was last time he was in hospital. The doctor asked us to sign the waiver since it is against her medical advice to allow us take our pet home, but as the owner, we made the decision based on what is best for our little guy. She mentioned if we insist to take tofu home, she would recommend euthanasia within 24 hours but didn’t explain to us what euthanasia was when I asked. They disregarded Tofu’s improvement with home care and said the 0.7kg weight gain is due to the fluid. We signed the form but VCA filed complaint to Calgary Humane Society the next day, claiming we refused treatment, while there wasn’t any treatment plan except for euthanasia. This was extremely stressful, especially as I am almost 40 weeks pregnant and it is already traumatic to accept that our tofu won’t have long lifespan. We were forced to scramble for a second opinion within 24 hours. Thankfully, another clinic saw Tofu and agreed that euthanasia was not appropriate at this time. She also disagreed with VCA’s diagnosis that 0.7kg weight gain is all due to the fluid. She recommended to closely monitor Tofu’s behaviour until we notice any signs of decline, and make the decision by then. This is far more reasonable recommendation and we have informed the Calgary Humane Society officer that we would be willing to follow. Our experience with VCA Western was traumatic, lacked compassion, and pressured us toward euthanasia when our cat is still having quality of life.

Expérience fantastique: If the maximum rating is 5 stars, I wish I could give them 10. No amount of gratitude can fully express how thankful I am to this incredible team—they saved my girl’s life and took such wonderful care of her. The doctors, technicians, and front desk staff are all extremely professional, patient, and compassionate. My cat, May, was hospitalized in October due to acute kidney failure caused by medication. When I first rushed her to the hospital, her creatinine level was over 1300, and her condition looked extremely grim. In those early days, I was told more than once that choosing humane euthanasia would not be considered the wrong choice. Hearing that broke my heart. She looked so weak and lifeless, and every time I visited her, I cried uncontrollably. But she is my child. I adopted her when she was only a little over two months old, and even when I moved across countries, she came with me. I couldn’t give up—not as long as there was even the smallest chance of hope. After 27 days of hospitalization, May finally came home. She is not only alive, but slowly recovering—something that felt impossible during those first few terrifying days. Throughout her stay, the doctors called me every single day to update me on her condition and talk through each step of her treatment plan. Every concern I had was addressed with patience and clarity, which brought me so much comfort during an incredibly stressful time. Extended hospitalization can be very hard on a cat, and I was only able to visit her for one hour a day. But during the many hours I couldn’t be by her side, the staff made sure she felt loved and secure. They put on cat TV for her, held her so she could watch the fish in the tank, cuddled her, whispered to her, and even gave her kisses on my behalf. These small but deeply meaningful gestures touched me beyond words. This truly is a team full of heart, and knowing May was surrounded by such care made everything a little more bearable. If your fur baby is ever faced with an emergency and you are looking for a team that is not only medically skilled but also incredibly compassionate, don’t hesitate—VCA is truly the best！

Expérience fantastique: I had a scary emergency incident with my dog and the entire staff from the reception, to the techs, to each one of the emergency and non emergency doctors were unbelievably helpful, empathetic, and very caring of my dog, myself and my girlfriend. I've never experienced such helpful, professional, and competent customer service from any business in this city. I wouldn't hesitate to to take my dog back here under any circumstance and I'd happily recommend them this clinic to any friends or loved ones. you'll be in great hands here, I can't say thank you to everyone in this clinic enough.

Expérience fantastique: We rushed our pup in for an examination believing he aspirated on a baby tooth; he was visibly agitated and appeared to be in discomfort. Dr. Staley did a thorough review and examination and reassured us that he was okay. She stated that they don’t often get to see healthy puppies and that seeing him made their day. Dr. Staley’s cheerful and forthright manner left us with a just terrific experience.

Expérience fantastique: My cat had a serious abscess in her abdomen over the last week and I was so scared, after a brief hospitalization she was released with an urgent requisition sent all Calgary vet hospitals that have internal medicine.I was trying to find the fastest way to get in to see a specialist with no luck until Twyla called me about her urgent referral to internal medicine. She became my lifeline and within hours of our call I brought best friend in. The true insanity I experienced of grief and overwhelm from her condition was extremely dis regulating, believing one minute that she’ll recover to the next agonizing over her suffering.This state was remedied by one simple call from the team at Western veterinary hospital.I had called every hospital about my urgent requisition being told it may take days of hospitalization before internal medicine would see her.Western was the only veterinary hospital that saw how desperately she needed treatment and offered a support plan to have Maggie seen first thing in the morning. The next 24 hours were the most painful of my life because my Maggie was past any interventions. The staff was compassionate but also firm about supporting me every step of the way in making the responsible decision for Maggie.my logical mind had become overwhelmed by my heart and I had become emotionally paralyzed, my heart wasn’t ready to let go but with support I was able to be present with her in her last moments.For her last day she received the best quality of care in the ICU, with so much love given to her and proper pain management. I am so grateful to all of the staff for their compassion and support on the last day of her life. Thank you Twyla for being my lifeline, for reaching out me, you gave me the courage to bring my baby in. Thank you I added a picture of my dearest friend Maggie to share with anyone who reads this.

Expérience positive: The staff (who i believe have mastered the dark art of invisibility as only one staffer ever appears at a time and only for brief encounters) took excellent care of me and my injured pup. From helping me decide if ER services were needed to explaining the treatment and then patching up puppy my anxiety level was well managed and minimal. Thanks sorcerous vet team!

Expérience négative: I ended up at Western during an emergency with my cat. I was happy that they could see him right away, however that came at a cost of his care and my wallet. I was informed that an examination was done in the back room (where I could not observe). I declined to have x-rays done after being quoted $800. I was told he was putting weight on the hind leg and not showing discomfort. Upon my arrival home this was very much not the case, he could not put weight on the hind leg and was hissing non-stop. I was able to get x-rays done at another location which included a consultation fee and medication for under $500. I was also informed by two subsequent vets that the pain control medication prescribed (codeine tablets) is not an effective treatment for pain control in cats (it turned out my cat fractured his hip so was in a significant amount of pain). A visit to another vet had him stabilized and his pain effectively controlled until he could see a surgeon.

Expérience fantastique: Last summer our girl Arlo had an allergic reaction to a pain medication and she had to be intubated and sedated. They recommended we send her to VCA for a fighting chance. VCA came and got her by ambulance and she was put into care at the VCA for about a week. It was pretty touch and go but they were able to save our girl and were also great in letting us come in for daily visits. Thanks for saving our girl ❤️

Expérience fantastique: We are pleased with the emergency services provided for our senior cat. Dr. Shandruk communicated compassionately and clearly about our situation and even called us on her day off to update us. The facility is clean, and all the staff we interacted with were friendly. You can tell that all are passionate about animal welfare. There is free parking on the left side of the building.

