VCA Canada Vancouver Animal Emergency and Referral Centre

Expérience fantastique: Each staff member we interacted with was so kind, empathetic, and helpful. They really put as at ease during an emergency and we knew our dog was in great hands. Really appreciated the whole team’s efforts!

Expérience négative: Waited 5 hours to even see a vet. After I agreed on x-rays I waited another 2 hours to even get sedation started, then they told me it would actually be another 3 hours so I should leave my pet and come back at 3am. I only got updates when I had to go hunt someone down to ask. I ended up leaving and finding a different vet after 7 hours of waiting. Pricing was triple that of the different vet I ended up using. They’re clearly understaffed and their communication during waiting is HORRIBLE. Would not recommend unless you can somehow get an appointment. Even then the vets diagnosis was not very well done, the alternative vet was even confused by their treatment plan

Expérience fantastique: We are very grateful to Dr. Mantovani for her compassion and care in diagnosing our dog, Buddy, with liver and spleen cancer. Her guidance gave us precious time to be with him and focus on comfort rather than suffering. Sadly, Buddy passed away on the way to the emergency hospital few nights ago, but we take comfort in knowing he was loved until the very end. We also want to thank Julie at the front desk for her kindness and support during such a difficult time. It truly meant a lot to our family.

Expérience fantastique: My partner and I brought our cat in for an after-hours emergency. Shaine was honest and forthcoming with us, he saved us money and didn’t push us to do unnecessary procedures. Trustworthy veterinary office for anyone unsure of what to do.

Expérience fantastique: I just wanted to take the time to share what an amazing staff and medical team you all are. When I read the reviews I called and was met with kindness as I asked the awkward questions about the reviews. I have a senior(almost 15 years old) french bulldog that was in need of eye surgery and a lump removed off his leg. We wanted a hospital to perform it as he would have access to the best care 24hours. When we arrived for our appointment we met with the surgeon for his leg first and then the optometry department. Throughout the whole time we felt taken care of and our concerns were answered without judgement. (I'm a worried fur baby mom with a list of questions. Well it was a success he survived what will be the last surgery he has. They treated us with empathy kindness and explained everything in detail. We are so happy with how things went and Choncho's recovery has been smooth sailing. So thank you from my whole heart for taking such good care of Choncho. When reading reviews remember everyones experience is their own and these are high stress environments. Yes they all are extremely good at their job. Mistakes can happen as we are only human. Or sometimes it is time for our beloved babies to cross the rainbow bridge. I'm really happy I did not let anything change my mind about VCA. Our experience was as stress free as it could have been.

Expérience négative: I would not recommend anyone to come here. I’m extremely disappointed in the care my dog and I received. I brought my dog last month because he vomited blood. The doctor recommended a treatment plan that they said is the “golden standard,” which included a urinalysis. What they failed to explain was that this particular test is both invasive and often inconclusive. They later told me that the crystals they found in his urine could simply be from the sample being stored in the fridge, and the blood could have been caused by the urinary catheter itself. They then recommended collecting a free-catch urine sample instead, since there was more blood in the sample than usual. It was frustrating and concerning that the hospital suggested such an invasive procedure when a less risky option was the better choice from the beginning. We later did a free-catch exam with our family vet, and the results showed his urine to be perfectly fine, which also could mean that the first urinalysis caused my dog more harm than normal, since the VCA test found more blood than usual. Before agreeing to let my dog stay overnight for 24 hours, the veterinary tech showed me the estimate and asked if I planned to pick him up at 6 AM. When I said yes, depending on how he was doing, she warned me that I might be charged extra because mornings are very busy and the hospital charges by the hour. I found this odd. It didn’t feel right that pet owners might be charged more simply because the hospital is understaffed. When I saw my dog the next evening during visitation hours, I brought up this concern again with the doctor and tech, and they assured me I would not be charged extra, which I thought was more fair. The next morning, the hospital called to say my dog was improving and ready to go home. I rushed over, but when I arrived, the tech told me he had been having constant diarrhea that morning. She also said she had been told I was adamant about taking him home within 24 hours. I explained that this was a misunderstanding, because why would I want him discharged early if he wasn’t ready? She reassured me he just needed rest and that the doctor said he was well enough to go home. She also mentioned the only reason to keep him there would be to avoid me having to clean up his diarrhea myself. Once we got home, his diarrhea worsened and I noticed blood in his stool. I didn’t know if the bleeding was internal, from straining, or from the rash caused by the awful shave he received at the hospital, which contributed to an infection. I emailed and called hoping to speak with a doctor or tech. Eight hours later, the only response I received was that I needed to bring him back in because the doctor was too busy and because I had “refused” their recommendation to keep him longer, which was not the case. It’s extremely heartbreaking to experience this level of miscommunication and lack of accountability. Seeing my dog being extremely sick is overwhelming enough, but their lack of care and the way they shifted the blame onto me added unnecessary stress and frustration. It was a truly traumatic experience. I will never take my dog back here.

Expérience négative: Our puppy was referred here and was prescribed eye drops. Today, he managed to get the bottle of eye drops and ate the bottle, possibly consuming some of the medicine. We called them to ask if the medication was toxic when consumed and if we needed to bring him in for an emergency consultation. The front desk person told us she wasn't sure and to contact pet poison control for over $100. I asked her if she could just ask the vet who prescribed the medication if it was a concern or if we could monitor at home- the vet came back saying they are unsure if the medication THEY PRESCRIBED, is toxic to pets when consumed... We called our regular family vet, who was able to give us a very defined answer immediately. What kind of a clinic doesn't know simple questions regarding toxicology of medications they are prescribing. It is clear they are either unwilling to provide advice on the medications they despense or alternatively, woefully uneducated. Either way, it is both concerning and completely unacceptable. In response to your reply: I was made very aware of this generic response during my inquiry. As a licensed healthcare professional myself, I am required under my license and scope of practice to understand and be able to communicate the pharmacodynamics of all medications I administer- without charging for the information, I may add. I would have assumed it would be the same for a licensed veterinarian.

Expérience fantastique: We brought our little dog here when he was gasping for breath at 3:00am. The staff was very clear with us up front about costs, and took him right away to give him oxygen and do some preliminary tests, which were included in the original price. The vet was busy with another dog, so we didn't get to see her right away, but that was entirely understandable. When she did come to talk to us, she was direct and honest. She told us the most helpful thing she could have done in the most tactful way: There wasn't much hope for our little guy. I am so grateful that she didn't offer us false hope. We voluntarily chose to do some additional testing that they offered, just to see if there was anything his regular vet had missed. There wasn't. The vet offered the possibility of transferring him to another, better equipped facility for more testing, but she made it clear that he might not survive the trip and the odds that they could do anything more for him there were very slim. So we had to make the hard decision to say goodbye to him after 12 years. The staff handled everything with kindness and understanding. Of course, we left absolutely crushed, but they really did everything within their power to make the experience less painful for us. Five stars.

Expérience négative: An inhumane and discouraging experience I was referred to VCA Oncology with URGENT clearly written on my vet’s request, yet it took three weeks before they contacted me. When I finally met the oncologist, she was cold, vague, and completely lacking empathy. She delivered my dog’s prognosis as if it was nothing, provided no clear explanation, no plan, and was overall pessimistic and dismissive. For an oncology service, this level of detachment is shocking. The receptionist was also rude and unhelpful, even telling me she couldn’t guarantee the doctor would call with results—despite being told they’d be ready today. What’s worse is that trying to express how hurtful their approach was during such a vulnerable moment is pointless. They simply repeat that there is “nothing more they can do,” without acknowledging the impact of their behaviour or showing any accountability. A deeply disappointing experience with zero compassion or support. I do not recommend this clinic and will be switching to another specialty hospital as soon as possible.

Expérience négative: My Guinea pig died after being hospitalized here, based on what I learned from other doctors I consulted afterwards she could have been saved without hospitalization. All she needed was the right amount of antibiotic in time and enough hydration, and I could have taken her home and hand fed her all night she could have lived. The doctor was unsympathetic and kept telling me my piggy was going to die playing on my emotions and put me in despair to think that she needed to be hospitalized and they have better facility to help her. He told me he is going to give her a bit hay making her comfortable, I said she can’t eat on her own she needs to be hand fed, he immediately changed and said yeah we will do that, he did not. He did ultrasound that was absolutely not necessary because quick scan will not tell what is going on, but he did it and incurred charges and have the audacity to call me he did it but he didn’t know what’s going on. He didn’t ask me what time the last time I administered the antibiotic (It is important for administering antibiotics) just keep telling me he had everything in stock making me think he is going to give her antibiotic right away (because it was about time), he was not, then an hour later he told me my piggie had low pulse and was going to die because of the advanced infection he might just have to euthanize her, I said did the antibiotic not work, he said that antibiotic I was using (Batryl) only works on the bladder (that’s so incorrect and for a health professional to not know) but her infection is systemic, I said do you not have antibiotic that works systemically for Guinea pigs, he said yeah we can give her that but he didn’t, and he administered Batryl only half of what was required much later, few hours later that was too late (what is he doing in all those time). I greatly regret bringing my baby here this doctor is not trained or care.

Expérience fantastique: Dr Pearce and her team were so amazing with our dog Bowie. He required surgery and post-treatment to deal with cataracts and glaucoma. She and her team went above and beyond in their care for our dog, and we are so happy that we chose this location/team to treat his condition.

Expérience négative: staff was really nice, but according to their policy they don’t sell vet food over the counter unless you’re pet is registered as a patient. super weird rule, and Ive never had this issue at any other vet before. edit: after reading many of the one star reviews Im relieved I did not ever end up registering my pet/bringing her here for care. this hospital seems to be lacking, and I would caution anyone before bringing your fur baby here, and to at least read the one star reviews before considering this pet hospital.

Expérience fantastique: I had to emergency fly my dog l, Lina down on short notice, from whitehorse. The staff here went out of there way to accommodate the short time and window I had open, diagnosed issue i wouldn't have been able to get done at home, did surgery on my poor girl the next morning, and took excellent care of her. After I flew her home the next day, they called me at home to make sure she had handled the flight home well, wasn't in pain, and had started acting normal again. Above and beyond what the needed to do and friendly and helpful the entire visit. Colin behan

Expérience fantastique: Dr. Mantovani is a new veterinary oncologist, helping me navigate my beloved rescue doggy’s (14) lymphoma with care and compassion. She and the team are helping me to offer him the best days he may have left, and I truly appreciate their thoughtful, balanced approach to his care. Having a veterinary oncology service within downtown Vancouver is a god-send for us two-legged ones, lucky enough to have four-legged family members. Highly recommend!

Expérience fantastique: Years ago, my family brought my chihuahua here for eye surgery, and it was successful, so I've always held this hospital in high regard. Unfortunately, on Thursday, my pug was very unwell, so we rushed him to VCA. The vets were so caring and were great communicators. Unfortunately, he took a turn for the worse and had to be intubated. He was transferred to Canwest for advanced critical care and was taken by two lovely staff members, complete with all the bells and whistles, in the back of a cab. I've never seen an animal transfer before, so I didn't know what to expect- it was pretty intense, but they took great care of him and got him to CanWest safely. Can West told me that VCA did everything right and they took great care of my sweet little pug. It's been a rough weekend, thinking I might lose my little buddy, but it appears, for now, he is on the mend—he is doing much better today... eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom. He was also extubated and is breathing well on his own. I'm hoping he gets better enough to come home. Thanks VCA, for taking great care of my baby and getting him transferred to Can West safely <3

Expérience fantastique: Visiting the Animal Emergency Hospital obviously isn’t something we do often as we have a regular vet for our pet concerns; however, it is so reassuring to have a 24-hour emergency available to us that is relatively close by. We’ve had to visit the hospital a few times over the past 6 years since we adopted an older street cat. Each visit was expensive, but well worth it. We’ve always had good service here, but the recent series of visits really made it clear to us how good the vets and staff are. For example, it’s likely that we were in a panic when our cat experienced trouble breathing, but I was amazed when the vet said she remembered our cat, Momo, from a previous visit three years ago (I checked our records)! I felt bad because I didn’t recognize the vet, but it showed me that they genuinely care for animals. Momo got better but suffered another bout of breathing problems and we saw a cardiologist, who was absolutely fantastic! She explained everything in great detail, always pausing to make sure we understood, and she talked to us with such enthusiasm and clarity – indicative of someone who clearly loves her job. The follow up with another vet was much appreciated, and again, everything was explained with care and understanding. Yes, it’s expensive, but well worth it for the treatment we’ve received. The staff and technicians are always friendly and courteous. We highly recommend the VCA Vancouver Animal Emergency Referral Centre.