Expérience négative: My experience at VCA this past Sunday night/early Monday morning was nothing short of appalling. From the moment we arrived, the staff at the front desk displayed a level of unprofessionalism I have never encountered at any veterinary clinic. The receptionist reacted overly dramatic about my dog’s ringworm diagnosis which we were unable to treat due to her current heart condition and organ function, she literally ran away from the front desk without saying a word in the middle of checking us in and came back minutes later putting a gown and gloves on, after taking my dog to the back for triage she refused to come into the room while speaking with me (stood outside the door), and even complained that her shift was ending and now she had to mop the floor because of us. I would understand if this was protocol however the other 2 staff members that I spoke to that night came into the room to talk to me and did not gown/glove up - she made me feel like a complete leper at an already very emotional time even though I myself am not showing any signs of infection. After spending $3,000, I picked my dog up the following day to find her barely able to walk and limping, she was in far worse condition than when we arrived. I initially assumed it was due to sedation, but I have never seen her react this way after sedation at our regular vet. To make matters worse, we were sent home with only half of the prescribed medication and were told the rest would be delivered within 1–2 days. No one confirmed my address, and a week later, I still have not received the medication, nor did anyone bother to return my calls regarding the missing medication or the severe bloody diarrhea my dog developed the day after we got home. Because of their negligence, I had to rush my dog to our regular vet. They confirmed that the missing medication was critical for her heart condition and were able to stabilize her and provide the medication while we wait for the meds I should have had a week ago. They also tested her for the diarrhea and found zero bacteria in her gut, and started her on appropriate treatment. Unlike VCA, this vet was communicative, professional, and genuinely cared about my dog’s well-being. I cannot emphasize enough how incompetent, uncaring, and unprofessional the VCA staff have been to deal with. I trusted them with my dog’s life in an emergency, and they failed at every level—from bedside manner to follow-up care and communication. I strongly urge anyone considering VCA to think twice. You and your pet deserve competent, caring professionals—not chaos and indifference.

Expérience fantastique: Genuinely the greatest vet experience we’ve ever had. For years, we’ve lived with sleepless nights believing our girl had a heart murmur. Countless stressful vet visits left us terrified that if an emergency ever required anesthesia, it could be the last time we saw her. We spent hours upon hours researching dog food ingredients, doing everything in our power to keep Vida as healthy as possible. Today, Dr. Lyndsay gave us the greatest gift we could have ever hoped for: a perfectly healthy dog. No heart murmur. From the bottom of our hearts (no pun intended) — thank you.

Expérience fantastique: 6 years ago,in 2019, my little dog Rosie got attacked by a vicious pitbull and almost died. The owner and its pitbull fled the scene, I rushed my dog to westen hospital and Dr Germaine Hung did her surgery. She got 1 whole leg cut off but her life was saved..we both so traumatized ,I remembered Dr Hung kindness and her compassion but forgot about western hospital. I DONT know if Dr Hung still remmeber us but we always remmeber her. NOW my Rosie need to see cardiologist Dr kong, it made me realized it the same hospital..I been treated with kindness by Twyla, the specialist coordinator, she so patient with em even though I struggled with my English on the phone. Thank you all the staffs at western to help us.

Expérience négative: If I could give this place a 0 star rating, I would. My experience with VCA was nothing short of frustrating and deeply disappointing. First and foremost, they committed a serious privacy breach by disclosing my personal information to someone not listed on my file. This is a blatant violation of confidentiality and immediately raised red flags. On top of that, the billing is incredibly confusing and intentionally vague. When I asked for clarification, they blamed the lack of transparency on their system, claiming it doesn't have the ability to break things down clearly. Everything is deflected onto “system limitations”, as if that excuses the lack of accountability. It feels like they rely on this confusion to take advantage of pet owners when they’re emotionally vulnerable and focused on their sick animals. Once you've paid, it’s nearly impossible to dispute charges or get a proper explanation. I was overcharged, and instead of resolving the issue professionally, the staff became defensive and dismissive. They dragged the situation out for months, refusing to take responsibility or offer any resolution. If you do choose to go here, make sure you demand a line-by-line explanation of your invoice before paying a dime—but even then, don’t expect much clarity. Personally, I would never return and strongly advise others to avoid this clinic. Pet care should be handled with compassion, honesty, and transparency— VCA completely failed on all fronts. **Update to VCA's response below** Taking steps to uphold your privacy agreements to your client after failing to meet those obligations with me does not solve anything for me. My information was still shared with a person that is not listed on my file and you have failed to meet those privacy obligations with me. Furthermore, please note that breaking down the bill is something you should be doing before the bill is settled to ensure clarity to your client. Doing this after the bill is settled and me finding out that you overcharged us after the bill is settled does absolutely nothing for me. Also, please don't say you keep an open line of communication when your last email to me states "We will consider this file closed". You have failed in every single aspect during my visit with you, and please keep in mind this was a 5 day long visit, not a single visit. I highly urge those planning on visiting this clinic to please spare yourself and visit any other animal hospital!! They do not care for you or your pet, only for the money they are bringing in!!!

Expérience fantastique: We had the best care provided to our beloved cat Cordelia last few days ! We were very happy with the professional friendly staff and the whole team ! Specially Dr Ball, Dr Ferguson, Mykyl, Kristen & Briana ! Thank u so much for the wonderful service

Expérience fantastique: My dog got surgery here last week and everything went smoothly. The staff are all really great, and I wanted to give a shout out to the client care coordinator, Amber, who always emails or calls back right away for any questions and concerns I have about the surgery. She’s been so lovely, patient, and knowledgeable and has made the whole process much less stressful. Thank you Amber and the whole team at VCA Western ✨

Expérience fantastique: My girl Indie came here for several years to see the Cardiology Team, Dr. Kong and Cardiology Tech Mackenzie are so amazing! I always felt so supported and comforted regarding Indies heart health and how her condition was progressing. Dr. Kong always explained everything to me fully, answering all of my questions, even showing me the echocardiogram and explaining what she was seeing, along with Indies options for treatments and medications. If I ever needed help or advice between appointments, they were always there for me! A few months ago, I had an emergency with Indie and brought her in through the ER department. Dr. Belyk took care of Indie that day and I am so grateful for her. The whole team did absolutely everything they could to try and save my girl. They kept me updated the whole they worked on her, but unfortunately she passed even with all of their life saving efforts. The whole staff were so considerate, patient, understanding, and went above and beyond with their care for Indie and my whole family during this time. We never felt rushed or pressured in any way. They gave us as much time and space to say our goodbyes to my girl in a quiet, comfortable and peaceful room. Along with Dr. Belyk, the Vet Techs and Receptionists including Savannah, Sierra, and Lucas were all so kind and compassionate. Thank you so much to the entire team at Western for the amazing care you provided both myself and my girl Indie over the years.

Expérience fantastique: From the first time I called, to the coordinating referrals, to my experience in the waiting room, the front desk staff, the vet- Dr. Loo. They were all simply amazing. They turn a shitty situation (sick dog) into the best it can be. I am amazed at the professionalism, kindness, empathy, and competence. I absolutely recommend if your pet is unwell or experiencing an emergency.

Expérience fantastique: I had to bring my cat in after eating chicken wings out of the garbage. The staff and vet were very kind and understanding. Everything was dealt with very promptly and professionally. I respect how they were very empathetic towards the situation. Couldn't reccomend them enough. Thanks from Monty and I!!!

Expérience fantastique: I’ve been going to VCA Western since 2017. . We’ve had a few hiccups but any concerns have always been dealt with when brought up. I have two dogs with serious health issues and I have had to communicate with almost every department over the years. I’ve always had great experiences with the vets and their assistants. My dogs wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for their incredible, knowledgeable staff so I am always grateful for their services.

Expérience fantastique: I can’t say enough good things about VCA Western, they without a doubt saved our dogs life. Our pup suffered an emergency at another vet clinic and required sedation, and then he was transferred to VCA via ambulance. He was an incredibly complex case and we’re sure he wouldn’t have made it had he gone anywhere else. Dr Jamie, Meg and Tina were our dream team but everyone was absolutely amazing. They went above and beyond for our pup and clearly care so much about what they do, we feel so lucky that we were referred to them. 7 months on from 2 major surgeries and 8 days in ICU and our guy is thriving, thanks to the VCA Western team - we’re forever grateful.

Expérience négative: I came in tonight because my dog seemed to have something stuck in his throat. The passive aggression and indirect communication from the receptionist was not appreciated. She did offer to call other clinics for a shorter wait, but I quickly realized it was just so she could loudly shame us for “showing up without calling”.

Expérience négative: Incredibly disappointing service and experience. The phone attendant is unavailable and when you finally get a hold of her, she is rude. The hospital will write up as many tests as possible to drive up the bill and this location also does not have a good service criteria. Their call backs are also unreliable and generally the hospital is disorganized with sending phone calls all over the hospital and for days before anyone can even help you. Would not take my pet to this location of VCA. Incredibly bad service.

Expérience négative: In short: They over do it, scare you, and charge you a hefty amount. Full review: Friendly staff and prompt service, HOWEVER: I took my 11 week old puppy to them fearing he had parvo as he was lethargic and had fever and a bit of diarrhea. They tested him for parvo right away and it was negative. I should have ended my visit at that point. Instead, they took him in for a full check up. Wanted to do extensive testing. I declined and opted for fluids only and took him home to wait it out as it wasn’t even 12 hours yet since he started showing symptoms. Next day I came back to do blood work and put him on antibiotics per my family vets recommendation since he hasn’t improved. They quoted me $3500 to do extensive testing that included X-rays which require sedation. I insisted on doing only bloodwork as a first step and 24 hours hospitalization for IV fluids and antibiotics to give him a good start. They decided to do the X-rays free of charge (really nice of them) and they confirmed all is normal. They called me next morning, his temp went down from 40.8 to 39.7 and he was more active yet Dr Katherine wanted to check him into the ICU. She was trying to rush me into making the decision as the cut off time is 7:30 AM. It wasn’t even 24 hours yet since he was checked in. I insisted I’ll take him home at noon on oral antibiotics. The bill was $2200 for both visits. I also had to decline anti-nausea and pain killers since he had neither. I am not a doctor however I know if a person or even a child had fever and diarrhea you start them on meds and wait for them to kick in before you start to panic. I don’t take pain killers if I have an upset stomach myself, so it all didn’t make sense to me at all. But with being up all night and worried about your pup they end up stressing you more and making it harder to make wise decisions. When I declined the X-rays and extra meds I got a face from the tech to guilt me into agreeing but I was lucky I was texting with my own vet who agreed with my choices. A few hours after coming home he was getting better. Next day he is completely back to normal. They truly stressed me out over nothing. They asked me if I’d opt for CPR if his heart stopped. I get it, it’s a formality. But the receptionist called me twice a few minutes after I had left him with them to confirm as he didn’t notice that I had completed my choice already on the form. Not the most compassionate in his tone either during such a stressful time. Dr Kathryn’s was pleasant and nice to deal with. However when she had called me in the morning to give me an update and I decline him going to ICU she said in this case she will go check on him herself since he will now remaining under her care for the next 4 hours. I was shocked and disappointed she didn’t even check on him since she got in that morning two hours earlier, maybe she was just hoping to push him on someone else and get done with it instead of doing her actual job. Overall, it was not a good experience for me. In an emergency you want an experienced doctor who calms you down and not someone who reads you every possible scenario in the book and adds to your panic. It was nice of her to text me the next day checking in on him. I am hoping this review will help them improve their service.

Expérience fantastique: We took our cat in to Western to have an abdominal ultrasound, echocardiogram and bloodwork done. We could not be happier with the professional caring group of people that are there. A HUGE shoutout to Lindsey Strang, Dr. Maggie Williams and Dr. Lyndsay Kong. Thank you all so much for the great care you provided.

Expérience négative: I’m not sure that I’ve had a single transaction with this clinic where a mistake wasn’t made. Incorrect medication dosage, incorrect dosage marking on a syringe, incorrect top on a bottle so the syringe doesn’t fit, incorrect number of refills, multiple reminders needed over weeks to have simple forms completed. Unfortunately, this is the only cardiology centre in the Calgary area. I would be extremely hesitant to trust them with anything in an emergency, based on my experiences over the last year.

Expérience fantastique: We had a very scary health moment late at night with our dog Phoebe to the point she may not make it through the night. Dr.Campsall went above and beyond to help determine what was going on with our dog, best course of actions, and was able to quickly determine that our dog, in fact, was going to be okay. She was very balanced in her approach of being comforting without sugar coating any info, and gave us all necessary info to make the decisions on course of action without feeling pressured, rushed, or unsure. I can't speak to the entire clinic as we have only ever visited twice, but I can speak to the quality care Dr.Campsall provided us.

Expérience fantastique: I've only ever experienced professional, compassionate service. Recently, one of the Emerg Veterinarians stayed 5 hours past the end of their shift to help my pet. While there were other emergencies happening. Thank you The front end staff are comforting and make you feel at home.

Expérience fantastique: We had an amazing experience at this clinic. Our senior dog experienced a medical emergency. They got him in quickly and got his symptoms managed. He stayed over night and while he did look like he missed us when we picked him up, he was stable and continued to get better under the regiment prescribed by the vet. The doctors and the vet techs were incredibly kind, empathetic and I could tell they treated our boy very well. The front desk staff were terrific, and we felt comforted and supported through every step of this emergency.

Expérience fantastique: I bought my dog here because our normal vet was booked and there was no appt available. My vet suggested i bring her here for emergency care, i was super frantic and emotional and the staff was super friendly and they took my dog in right away while i filled out the paperwork. They gave her an of pain meds and examined her. We got the diagnosis and went home with more pain med and aftercare. I'm so happy that it helped with the pain of my dog. There was lots of parking and this place was easy to get to. Thanks to the kind staff.

Expérience fantastique: We were referred to VCA for an appointment with their resident cardiologist after they discovered a heart murmur. All of the staff I spoke with on the phone for scheduling and rescheduling appointments were lovely. It took awhile for us to get an appointment, but that was primarily because there were no immediate concerns from our vet, so we were scheduled a bit far out. No big deal at all - they seem to do well to prioritize those who need care immediately! There was lots of parking available for clients. The facility is very clean, bright and welcoming and not anything negative I would associate with a "hospital" at all. We were checked in and brought to our own waiting room - there were welcoming messages personalized for my cat, a comforting and thoughtful touch! My cat was well looked after by Mackenzie, Lindsay and Dr. Kong during her appointment, and I had lots of time and many opportunities to ask questions. We got excellent news from the appointment (totally normal heart, yay!) and couldn't be happier. The front desk staff were able to submit my claim with the pet insurance directly, so it was great to have that taken care of before I left. Thanks everyone in the VCA team!