Expérience négative: I meant to write this post last year , but I wanted to wait just to see how wrong this vet was, and boy was she wrong. About a year ago this October my cat was very very sick. I brought him in here cause he was vomiting and wretching, I told them it was a possible poisoning. Four hours later of me waiting for any answer (and I had to get up and remind them I was there) They told me it was "his kidneys failing and he would maybe have 2 - 6 weeks to live", as his creatinine levels were "severely high". I was devastated. They offered to run more tests (for buckets of money) , and keep him overnight (more buckets of money) and that if they did more testing they could save him cause they would know better as to what was wrong with him. I declined, since they already told me the worse news. They slapped a near $800.00 bill on me (for measely pain drops and a basic visit , not even full testing) and said good night. Well I took him into his primary vet after all this to give a final opinion, and I was prepared to put him down to stop the suffering (he was getting worse). Since my primary vet wasn't available the night I needed urgent care for Butters, I caught them up on the situation and what they told me made me see red. After doing tests of their own they discovered "Hes not dying, he is just severely dehydrated and needs oral antibiotics". I put him in a 24 hour triage care immediately, since butters was suffering the whole time with the BS inaccurate diagnosis we got from the VCA. This place dangles your animal's life in front of you and tries to upsell you on tests. My cat made a full recovery and is happier than ever.

Expérience négative: Worst experience ever. Brought my cat to VCA and wasted 6 hours sitting there for absolutely nothing. My poor shy cat was taken to the back where I couldn’t even see her, probably terrified the entire time. Meanwhile, they kept letting other pets cut ahead in the lineup because they said their cases were “more severe.” After all that waiting, ZERO treatment, ZERO meds, nothing. We finally gave up and went to another hospital right before they closed, and guess what? In 30 minutes my cat was properly checked and given medication. Shows you how useless VCA was. Complete waste of time and stress. Will never bring my cat here again.

Expérience fantastique: If you're looking for a hospital you can trust, it would be this one. We have brought our bunny to them multiple times when his tummy was really bothering him and although they didn't have a bunny specialist on duty, they went above and beyond to take care of our baby boy, and after every visit he was back to his energetic self! The vets and nurses are extremely detail oriented and very caring, making it clear they all love what they do.

Expérience fantastique: I had my regular vet check my cat Jerry's eye since one pupil was larger than the other eye. My vet gave me eye drops to put in Jerry's eye three times a day and referred me to VCA since he said he is not an eye specialist. I've never heard of VCA, let alone to drive all the way into Vancouver from Abbotsford, but my vet who I totally trust, said Jerry needs to go to VCA. I'm really glad that I went, from the friendly helpful staff in reception, to the assistant that took good care of Jerry upon entering the appointment. Dr. Pearce came in and was very gentle and attentive to Jerry. Dr. Pearce explained everything I needed to know what was going on with Jerry's eye, and what needs to be done currently and in the future in case things change. The technician and Dr. Pearce worked very efficiently, answered all my questions and made me feel more relaxed about Jerry's condition. I can't thank Dr. Pearce and the technician enough for making this a very pleasant and informative appointment. I will be returning for the booked checks and re-exams in the future. Thanks again!

Expérience négative: I want to provide an update regarding my experience with this hospital and my cat’s care. (I have another review before this) I spoke with the manager, Megan, over the phone to request compensation. She returned my call in just under two weeks. During the conversation, it became clear that she did not fully understand my cat’s medical situation, which I can understand as she is a manager and not a doctor. However, she repeatedly defended the doctor who misdiagnosed my cat without sufficient knowledge. She said she would follow up again, and nearly two weeks later, she called me back. In that call, she stated that their team had made no mistakes and that such outcomes “can happen.” What stood out to me was that she smirked or chuckled, saying she did not understand the situation and saw no reason for compensation. I found this response dismissive and lacking empathy. When I asked if she was laughing, I told her directly that her behavior was rude and showed zero compassion. Beyond the issue of compensation, I firmly believe this emergency hospital should not be entrusted with the care of animals. I strongly advise others not to bring their pets here. There are many other emergency hospitals available. Additionally, if your pet needs urgent surgery, confirm in advance that a surgeon is actually available—because when my cat needed one, they were not.

Expérience positive: Although everyone in reception and specially the radiology team were very friendly and sweet with Otto, my almost 15 year old tuxedo cat, I ended up paying over 3K on 2 consults, an ultrasound and sampling that ended up being "inconclusive" I feel a little robbed as they told me that with the sampling they would be able to tell me if the mass they found was cancerous or not and I only got a "it is most likely Cancer but we can only be certain if you perform surgery" from my vet based on these exams. If I had known this beforehand, I would have taken him to a surgeon for an opinion instead of spending 1K more on this sampling they did.

Expérience fantastique: My dog had a very good visit for an eye condition today with Dr. Pearce and Jen the technician. Jen quickly, skillfully, and caringly completed a battery of tests on my reactive dog without issue. She is the best I have ever seen. Dr. Pearce did a thorough exam and gave a clear diagnosis and very definitive recommendations. I left feeling confident in the longterm path ahead for my pup. They also provided very detailed assessment notes which helped explain the results to my family. While I hope to not need future visits, I would return to Dr. Pearce and Jen without hesitation.