Expérience fantastique: I took my 3 month old cockapoo here tonight after a long exhausting week. He got into some garbage that could’ve been lethal to his little body and gastrointestinal tract. I called prior and told the very kind lady, Miranda, on the phone about my situation. She placed me on hold and spoke to a vet. When she came back to the phone she gave me my options. After a short deliberation I decided to come in as I was quite worried. She greeted me and my baby with such kindness and hospitality. I was unsure of the process as it was my first time at a vet. My puppy got into very quickly and it was less than an hour wait before they brought me into the exam room. Catherine was so amazing!!! She was very informative and didn’t just tell me things to gauge me with costs. She gave me her honest opinion and made me feel like I didn’t have to spend extortion amounts of money. We decided to try and induce vomiting on him as a first step and the garbage came out. She came back into the exam room after doing so and we were both jumping for joy. I can’t say enough sweet words about my first time experience and the amazing staff that helped me. Thank you for saving my puppy and helping me have a sense of calm after a long day! 5 stars, they’re so amazing here. ❤️

Expérience négative: My cat was having painful urinary problems, repeatedly at night, so I brought him here. All they did was put him on painkillers, telling me (incorrectly and repeatedly) that they had anti-inflammatory properties as well. These did nothing for my cat, and he continued to have these cyclic flare ups. I brought him in a fifth time one night when he was screaming very loudly and vomiting. They said he was too restless and they couldn't even feel his bladder to triage him for blockage, but charged me for the visit anyway. He continued to have severe symptoms until morning, when I brought him into another vet who gave him an ultrasound and didn't even charge me, because he was in fact blocked. Now I'm in a different emergency, twelve hours later, hoping my cat doesn't die because of the greed and negligence of this clinic. To hell with all of you.

Expérience fantastique: I brought my cat in the week of a family tragedy and was completely incapable of coping with his illness on top of everything else. The staff was incredibly compassionate, understanding, respectful and kind, and worked to find compassionate funds to make our cat's emergency surgery affordable, without which he would have died. Our greatest fear was either having him die or not being able to afford to keep him alive, as he is my daughter's cat and she is currently in the hospital. Telling her of the death of her cat was unfathomable to us, and I will never be able to express our gratitude to everyone at Western Veterinary Specialists.

Expérience fantastique: I had such a great experience here today with my cat, I have nothing but positive things to say about this VCA location. Twila in the referral department was the beginning step of the process before booking my appointment here. She was a tremendous help and explained everything, was so informative, helpful and kind. Thank you! We had our appointment with Amelie Pare and her lovely intern. 10 stars to both. I was reassured that my appointment was not a rush and she listened and answered every question I had about Oscar's condition. She was so patient and so kind, so knowledgable and just truly wonderful. I am so grateful, thank you. I left feeling at ease, and that I came to the right place with my cat's megacolon condition. Looking forward to receiving top-tier care while we navigate through the next steps of getting Oscar feeling better. Thank you!

Expérience fantastique: They were so quick to take in my puppy and took such good care of him!! Our pets don't choose when to have an emergency situation and I'm super grateful they were there to help us out. Thank you Amber for helping me over the phone prior to coming in and being so supportive and thank you Dr. Shandruk for your care! I hope we don't ever have an emergency but if we do I'd definitely bring my dog back here.

Expérience fantastique: My sweet angel George passed suddenly this morning. I just want to thank the doctor and staff for being so kind to me during this difficult time. I was in complete shock and they helped me through the steps. Hug your animals tight because you never know when it will be the last. Picture of my angel George. I just recieved these beautiful flowers and heartwarming note. Wow you are all amazing. Appreciate you all! Merry Christmas ❤

Expérience négative: The vests they offer are decent, but the front desk staff at this clinic were disappointingly unhelpful. There was minimal communication, and they provided no clear information or explanations. After our dog fell seriously ill, the vet prescribed antibiotics that he needed to start immediately. We had already spent thousands of dollars on his treatment here, so we were eager to get the medication as quickly as possible. However, days passed without any follow-up, despite their promise to contact us when the antibiotics were ready. We finally went to the clinic ourselves, only to be met with indifference; the staff had no updates and seemed unwilling to check with others about the prescription. This experience felt very disrespectful and unprofessional. Ever since VCA took over most veterinary clinics in Calgary, it seems the overall quality of care has diminished. It’s frustrating to feel like patient care has taken a backseat to profits.

Expérience fantastique: Our cat experienced a serious reaction to anesthesia during a routine dental procedure, which resulted in fluid building up in her lungs. From the very beginning, the staff acted quickly and proactively with every decision, while also showing kindness to both her and us. We needed to transport her to the facility via ambulance, and the team took every precaution to ensure her safety. Dr Patterson kept us informed of her evolution and explained carefully the diagnosis and steps to follow. After three days in the ICU in an oxygen chamber, our cat was finally able to come home. We are forever grateful for the patience and care the team provided her, including their effort to pronounce her name correctly.

Expérience négative: I am very disappointed with their services. They were very lost on the phone and with the pick up / drop off. They didn't even know who was Abie, our cat, then they said she seems fine but she is clearly bleeding and has lots of inflammation. They wanted to do tons of testing but because they said she seems fine, we refused it. When I got the description of the consultation, it says "she is a very sweet dog" ?! I wonder if they really look at her cause we were not allowed to go inside the clinic. Now she is home and still in pain, we will have to find another clinic tomorrow. Very not professional..

Expérience fantastique: They were all so kind during the otherwise difficult experience of putting our dog down. Every staff member was so genuine and compassionate. They provided exceptional care and support. A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Western Veterinary for helping us through this journey. Your compassion and dedication made all the difference.

Expérience fantastique: An absolutely amazing clinic. I brought my cat here due to an injury and the staff were all so very kind to me, and everyone else that stepped foot in their doors. They were SO busy, and still put on a smile and helped everyone with such grace and so much empathy. A special thank you to Dr Kathryn who was thorough with what she did to help my fur baby, Cheyenne the lovely receptionist who calmed me down on the phone, and Abby for going above and beyond with explaining my cats care plan with such a positive, uplifting, light hearted spirits. I genuinely appreciate this team SO much and would absolutely recommend this facility to anyone who cares about their pet. Thank you guys again x

Expérience négative: We are regulars with vca however I am less than impressed with our recent experience with this clinic. Our dog was in for surgery but given no preventative care which utilmately led to infection and another trip to our vet , really disappointed that after spending thousands 0f dollars a simple prescription for antibiotics was not given.