Expérience négative: It is absolutely unbelievable what happened with my cat at this VCA emergency hospital. August 13: My cat began going back and forth to the litter box without urinating. I also noticed he was wet in that area — which every cat owner knows is a serious red flag. I immediately brought him to VCA emergency. He was kept there for about two hours. Dr. Ellen Boyd examined him and told me he was “fine” — no blockage, no stones, no obstruction, just inflammation. She prescribed pain medication and gabapentin, then sent him home. However, he was not fine. At home, he was clearly in pain — pacing, panting, walking abnormally, and still going to the litter box without results. He continued to be wet in his urinary area. Seven hours later, VCA advised me to bring him back. This time, a different doctor saw him. Unfortunately, she was dismissive, sighing during explanations and appearing annoyed with my questions. Yet now, she suddenly found 30–40 bladder stones in my cat’s bladder. According to their logic, these stones had “magically” appeared within just 6 hours. Despite my concerns, I wanted to prioritize my cat’s life, so I agreed to the catheterization procedure that she recommended. I specifically asked about surgery (cystotomy). She acknowledged that it was an option but recommended trying catheterization first. My cat was admitted overnight. After catheterization, I was told surgery was now necessary — but “unfortunately the surgeon is away.” I was shocked to hear that an emergency hospital did not have a surgeon available. I was told they would “find a surgeon” by the following morning. At 6 a.m. the next day, I received a call saying they would look for someone around 9am. once a local hospital opened. Meanwhile, my cat remained hospitalized, and I couldn’t help but feel they were stalling to charge more fees. Out of frustration, I called another emergency hospital on Marine Drive. With just one call, I was told a surgeon was available right away. When I informed VCA of my decision to transfer, their doctor claimed she had called five hospitals and none were available until the next day. This directly contradicted what I had just confirmed myself. The impression I was left with: this hospital is more interested in keeping animals longer to charge higher bills rather than prioritizing their care. I am not wealthy, and I am certainly not naive. Their initial misdiagnosis is documented, and the delays were unacceptable. To make matters worse, when I asked to speak to the manager, I received only an email asking me to “explain my concerns.” She said she might have time to call me the following week. A simple 10-minute phone call could have been made right away. I have yet to hear a single apology from anyone at this hospital. I don't think it is a waste to spend my money to save my cats life if everything was handled like it should be but at such a place where animals are just seen as profit, I absolutely want to ask for the compensation for my cat. Not sure why doctors are so rude and lack emotional intelligence as well.

Expérience négative: Very Disappointing Experience I went to the emergency animal hospital from 9:30 PM until 1:30 AM because my dog was lethargic, not acting normal, and had a high fever. The wait time was extremely long. There was only one veterinarian on duty in the emergency department, and she was busy with another dog in critical condition. We waited over two hours before the doctor could see us. When the vet finally examined my dog, I found him very unpleasant to deal with. He showed no human empathy whatsoever, spoke extremely fast using complicated medical terms I couldn’t understand, and acted like he was talking to another vet rather than a worried pet owner. The interaction felt cold and mechanical, without any compassion. The bill came to around $600. I left feeling uncomfortable and upset, and I decided this would be my last visit to this hospital. What makes this experience even more disappointing is that in the past, I had dealt with a wonderful female veterinarian here who performed surgery on my dog. She was like an angel—kind, excellent, and gave me full trust and confidence in the hospital. Unfortunately, this time the doctor and the exhausting, stressful wait completely ruined that trust for me.

Expérience négative: Predatory and poor medical practice. I'm a physician who does critical care medicine, and this was just an outrageous experience. I shudder to think how much more they could have exploited someone with little or no medical background. My middle aged dog fell ill with a terrible case of pancreatitis and diabetic ketoacidosis. Firstly the practice is completely predatory. The cost of their service is inexplicably expensive. To insert a Foley catheter and maintain it for 48 hours (which is no more work than periodically emptying it), they wanted to charge me $1,200. In medicine, this is such basic patient care, I found it comical to charge someone $873 for a Foley catheter. To put it in context, placing a foley in a HUMAN by a UROLOGIST who has 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, 5-6 years of residency training costs $208 on MSP. In addition, they were running 4 different sedative medications on my dog, even though he was critically ill. He definitely had pain, and some of the medications were meant to help manage this like the fentanyl infusion, but there was no reason they had to add gabapentin and trazadone and a lidocaine infusion. On the second night, despite his bloodwork improving they called me and said they were now worried about his level of consciousness because he was very obtunded. However, on review, all his blood work was improving, it was clear to me that they had just over sedated him. We transferred him to another vet after that, it was clear that the vets here do not manage sick animals very well. My dogs liver was dysfunctional and kidneys weren't great as he as acute kidney injury so OF COURSE he wasn't clearing the sedative drugs they were giving him. I was validated whereby upon arriving at another vet clinic and waiting 12 hours, stopping his fentanyl infusion, lidocaine infusion, he woke up again. As a physician, the medical care he received for the 48 hours was decent in that they identified the DKA and metabolic derangements and worked to correct them with IV hydration and insulin. However, the ridiculous charge for Foley insertion, NG insertion, 500 dollars for just a read of the CT scan WITH 200 dollar fee to speed it up (ridiculous!) is complete predatory, and I didn't experience this at my second vet. And the over sedation of my dog when he was critically ill was just poor management. If you are considering taking your sick animal to VCA, DO NOT GO unless you want suboptimal care and go bankrupt in the process. Someone seriously needs to take a look at practice at the VCA corporation. I left his vet feeling exploited.

Expérience fantastique: I was so impressed with the excellent communication and professionalism of the staff at VAERC. Dr. Tara White was our veterinarian and she was caring and clear in her communication style. She kept us informed as soon as there were updates to share. I felt confident she was taking the best care of my cat. I visited my cat in a little area just for cats where they play peaceful music to keep them calm. They clearly care about the overall wellbeing of the animals. Finally, the front staff were friendly, helpful, and a calming presence. Overall I had a very good experience here.

Expérience fantastique: Best clinic ever, I really love how all the staff are very sweet. From the receptionists, to the nurses, to the doctors. I’ve never had a bad experience here whereas other vets have been unpleasant. I want to thank the young nurse/doctor in the pink scrubs that has blonde hair, blue eyes. She is attentive, caring, polite, gentle… the list goes on. She really treated my pet with care as my pet has a lot of trauma from nurses/docs at vets. I really appreciate her. Not only is she an amazing nurse/doctor, she is an amazing person, I can tell.

Expérience négative: Review of Dr. Flávia Giacomazzi – VCA Unfortunately, my experience with Dr. Giacomazzi was deeply disappointing. I left our visits feeling dismissed and unsupported during a very stressful time. I expected a cardiologist to provide not only expert advice but also thoughtful care and options. Instead, I was given a grim prognosis for my dog (12 to 18 months to live), minimal explanation, and no alternative approaches beyond medication. It has now been over 2.5 years, and thankfully, my dog is still with me only because I took the initiative to research on my own, discovered a surgical option that could help, and changed cardiologists to Dr. Harmon at Boundary Bay who provided the level of care and attention we desperately needed. Every appointment with Dr. Giacomazzi was extremely brief and still came with a steep cost, around $1,000 for approximately 15 minutes. Despite the high price, there was very little communication or follow-up support. I did not feel that my concerns were taken seriously or that any real effort was made to explore other treatment paths or improve my dog’s quality of life. Dr. Harmon, in contrast, has been incredibly thorough, compassionate, and clear in his explanations. He charges significantly less, presents multiple treatment options, and is always available to answer questions. That level of dedication makes a world of difference when managing a pet’s complex condition. It is clear that I am not alone in this experience, as many others have also transitioned to Boundary Bay for cardiology, flooding their department’s schedule and making it difficult to book appointments. They still accommodate emergencies when necessary. I strongly urge VCA to re-evaluate the level of care being provided under Dr. Giacomazzi. Pet owners in Vancouver deserve a cardiologist who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and truly committed to the well-being of their patients. People are not dumb. If you are going to charge a premium, people expect premium service and care. They are paying for a specialist and their expertise to extend their fur babies’ lives as much as possible while ensuring they live the rest of their lives comfortably. People are not going to continuously pay for a specialist who simply does not care, only performs echocardiograms, and prescribes medication until the meds no longer work.

Expérience fantastique: Was referred to the ophthalmologist here for my cat. Had to wait a bit which was fine but once it was time for the checkup, everything went so smoothly. Anna was very nice and Dr. Jacqueline Pearce was kind, helpful, and made me feel at ease about my cat's eye. Thank you!

Expérience fantastique: We were referred here from our senior dog's primary vet to see the cardiologist. Dr. Giacomazzi was very kind and thorough. Really excellent communication. Also, everyone we interacted with there were super lovely and professional. My partner and I and our beloved boy felt as if we were in good hands/paws!

Expérience négative: I came here at 4:30 AM last night and left with nothing but $300. I brought my dog in who was obviously in pain, they quoted me almost 3k for an X-ray and blood work.. when I said I wasn’t prepared for that they just brought my dog back and that was that. No accommodations, no trying to help. Just a clinic trying to make money. The main “vet” got snippy and rude when I was asking her for validation. She kept saying it a “liability” and she can’t tell me if my dog is going to be okay or not if I chose to take him without the 3k “treatment”. It seemed like she was trying to threatens me. I came in after working all night, I was tired, panicked and they did not help whatsoever. My dog left still in pain. Waste of time, money and emotional stress for my dog. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Expérience négative: I've had two pets pass away while under this hospital's care, and another—my cat—had to stay for three nights after possibly ingesting flowers. When she came home, she reeked of urine, which was very upsetting and made me question the level of care and cleanliness. A fourth pet was referred here for a liver issue. However, VCA called to book us with a different specialist than the one my vet had actually recommended. I asked to wait so I could confirm with my vet before committing. When I called back, I was told that because I had "refused the appointment," they would no longer honor the referral. The specialist receptionist I dealt with was incredibly rude and dismissive, which added unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. Out of the three major veterinary specialist clinics in the area, this is the only one that requires a deposit just to book an appointment—something I find very telling about their priorities. For better care, professionalism, and overall experience, I strongly recommend Canada West or Boundary Bay instead. Both have been far more compassionate and accommodating in my experience.

Expérience négative: We took our cat here because she seemed to have balance issues all of a sudden. The staff completely overreacted to this information and immediately took her back to where we could not see her. The doctor then came out and gave us every single test they could run with seemingly no idea what he was looking for. I work in healthcare, we do not react to humans this way by offering every single test without any clear direction . I understood his medical jargon and all he could say was she has a slightly low heart rate (she’s an old cat, it was not alarming or unusual) . I asked him to just prescribe antibiotics for her ears because she had a sinus infection just a week before and it could’ve spread to her ears because if, which would explain the balance issue. After not wanting to comply I told him we would think about all the options , before leaving the room he then told us we can get most of these tests done at a family clinic. In conclusion, this is a complete hustle for your money. They will take advantage of your fear and charge you for every single unnecessary test. I work in ERs for humans, you don’t offer every single test with no reasoning. You start with the simplest of answers , like in my example treat the ear infection. She was not in any other distress, eating normally. Cuddly as usual. Unless your animal is literally about to die, DO NOT GO HERE. P.S we did go to a local vet, who did prescribe the antibiotics for her ears. She was completely fine after a few days. So glad I did not listen to this crazy doc who was trying to charge upwards of 15k for a simple ear infection. Save yourself the panic and headache and go to a family vet/clinic.

Expérience négative: brought my bunny here and they gave him 10 times what his dose of medicine should have been for a 2 pound animal. he passed away 2 days later. they said their vets don't know much about rabbits yet i saw several other rabbits in the waiting room. please don't bring your bunny rabbits here.

Expérience fantastique: I was cat-sitting and the kitty swallowed a toy. I brought him in and the staff were helpful and knowledgeable which kept me calm in a stressful situation. They handled everything with grace, compassion and confidence and if I ever find myself in a feline emergency with a future client, I know where I will be bringing them!

Expérience négative: I took my puppy there today and had a very mixed experience. The front desk and nurses are absolutely wonderful and so kind. But when I got to speak to the vet, she just kept talking uncontrollably and wasn’t making any real sense. Didn’t give me clear directions as to what needed to be done. Just wanted to constantly do tests and give my puppy anti-nausea medication when he wasn’t vomiting at all, give him electrolytes when he was only slightly dehydrated . I asked her a couple of times to just simplify the process so that I could understand it step-by-step as I was overwhelmed and really just needing very basic understand. She continue to over explain everything and eventually I just left not having had any help with my puppy whatsoever. Really would not recommend spending $300 only to leave frustrated and more confused than when you arrived. On top of the fact that I will now have to take my puppy to a vet again tomorrow and spend another $300 trying to figure out what actually is wrong with him.