Expérience négative: Literally a LAST RESORT PLACE. If you have any other option/vet go there. Went there and said the needed tests would be 1000+. As we were unable to pay that we decided to go home and monitor one more night to be sure. All of a sudden the veterinarian said he could take off about $100. We declined again opting to monitor another night. Few days later went to another went and the same tests were only $300. Would discover through friends/colleagues that they do this and focus more on profit. Definitely not an ethical place at all

Expérience négative: Do NOT go here! Extremely predatory with billing, and demands of unnecessary diagnostics. I took my dog here last year for a sinus infection, they refused to prescribe any unless we underwent a $6500 CT scan. When we picked him up his face was bloody and they said "he did it to himself". Posting now due to recent news story about VCA's unscrupulous business practices. Would NOT recommend

Expérience négative: I DO NOT recommend this vet hospital for cats. In addition to being extremely noisy, constant slamming doors, full of barking dogs, and disorganized rude staff, the facility is not working in best interest of thorough feline care. If you have a cat in a severe illness state or injury it is not a good clinic to choose. They will keep asking for your visa # also - to add on every little thing to your billing when you are in a state of distress. Tactless service. Go elsewhere. Money grabbers...

Expérience fantastique: Evelyn passed yesterday - at home surrounded by those she loves and who will forever love her. That was only possible because of the dedication of the amazing veterinary staff at Western. Dr Williams provided us with the best care. She not only clearly has amazing expertise, she also cares deeply for her patients, human and pet. The entire oncology team clearly loved Evelyn and provided me with compassion at every turn. The emergency team also provided us with amazing care. I will forever recommend Western both for specialist care and emergency services. Thank you!

Expérience fantastique: My dog was not well during the long weekend and I was nervous about whether I needed to take him to the emergency vet or wait until Tuesday. I called Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre and received reassuring advice and was walked through the process and wait times. I took him in and he was seen almost immediately and the vet and tech took the time to answer my questions, ensure I was happy with the care plan, and explain his care instructions. We were back home within an hour. All of the staff were kind and reassuring, and even though he was nervous and scared when we arrived, my dog left happy and wanting to play with the staff. Big thank you for taking such good care of both of us and putting my mind at ease!!

Expérience fantastique: When our dog was first diagnosed with his cardiac condition by our local vet, we weren’t sure if it was worth it to see the cardiology team at Western Vet - but we are really happy that we did. Throughout his whole diagnosis and treatment process, the team was a strong shoulder to lean on. Every step of the way, Dr. Cung and her team were cognizant of our goals and financial situation and were willing to work with us to find practical solutions. It has been several months since we lost our beloved dog, but the impact that the team at Western Vet had on us is still noticeable. We feel lucky to have had them during the process and are thankful for their support.

Expérience fantastique: The communication from the staff was great and everyone was very nice. The surgeon thoroughly explained the procedure my cat needed. The vet techs were knowledgeable and kind. My only complaint is that I was given no discharge information until pickup after the surgery. Due to the nature of his surgery, my cat needs to have strict rest for 8 weeks and I had to make a lot of changes to my home to accommodate this. I wish I got the information sooner to make preparation a bit easier. Overall, I appreciate the communicative staff and prompt response rate after the referral and quick turn around for surgery. Overall, a nice space with great staff. Thank you! Edit: Came back with my other cat in an emergency situation. Staff were smart, prompt, and kind to me and the client care specialist was extremely sweet in letting me know my decisions for my cat were right and okay. The only downside is lack of follow up from staff after my visits here. They never check in to see how my cats are doing after the fact. As well, the wait times for urinalysis and urine culture were really long. Edit: Another emergency visit w my cat - feeling like a pro here. Follow up with Doctor Alex was excellent and I’m happy with my cat’s treatment. Thanks Western vet.

Expérience fantastique: I can’t speak highly enough of the care that the staff at the VCA took with our cat, Barnaby. He had a known condition that unfortunately escalated quickly. We went to the clinic on a long weekend and were able to get Barnaby into care right away. The ER vet we spoke to was compassionate but honest, and outlined several options. We were able to visit our cat and ensure that he was comfortable throughout the weekend. They kept us updated throughout his stay and then set us up with the cardiology team when Barnaby had stabilized and could be brought home. Every single member of the cardiology team were so kind and thoughtful at every point of contact. They encouraged us to ask questions and answered emails when we had questions about medication. We were set up with drug regiment and regular check ups, but knew that we were looking at keeping Barnaby comfortable for as long as possible, rather than a cure. We will always value the extra time that we were given with him, and know this is because of the attention he received from the cardiology team. When Barnaby started to decline again, we met with another ER vet who was also incredibly kind and clear. We had a final visit with the cardiology team and it was clear that we had reached the end of Barnaby’s journey. While it was a heartbreaking decision and process, it was very peaceful and we were reassured that it was the right choice. We never felt pressured or guilt, and appreciated that they discussed the cost and value of every point of treatment. Everyone we interacted with from the team in the front office to the veterinarians were so incredibly supportive and honest and truly worked to help us through this process. I would recommend them in a heartbeat. I spent time in their waiting room and watched the team deal with several people who were very upset and saw that they treated everyone with respect and compassion. I cannot thank them enough for how much they helped the end of Barnaby’s life be as gentle and comfortable as it was.

Expérience fantastique: Our dog recently experienced complications from a routine surgery and required immediate critical care to survive. Right from the transport to Western to the time he was released a week later the care was exceptional. Dr. Hyatt and Dr. Lange were caring, considerate, informative and calming every time they phoned with updates and suggestions for his continued care. From the front desk staff to others on the veterinary team, everyone was amazing at Western; and truly helped ease a very stressful time for us. I would give 10/5 stars if I could.

Expérience fantastique: THANK YOU Dr. Lavallee and the entire team at Western! Our puppy Alaska was admitted 2 months ago because of a broken femur. The surgical treatment proposed by vets at a different clinic meant she would have some lingering side effects for the rest of her life. Dr. Lavallee proposed a surgery that could be extremely successful and she would recover fully. Even though there was a high risk of failure we decided to go with it. Everything went well and after 2 months of strict rest she’s made a full recovery! She’s back to her usually silly self. We’re forever grateful!!

Expérience fantastique: Yesterday Richard and I took Phaedra to you when it was clear she was acutely ill. You received her and us with gentle care. We really appreciated the manner in which you all gave us support and room to grieve and say goodbye.Thank you for your sensitive support. It was very kind of you to send us flowers today as we mourn the loss of our precious Phaedra. Thank you all.

Expérience négative: Absolutely appalling customer service! This business is clearly driven by profits, not pet care. We paid for tests, but when the results came in, we were told we needed to schedule another consultation (at a cost of $250!) just to receive the results of the tests we already paid for. The vet refused to discuss the results over the phone, citing the need for an in-person conversation. This place is a joke, with rude staff and constant guilt trips. Do yourself and your pets a favor and take your business elsewhere.

Expérience fantastique: Yesterday our 13-year-old healthy shepherd suddenly became seriously ill, which resulted in euthanasia that evening. Doctor Laura and her team were calm, informative, compassionate and supportive in making this difficult decision. We were able to spend some time with Jake, cuddling and reassuring him. We really appreciate the flowers! We have a second old dog and are sure that we will come back to VCA in an emergency.