Expérience négative: Sadly I had a poor, unkind encounter that lacked compassion and helpfulness. My vet (who is far in wintery weather) wanted to send a prescription for expedited pick up due to my dogs situation. The reception said "that's illegal" over half a dozen times. Said they have to be examined or a client. I was confused why my vet would suggest this option if it was truly "illegal". He kept saying "it's illegal" which comes across harsh and violent, instead of offering alternatives to a concerned dog parent. I found out later that it's certain accreditations of clinics that prevent this, and finding another vet hospital that doesn't have this accreditation is perfectly fine for picking up prescriptions from your own vet - which I did with the help of a different vet hospital I contacted. I don't recommend this place if you're looking for compassion or knowledgeable help.

Expérience fantastique: Being a vet must be hard. Sparing the details of my visit, the staff were friendly and caring, they were wonderful with this grumpy old cat, and the animal I brought in as well. The vet was frank and honest and respected my financial position. Obviously nobody wants to find them selves at the emergency vet but I'm very glad I went to this one. So much respect to the whole staff and everything they do.

Expérience fantastique: What a wonderful Emergency Animal Hospital. The staff were beyond amazing and despite such a poor prognosis for my bunny Willow, they saved her life and she is home and doing well!! I cannot thank all the wonderful staff enough!! The care and love they showed my girl put me at ease when I was needing to leave her there. Thank you for saving her life!!!!!

Expérience négative: My dog had surgery on her broken leg a few years ago to place a metal plate. The surgeon mentioned that in a few years it might bother her and if it does we would remove the metal plate. It’s seems like it’s starting to bother her so I reached out so they can see if the plate needs to be removed that they placed but are going to charge me a $332.20 consultation fee. I feel like if you are the surgeon that placed medical device and there complications on the device being placed you shouldn’t be charging patients to see if the work you did needs to be removed, Especially if it’s a common long term known complication.

Expérience fantastique: I’ve unfortunately had to go here twice in the last month for a problem with my kittens eye. Despite being low priority on triage, I received surprisingly quick service both times as well as phenomenal assistance with additional information, especially from Kai. Everyone on staff here is very warm, welcoming, and patient, and it makes these stressful times a lot easier to navigate. Thank you.

Expérience fantastique: Can’t tell you enough good things about Dr Tran. Obviously a knowledgeable professional, the thing I most appreciated was her bedside manner - a wonderful ability to put you at ease. Made me wish she was our regular vet!

Expérience fantastique: Our 4yr male cat was recently saved by this emergency hospital. We had to rush him to the hospital for severe vomiting and not eating for an extended period of time. Every single person, vets, techs, front desk, and support staff, who talked to us during this time, was extremely compassionate, understanding, and helpful. The level of care and attention that they showed to us and our pet was incredible. Was it expensive? Yes - but that's to be expected. As our cat's condition deteriorated, more support was required. Overnight hospital stays add up. But he had 24 hour care and attention, which allowed major issues to be caught and attended to immediately. We were provided clear breakdowns of financial considerations and options without judgment of our choices. All in all, our boy didn't eat or pee on his own for 7 days and made it through due to the incredible care and attention of this facility and its incredible team. Thanks to you all from Bubbles and family!

Expérience négative: They are very professional-looking and the facility is great, but that's about it. My dog had a fracture on a couple toes. After the first day of care, they told me I needed a follow up one week later. I go there, and all they do is change a bandage and spend 20 mins trying to sell me a $6-7000 surgery. They charged me nearly $400 for that "consultation". Another vet charged me $48+tx to change the bandage. And he said no surgery is needed. And he removed the splint because they had tied it too loose and had been injuring my dog.

Expérience fantastique: I came home from work to discover my poodle puppy, Caper, acting oddly ... she was wobbly, confused, and not her normal self. I immediately took her to VAEC where, after some testing, it was discovered that she had somehow ingested marijuana that must have been tossed or dropped in our yard. Even though I was inwardly freaking out, the staff there were very reassuring and explained everything that was going on. Caper was stable and so was not treated immediately due to more urgent cases coming in, but Reese and Sami at the front desk were more than happy to check on her for me from time to time. There is a Keurig and a little free library in the waiting area, which is a brilliant idea! When we finally got to see Dr Ciccozzi with Caper, who was already starting to look better, Dr. C took the time to thoroughly ask us about the incident, and took us through our options. There was no pressure or up-selling, and we decided to keep Caper there overnight for fluids and monitoring. We picked her up in the morning, good as new! I was very impressed with the level of care here, both for the pets and their human companions.

Expérience fantastique: We brought our cat in after a mammary carcinoma diagnosis. The team at VCA (Dr. Sakals and Dr. Ford) were efficient, and very patient with us. They explained our cat's condition thoroughly and answered all of our questions. Our cat had stage IV mammary cancer. The prognosis was very poor. We ultimately decided to let the disease run its course. I want to respond to the comments here that accuse VCA of being a money grabbing hospital. I don't think veterinary science is the field you go into if you are looking to scam people. In our interactions with VCA, we have never been pressured into a decision one way or another. All tests and consultations came with a reasonably accurate estimate in fees. They are responsible, realistic, and compassionate medical professionals. Because they are an emergency hospital, many pets' last visit will be with them. It makes sense that pet owners are upset. But this place deserves a better rating for the work they do.

Expérience positive: Our cat came in with a swollen eye and was too feisty to get vitals done right away without taking a calming drug. They suggested we go home while we wait for the drug to kick in and let them do the full physical exam. We opted to stay after grabbing some food not realizing or given any info on how long it would take. After we got back, we waited 4 hours to get news from the vet that our cat was still too feisty and they had not yet done a full exam, but the vet still showed us an extensive (and expensive) care plan. We opted to take our cat home with some prescribed medications and eye cream and waited another 2.5 hours to simply get the medications, get our cat, and go home. We arrived there at 7pm and left at 1:30am without my cat even getting the full physical exam that I ended up paying for anyways. Although the staff were kind and attentive, more transparency about the wait time would have been appreciated. It was also not appreciated that we did not get the full physical exam. It seemed like the vet was attempting to overcharge us with a care plan that was not even informed by a full physical exam.

Expérience négative: I was referred to this clinic to get a CT scan. The positive: the clinic is clean and the staff are profession. The bad: impossible to contact the doctors. They only work 4 days a week. My dog was injured after the CT scan. He was missing a claw. The worst part: they referred us to Boundary Bay oncologist knowing full well they didn't have the equipment to treat my dog's tumor. Wasting time and money on more consultations. The Oncologist at BB said we would need to get the dog treated at either Victoria, Calgary or Washington state with another hefty "Consultation" fee. This Clinic is the worst, but there's simply no options. If you can avoid this place go to Canada West instead.

Expérience fantastique: We recently spent several days at VCA with our cat, Gobi, who was diagnosed with acute bullous keratopathy. Although we had to wait for her surgery because the ophthalmologist, Dr. Pearce, was away (just bad timing for our situation), the ER team and Dr. Ciccozzi provided excellent care during that time. They did everything they could to help Gobi while we awaited Dr. Pearce's return. We are incredibly grateful for the successful surgery performed by Dr. Pearce and her team. We are so thankful that Gobi was in the best hands with Dr. Pearce, whose kind demeanor and expertise truly put us at ease throughout the process. While it was stressful to see Gobi completely blind for 2.5 weeks, we are SO relieved and overjoyed that she regained her vision after the stitches were removed. Thank you, VCA, for your outstanding care!

Expérience fantastique: I walked in yesterday with a bloody, distressed Dog feeling deep panic. The staff whisked Dog in for emergency treatment and 30 mins later he was absolutely fine and bouncing about. The staff treated me and Dog with kindness, compassion and great skill and I can't thank them enough. I see there are many 5 star reviews here and some 1 star ones too after a beloved pet has not made it. That's always so sad but not, perhaps, a reflection of the place or the staff.

Expérience fantastique: Aug 14, 2024 6:57pm Auth#230117 I would recommend VCA- Vancouver Animal Emergency & Referral Centre Emergency Hospital for pet emergency. The staffs are compassionate, professional and efficient. VCA price is fair, went above and beyond for my pet need; The hospital didn’t charge us for the service they provided because it was minor. Thank you for everything- my puppy is well taken care of. You guys are awesome. Reponse to owner: My pet is Rainbow. We drop a bouquet of flower the next day for you guys :)

Expérience fantastique: Im so so so grateful for the doctor that helped to do my cat’s facial surgery. My kitten had an accident where his nose was cut all around and he was bleeding everywhere, the area was very difficult to do stitches and I was warned that his facial look may not be the same. But she did it soooo well that my kitten looks like he never had a surgery before. Im so thankful for them. I also brought my hamster that passed away, they were so kind towards me . They were patient and understanding even though I was hysterical and was repeating the same question over and over again. Im forever grateful for this vet.

Expérience fantastique: The staff are amazing, compassionate, kind and through with their explanations of what's going on and what they plan to do to support your pet. We were terrified when one of our kitties was exposed to lily (even the leaves and water folks, don't risk lilies in your home!). They took her right in and got her set up. They sent us photo and text updates as well as more through phone call updates. We felt supported the whole way through and they treated our little lady like the fussy Queen she is. We trust them completely in a crises and highly recommend their care.

Expérience fantastique: I cannot recommend VCA more. We have had many pets over the years and have NEVER had the quality of care for any of our pets like we did at this hospital. Our dog Jack was diagnosed with PIMA right before Christmas and after a little shuffling around to other clinics for emergency transfusions and tests etc we stayed with VCA until his care was at its end. Having visited several other hospitals for care we found the care at VCA to be of the highest quality anywhere. The staff is so professional, highly trained and knowledgeable and also so incredibly kind to both our dog and ourselves that we were instantly put at ease. The staff from the front desk were always friendly and helpful. The emergency staff were so sweet and supportive throughout the entire process but Dr Amanda Root and her team were AMAZING! We left feeling like family after nearly six months of tireless efforts to save our Jack. It should also be noted that we had care for our other dog Penny for mobility issues prior and we were equally as impressed by that care as well. She ended up being referred to a specialist at the Vancouver Island VCA and the care there was exemplary. We can’t thank you all enough for everything you have done for our boy Jack and our pup Penny. There is no one else I will trust for future care of any of our companions. If you are a pet parent and you are looking for the absolute BEST care, look no further. Your search ends right here.

Expérience fantastique: I could not thank Dr. Pearce, and the team enough, I am so grateful, I don’t know how it will turn out if it is not for this amazing team. Dr Pearce is amazing, she is professional and very caring, try her very best to help her patient. All members in the team are very caring, compassionate and patient. My dog Siu Barn had an accident during a hike, a wooden stick poked into his eye, to be exact, I think he ran into it. The first emergency clinic was not able to remove it, they refer us to VCA clinic. Because his case is very urgent, Dr Pearce looked at him shortly after we arrived, she explained to me very clearly on the diagnosis, actions she take, and possible outcome. They operate on Siu Barn quickly. Dr Pearce show me a 3 inch wooden stick after the operation, I was shock of how long the stick is. Not only she saved his eye and his sights is not damaged. After 6 weeks of recovery, he is all good now. I highly recommend this clinic.

Expérience fantastique: I don't often leave reviews, but the staff here were so warm and kind to my little diva! Everyone from the front desk, to Dr. Ford and her team were absolutely lovely. They were so sweet with Gracie, and Dr. Ford obviously takes the time to analyze every bit of information to figure out the root cause of the issue. I'm so grateful our dog is receiving the care she is!

Expérience fantastique: After a few concerning vet visits I was referred to the ophthalmology team here for my dog Lucy. I was so scared to leave her at a place I had never been before but I was so quickly relieved of that fear. The staff and doctors at VCA are so incredibly supportive, compassionate, and amazing at what they do. Dr. Pearce and her team took such amazing care of my Lucy. They are so thorough, explain everything, and were so accommodating to my concerns and schedule. Lucy had to have her eye removed and I was so anxious and scared especially her being a senior dog yet they answered all my questions and concerns with patience and compassion. Lucy is 5 days post op and is doing amazing. There are no words to describe my gratitude to VCA and the ophthalmology team. Lucy means the world to me and I thank you for treating her with so much love and care.