Expérience fantastique: Our precious girl Majik had a heart murmor which eventually resulted in her going into heart failure. The cardiologist (Dr. Kong) and her team did an excellent job of treating her condition with knowledge, kindness and understanding, allowing us to have a little extra time with her. As a senior dog with a heart condition, she developed other health issues which ulitimately ended her life. The compassion of the staff who had to deal with the aftermath of her passing, was positively outstanding. I cannot commend the staff at this vet clinic enough and I highly recommend taking your pet to this exceptional vet hospital when required. We are eternally grateful that Western Veterinary Centre was there when we needed them.

Expérience fantastique: I’ve had such an amazing experience with the team at Western. My dog ended up having a fast spreading stage 4 nasal tumour and had to have a rush CT and radiation with Dr. Sweet, Sydney and Vanessa. Rigo enjoys ever visit and check up, and is doing great. He would have died without their help, so I’m incredibly grateful.

Expérience fantastique: Three years ago I was told by other places, Oliver’s only option was to be euthanized. I’m so glad I took him to Western VCA to get a third opinion. They truly had his best interest at heart and did everything they could to save him. The veterinarian even brought her own dog in to be a live donor if needed during the procedure as he had very little blood left to lose. He is still being monitored through their internal medicine team and he is thriving. The team has always been open and honest with pricing and options. I can’t thank them enough for being them and loving the animals that come through their doors like their own ❤️

Expérience fantastique: My kitty Peta was quite ill and needed a few visits to the ER, with the last visit resulting in euthanasia. The VCA front desk clerks, RVTs and vets were all very friendly and compassionate, and helped guide us to make the difficult decision to put Peta down. They allowed us adequate time to spend with him and allowed us to hold him while he passed. The next day they sent us flowers which just made me burst out in tears again but was really thoughtful. Thank you to the VCA western staff for your care of our baby Peta.

Expérience négative: We had a very poor experience. Our cat was having sudden difficulty breathing so my daughter and I took him in late on the Friday evening. The lack of informative care, the condescending vibes, and robotic feel left me wanting to take my cat elsewhere from the get go. I work in healthcare so I would have expected the ER vet to explain the findings he made through his assessment but the only information I got was a statement of his 2 presumptive likely causes. It felt like I had to coax information out of the vet like what did you hear upon auscultation? What kind of assessment did you perform to bring you to these presumptions ? I was just told he’d need to stay 48 hours and was settled with some medication in an oxygen chamber, and diagnostics would take 2 hours to be read. Got an invoice within 2 minutes stating a $2000 deposit with estimate of up to $4600. I had to ask 3 times to see my own cat. He was doing 10x better, and After discussion on phone with my husband we decided to take him home so we signed an AMA form, took my cat and the meds home to give and monitor & fully prepared to take him elsewhere if he deteriorated. It felt as if only then was I being given information about my cats condition like they were scrambling to keep me there. , “ I don’t care how much this hospital makes” is what the vet said - not sure where that came from but I wanted to leave even more… I could feel the judgement from the front staff and assistant while I was leaving. This definitely felt like a “power over” situation. The next morning a police officer showed up at my door she felt sheepish for being there. She asked a few questions saw that my cat was breathing and doing okay and left. ( They don’t even do this for humans when they sign AMA out of a hospital ). When he was home He was calm & comfortable , cuddly, eating, drinking, using the litter box and took the meds. He was himself for one last day. He started to look uncomfortable the next morning so we took him into ANoTHER hospital where they were amazing , listened and did an ultrasound immediately and explained very thoroughly what they saw and did. It turned out there were multiple underlying issues. This vet agreed with us that putting him down was the right decision and never pushed us to that decision nor did she push us to get more diagnostics done. Maybe she knew. We were lucky to spend one last good day with him whereas we may not have in the previous circumstance. The next day a peace officer from the humane society showed up at my door with a staff member from VCA glaring at me the whole time while I bawled my eyes out .. like what? As if this wasn’t traumatizing enough. I would never recommend this place and now I’ve heard from numerous people that it has a poor reputation. Too bad I didn’t have time to research that in my panic to get my cat good care. He was so very loved and had a great life no matter what a brand new vet and their staff who spent a whole couple hours with him thinks.

Expérience fantastique: Winston was a patient with Dr. Sweet. He was 14 years old. He had stage 4 nasal and lung cancer, diagnosed Oct 2023. Winston was given 2 - 4 wks to survive in Oct 2023 or the alternative. We saw Dr. Sweet and under her care we gave Winston a fighting chance and underwent radiation therapy. He survived until Mar 28 2024. During this time the aftercare he received was phenomenal. Dr. Sweet and team went above and beyond our expectation. She made time for us with questions we had. Dr. Sweet even after hours would help us and guided us. He was truly under the best care possible. Even through his last breath, she was compassionate and treated Winston like he was her own. We brought Winston home on Apr 02. We received flowers from Western Vet which was incredible. Even after the fact Winston was gone, he/us were remembered. I will never forget the level of care from beginning to end we received. We are so thankful, every step of the way they were in his corner. Simply no words the level of excellence, compassion and care we received.

Expérience fantastique: We were able to talk to the oncologist within a few days of being referred, and booked an in-person appointment a week later. They answered all of our questions, and we were able to get the supplies we needed so that we could do a follow up in a month instead of two weeks, due to distance (we live over an hour away). We're very grateful for their time and expertise, especially Dr. Williams. We are hopeful that the treatment will help our kitty, but understand the limitations of cancer treatments; in our case, we know it will not be curative. Thank you for giving our kitty a chance to fight back against her cancer, and hopefully give us a few more months together! Pictured: sick kitty still feeling well enough to give her buddy a bath.

Expérience fantastique: Very caring staff. Your pet is in good hands with the lovely humans that work here. They take care of your furry companion with as much love as they show their own pets. Highly recommend.

Expérience fantastique: Thank you for looking after our beautiful boy Sniper. We are grateful for the vet and the rest of the team that was patient and kind through the saddest moment of life losing our precious Golden. We we're away when he passed away, and they make sure we came back and were able to hug him for the very last time. Thank you for all the generous support and the beautiful flower condolences.

Expérience fantastique: Though expensive, we received excellent care and had the pleasure of two veterinary students assist my cat’s case. Thank you so much to Megan and Kianna. You both did amazing I appreciate all the kindness and hard work you put into making my boy comfortable. <3 Ps: sorry to the vet tech who he got sick on :(

Expérience fantastique: Amazing help as usual for my big Dane pup! Everyone was so sweet, so compassionate and they even donated compassionate funds from their hospital to help with my low income to help relieve me of some of the vet cost. This is my go to location also because I live very near by

Expérience fantastique: I had to unfortunately put my baby boy down my 18 year old kitty and they were so sweet and caring towards me and my family they helped make the process easier and I made some requests and they were able to do it I would honestly go here again and recommend them to anyone

Expérience fantastique: Was here on Jan 5th, I’m usually at the north vca location. I had my sweet Boston terrier who was 11 years old developed a tumor inside his heart over a year ago. They showed the test they where going to run and very thorough finding what the issue was with his breathing. Unfortunately the tumor had grown and while his heart health was good in regards to leaking, the cancer was spreading and pushing against things making it difficult for him and they let me know chemo treatment likely wouldn’t work in time to save him. Sadly had to say goodnight to him there and the staff was very friendly and patient giving me as much time as I needed to say goodbye and a private room for him. I can’t say good enough things I’m very glad I brought him here and it made the most out of a sad situation. Thank you very much to the team there, and who ever designed the systems and processes of the business.

Expérience fantastique: I appreciate the staff and the communication at this location. We returned home on NYE and had to make an emergency visit at 1am. They got us in right away and kept us well informed on our dog’s status. I felt like they provided the appropriate treatment and that the service received was worth the price.

Expérience fantastique: Not quite the way we wanted to spend Christmas Day but thankfully the team at VCA were there to help our Dane puppy! We thought our little guy broke his front leg but thanks to Dr. George and the VCA team Archie was diagnosed with a Staph infection and not a break at all. Again, thanks the VCA team and the resources available at the emergency clinic, they were able to diagnose and treat Archie immediately getting the infection under control and avoiding damage to his leg. VCA also bills directly to Trupanion making the process convenient and worry free knowing our pets will receive the absolute best care and cost is of no consequence to us. Thank you VCA and thank you Trupanion!!

Expérience négative: As a breeder I wanted to avoid this place . Nurse Bernadette and Dr Lavalee were the worst experience . They overcharge and underdeliver. Ask for the documentation records after every visit , we received ours yesterday and there were multiple mistruths charted by Dr Lavalee about us and our puppy . You can feel the toxic environment as soon as you enter. They play on your emotions until their bank account is full and then afterspending $12000 and wanting to move services they tell you that you are neglectful. Ask for your chart after every visit. We are current dealing with the Regulatory body that governs this surgeon and facility !

Expérience fantastique: Thanks to all the amazing staff at Western Vet, you truly have an amazing staff who care deeply about animals…unfortunately our little Tinkerbell had to leave us for the rainbow bridge. If we had never transferred her to the amazing Internal medicine team we would have lost her months ago (I will always see the ambulance and the scratches on the right side, knowing that the damage was to save our little girl). Thanks for caring and compassion…Chris and Elizabeth Burton

Expérience fantastique: It's expensive but it's worth it. My beloved cat Mano survived an extra year after he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy thanks to the staff at the clinic... He was put down there, too, and we were happy to spend several hours hugging him ❤️

Expérience fantastique: Thank you for looking after Zelda. I am amazed by how kind and communicative the staff were during this difficult time. They were communicative despite how busy they were. They gave me updates every step of the way and went in detail all the options we had available. When it was time to say goodbye they were so gentle and kind to us all, it meant a lot. The people here are good people who care about animals - every single staff member I interacted with. I can’t thank you all enough.

Expérience fantastique: We had the most amazing experience here. We had to put our dog down and everyone was so kind, patient and understanding. We could not have asked for a better experience, despite the circumstances. Thank-you all for your care.

Expérience positive: Recently had to bring in our cat in an emergency situation. Dr. Longmore was the veterinarian on that day and gave excellent care to our cat. Dr Madden then took over care as the primary veterinarian and was absolutely awesome! Both doctors kept us informed, provided us with detailed medical information, timely updates and provided compassionate care. Both doctors, definitely a 5 star rating. Arrival and check in experience was disappointing ( admin staff, nurse, ? vet techs)- very business like, less than friendly, abrupt and impersonal. This was experienced in all interactions with support staff. Very disappointing and surprising considering they are in the animal care field. Our pet was in for emergency care and it was a difficult time for her and us and the lack of compassion was definitely unexpected and again very disappointing. I would recommend the doctors but the rest need improvement.

Expérience fantastique: Had an emergency visit here recently. Wait time was reasonable. Dr. Patterson and team were excellent to deal with. Communication was timely, they let me know of delays. They explain everything clearly - options, procedures, costs, timeframes, etc. They are super friendly, helpful and patient. I can't thank them enough for making a crumby situation easier to deal with.

Expérience fantastique: This vet has always been so amazing, they are genuinely caring and compassionate. I've been to a lot of vets with different issues and I've never encountered any that are as understanding and accommodating as this particular VCA location. They are so helpful during emergency visits and display an above and beyond level of humanity that makes them superior to anywhere else I've gone for veterinary care.

Expérience fantastique: Our rabbit, Bodhi, was brought into the care of VCA Western last night. While it was unfortunately time to say goodbye, we will never forget the kindness and compassion provided by staff. They treated Bodhi with the utmost respect and listened to every story of his mischievous adventures. He had a grand life and was given the peace by staff that all animals deserve at the end. We will be forever appreciative.

Expérience fantastique: We were met with kindness and compassion when we brought our sick hedgehog here to get looked at last night. Unfortunately it was time to for us to say goodbye to him but with all the staff being so understanding and kind it made it a bit easier to go through. I can’t say enough amazing things about this place and I am really thankful that we ended up going here when we needed to. Thank you so much to all the staff.

Expérience fantastique: I cannot say enough good things about every person I dealt with today. They had us in quickly, they were sincere and went over and above to help me with my situation in so many ways. They provided me with several options and were not pushy at all and really did so much more than they asked of me. I will not hesitate to bring our animals back here. Top quality care and top notch staff. I am so very appreciative. Thank you!

Expérience fantastique: I could not be more grateful for Dr. Kong and the whole Cardiology team for the care that my little boy Champion received. I had wished that we have been referred to them sooner, they did all that they could. The support we received is truly incredible. Unfortunately, my little boy passed on. Despite being just seen by them once, we received a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a card with a heartwarming message. Our local vet who has been taking care of my boy for years didn’t even bother sending out a sympathy card. That speaks volume about how Western Vet deeply care for their patients. We are from out of town and I wouldn’t mind doing the drive if it means getting the best care for my boys at Western Vet. Thank you. ❤️

Expérience négative: Booo is all I can say. 11 pm July 27, 2023 we tried to call ahead of our arrival to the 10 Ave SW location, no answer. We arrived at the location, there were 2 vehicles in the parking lot. I assumed they must not be busy and hoped to get our dog in right away. I went to the front door and I was buzzed into the clinic. I explained to the woman at the front desk that our dog was in serious distress. He could not get up and could not walk. He was in obvious pain and was panting very heavily. He had diarrhea, and had vomited. I was told that there was nobody that could possibly see us so I would have to take him to another one of their clinics. I found this incredibly cruel as we had a very sick dog. How disgustingly uncompassionate, and unacceptable is that from a 24/7 emergency animal hospital is that. The woman was so matter of fact that there would be no service for our sick dog. Well I called the other VCA 24/7 emergency location and was told that it would be 2-3 hours of wait time. No asking about if our dog was in distress or if it was an emergency. I can not believe how bad this was. Worst service that I have ever experienced from a vet service. Terrible. I have had dogs my whole life so I have dealt with many veterinarians. 99% have all cared about animals but I guess there is one percent that is reserved for our experience last night. We called Alpine veterinary emergency hospital on McLeod Trail. They were awesome and helped us get our bulldog on the road to recovery. Alpine displayed what should have happened in the first place. I will never take any pets to VCA emergency animal hospital ever again. Alpine has my business of caring for our pets.

Expérience fantastique: My cat had to be put to sleep here on Saturday night. I couldn’t be there with her as I was out of town but the care and compassion from Dr Kathryn Shandruk and Jana was absolutely unparalleled, and I’ve had a lot of vet experiences. I felt so taken care of, they were very communicative and I could tell she was in the best hands possible. I do not wish the experience of losing a beloved pet on anyone but the team here is the absolute best. I’m so grateful she had such a compassionate hand in her final hours.

Expérience négative: My dog was stung by a bee and was in distress so I brought her to this clinic. I was fearful she was having an allergic reaction and it could be very serious so I ignored my better judgement (I would normally take her to a 24 hour clinic in Fish Creek that has a much better reputation). They denied my dog pain management care because they said they couldn’t tell us the cost because their computers were down. They refused to let us leave to seek care from another vet, screaming that we couldn’t leave without paying. Their computers were down, we had no way to pay and they would not accept us leaving payment details so they could process payment when possible. They essentially held us hostage until their computers were fixed. I have always felt like VCA cares more about profit than pet care, but I couldn’t imagine having as horrific an experience as this was for us. I believe we were there for over 4 hours, much longer than necessary. My dog was in pain and treatment was delayed for the majority of that time. I am incredibly regretful that I ever put my dog in this situation and I will NEVER be back.

Expérience positive: People, who work there, are very nice, polite and friendly. Thanks for giving my cat help (which wasn't necessary btw, but I was very scared that day). BUT. My cat always enjoys going outside for a walk, even after visiting vet clinics and plane flights. But after that one he is so scared to go out, probably thinking that we are going there again. He is really smart, so I believe he made a connection with a last "walk". I have never seen him THAT stressed and I'm wondering, what doctors did with him there and how they treated him, especially noticing how he reacted when they approached him when we were on our way from the hospital. He was scared and hissing. You can't walk to the part of the hospital where they keep animals, so you can't check, how they are there and what and how doctors treat your pet. Well, now my cat really scared of going onside, crying and doesn't want to walk anymore, and even scared of his beautiful permanent vet. I can't tell if there was something, obviously, I didn't see anything, I wasn't with the doctors, but I can only judge by the way my cat acts. Hope, we will avoid emergency next time.

Expérience fantastique: I can't say enough good things about the vets and techs at the clinic. They made the most difficult situation imaginable as comforting as possible. Our dog developed a brain tumour while in the care of a friend when we were travelling. The clinic went out of their way to work with our friend, contact us via FaceTime, explain what was happening and options available. Unfortunately Suunto had to be put down but we were able to find a place with a cell connection where we could see her and say our goodbyes. Thank you also to the counsellor who called later to see how we were doing.

Expérience fantastique: The staff were very accommodating when I was mourning the sudden loss of my beloved rabbit. They were very kind, and although I was not there at the time of emergency, they all helped walk me through the situation and tried everything to keep him alive while my partner was taking care of it. I would recommend VCA Western to anyone with critters. Thank you for your support.

Expérience négative: I had a terrible experience here. Dr. Alex Soengkono was the worst doctor to see here. We came in with our cat with blood in urine. She did a quick scan and diagnosed with chronic urinary tract disease. Her response to this was to suggest seeing our OWN vet in a few days (nothing really specified as to when) IF he doesn’t improve with conservative management. However, WHILE suggesting a urine and X-ray COULD be done she didn’t deem it important that night and thought our own vet could do it and wait, WHICH WAS HER SUGGESTION. To top it off, her report states WE declined it, which our vet was of course not happy about. We were following her advice and when did try to chat about it, she left the room in a hurry before anything else was discussed and got her tech to give us discharge information and a “quote” without and medical implications provided. Completely appalled by the service by her and her lying on legal documents. I will be lodging a formal complaint. Providing education is important, but so is providing correct medical advice which was not done. And now our cat is unfortunately doing worse.

Expérience fantastique: 5 stars are not nearly enough ! This team is beyond incredible ! They are extemely good at what they do, nice, compassionate and caring. My dog atr a rock and it git lodged in his small intestine. They helped us so incredibly much and fast. The whole team went above and beyond in the care ot my Nanuq. Excellent surgeons, everyone super friendly. I have never before had a team at a vet clinic take such loving and great care of any of my pets. And honestly I will not ever go anywhere else for emergencies or surgeries that are required. They made sure to update me on Nanuq, all promised follow up calls were made and everything was explained so well. And every one I spoke with just seemed to genuinely care so much about the well-being of my sweet pup. Wish they also were a regular Vet, I would definitely drive the 35 minutes one way anyday to have those amazing people take care of my pets health. I just can not praise the whole team enough. Thank you to all the staff there ! You guys are angels for how you care for the pets and how you treat the owners. I wish I could give you way more stars ! Best Vet team I ever met. Thank you for all you guys do !! I am forever grateful to the whole team.

Expérience fantastique: I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for the care we received today. We experienced the death of a pet today and wanted to make sure our other fella was okay. Everyone was so compassionate - from the first phone call, to checking out with our (very reasonable) bill. Compassionate and professional - great combo for distressed families. God bless.

Expérience négative: We took our cat here while she was in active labour because our concern was that she couldn’t feed them because we suspected she wasn’t producing milk. We went there with that primary concern. When Dr. Radu spoke to us the first thing he said to us was there was a chance she would need a c-section to deliver the rest after she had only been in labour for a few hours. He told us that there would be a 50% chance that she would need one and if we refused care from them she could die. The vet in the morning completely contradicted what he said and said it would be better for her to deliver the rest at home. So we were definitely scared into leaving her at the vet by Dr. Radu to milk more money out of us. Another problem is that they told us she was producing milk when she wasn’t. Which in turn resulted in all of our babies dying. I would never go here again. I’m heartbroken from my loss and feel completely used by this vet. Go anywhere else if you can.

Expérience fantastique: I honestly can't say thank you enough. My dog has chronic kidney disease and recently declined drastically. He had to be hospitalized for a few days...BUT I knew he was in great hands The reception staff...techs...vets were all amazing..the communication was always there. My daily updates and pics were so appreciated. We have alot of follow up appts but they got my boy home to me and feeling better. Thank you all for the amazing work you do and the compassion you have

Expérience fantastique: I took my dog in last night she was very sick and I was very stressed!! They took her in right away and gave her great care she is home now and doing better. The staff here are absolute amazing!! While they were working on my dog I saw multiple people come in with other emergencies and they handled it so well. They work very hard and care lots!! My bill was expensive but not as high as I expected it to be. Any emergency with an animal is going to cost and I was expecting it to be much higher. I can’t thank them enough the veterinarian was amazing and explained everything so well, I wish I remembered her name. You all are amazing thank you!!

Expérience fantastique: Had to take my cat in around 10 pm. The nurse with VCA emergency on the phone was great for assessing urgency. The wait at the clinic wasn't too bad but obviously it's a triage process so could have got a good night. Space was clean and staff were very friendly. It's obviously more expensive than a regular vet visit, but when your animal is in crisis it's nice to have a 24 hour option.