Expérience fantastique: I couldn't have asked for a more efficient and compassionate experience. My only wish is that I brought Little Dee to VCA Emergency when he first broke his leg (8 days before his death). I had Dee examined and treated at a different veterinarian office. The other vet, did not treat my cat well, nor did they give me the correct information on his release after surgery. I then I watched Little Dee suffer while waiting for the other vet to get back to me with blood tests. I couldn't wait any longer and I took my cat into VCA Emergency. VCA admitted Dee immediately. The admittance staff we're thorough with recording information. Catherine Shankel, The veterinarian who examined my cat, was very clear in her assessment and in explaining to me what was happening with Little Dee. She also made sure that Little Dee was comfortable and had him resting in an oxygen space. Dee was having both heart failure and kidney failure and treating one would have been damaging to the other. The chance of Dee surviving any treatment was so low at that point that there was nothing that could be done The whole office showed so much compassion. I was led to a room that had a couch. An oxygen tank was brought in for Little Dee. And then they brought Dee into the room. VCA made the experience as relaxing and unrushed as possible. They would have given me all the Time in the world to say goodbye Catherine explained the process and showed great empathy and kindness. I don't think I cried so hard in my life it was the saddest moment I've ever had to go through. I'm so grateful for Catherine and the staff at VCA Emergency for being there for me and Little Dee. A few days later I had questions about the diagnosis and what would have been the course of action had I've brought Dee to VCA emergency when he first broke his leg. Catherine took ample time to answer any questions I had. Her explanations were clear and thorough. When I picked up Little Dee's remains, Hannah was at the desk and mentioned that she liked the memory I shared about Little Dee (I completely forgot that I wrote a note to the company that did the cremation). When I got home I searched my email to find the note and couldn't find it. I emailed VCA emergency asking what the memory I shared about Little Dee was. Hannah emailed me back right away to let me know what the note was. If I ever find space in my heart for another pet I will 100% be taking any future animals in my care to VCA emergency.

Expérience fantastique: I am forever grateful for the love and care provided to my pet hedgehog until her last moments. Excellent customer service, it exceeded my expectations. Specially in such difficult moment for my partner and I, like having to let our pet go. The VCA team took good care of us as well during the time we were there, and after, by calling us days later checking in on us and sending us a sympathy card. Thank you, VCA Vancouver team, from the bottom of my heart.

Expérience négative: My cat who is diabetic, became very weak and lethargic and was in pretty bad condition overall. I couldn’t get into my regular vet till later in the day so I brought him to VCA for immediate assistance - this was a big mistake on my part. Immediately upon bringing him in and having him examined, the vet quoted me 8-10k for treatment. I was speechless, I was already distraught and in tears asking if there was any flexibility with pricing and she was adamant it wouldn’t be cheaper than that. She then suggested the alternative was to put him down, I was truly shocked as I felt I was backed into a corner with only one option as I could not afford 10k. I refused to believe these were my only options and made the decision to wait and take my cat to his regular vet. The woman insisted that he may not receive the best care elsewhere and that I may have to accept that it’s his time. I followed my gut and refused her advice and took him elsewhere and I’m so glad I did because not only was his bill waaaayyyy more affordable, but he received the treatment he needed and is on the road to recovery. I wish I had read reviews before as there seems to be similar experiences, however I was distressed and searching for immediate help. This place feels money hungry and disingenuous. If you bring your pet here and are unsure of the options they provide you with, please seek a second opinion elsewhere. My cat may not be with me now if I had followed her advice.

Expérience négative: Too sad to talk about it. Basically my cat ended up dead there. It was moving and seemed fine when I admitted her. The doctor does not care and has no compassion. Edit. I decided to share my full experience after your response saying I needed grief conseling after such a long time. You guys never reached out at all. I will try to be objective as I can. The reception and nurse and were somewhat sympathetic. However, the doctor is not. This hospital doss triage. So if your pet very sick, dont bring them there, they can't afford to wait and the doctors dont care. I bought my cat in after she had fainted and vet confirmed she had a heart problem. After my cat died I realized my cat was likely a gonner in the next 30days because of her condition. I wished they would told me that more tests would have stressed her out more and that I should have took her home to spend her final moments at home safe with me, with people who cared for her instead dying in this cold hospital where the doctor didnt even care. It was all about the money for them. I would have paid the same amount I paid for an honest answer! We took my cat to the hospital for overnight stay and tests who had given us false hope that she could saved and that proper care would be given to her. 3 hours after being admitted to the hospital, the doctor called me saying that cat vomitted liquid and its probably dead. WHY WOULD YOU USE THOSE WORDS? Its PROBABLY DEAD? Were you not looking after my cat? Couldnt you confirm what the status of my cat was since you are watching over her? This was around 3 years ago. I ve lived the phone conversations over and over in my mind, I remember every single word the doctor said in the most uncaring way possible like she had better things to do and it was just an object for her. I am never going to forget how this hospital treated my cat!!!

Expérience fantastique: My 13 year old dog developed signs of dementia during the Easter weekend, repeatedly waking up in the middle of night crying and banging her head on the door. Nothing settled her. We couldn't get an appointment at our regular vet during the long weekend. VCA Dr Craigdallie assessed Phoebe and prescribed her the right medication in time, that not only saved Phoebe but also us. Because dementia/sleepless night is a low priority, we did follow the triage rule and waited for 3 hours. Reese, the front desk staff was super nice and provided huge comfort by having small talk with us. Thank you so much VCA, phoebe and we are all sleeping soundly at night now!!! :)

Expérience fantastique: My cat was at the end of her life and in a lot of pain and my regular vet was closed for a holiday so I had to bring her here to be put to sleep about 5 months ago. The staff here made one of the worst days of my life as bearable as they could. I'm so grateful for their kindness and patience, I don't think I could express that at the time and I think I came off a bit rude so I apologize for that. They helped me sort out cremation and sent me a condolences card as well. Emergency services are always going to be pricey but I feel like the people here really do care about the animals.

Expérience fantastique: When you come to the emergency, you really don't want to be here. But what I can tell you is that they hire right. The vets here are smart, and present the facts in a way that's not overwhelming. I had to put my beautiful girl down, but even on her last day, she walked to the back with Dr. Woodbury and he was so pleasant and kind when we had to say goodbye. They don't have easy jobs and I just want to say thank you to the people that hire and make sure that they hire people with compassion. It makes a difference.

Expérience fantastique: We had an emergency torn ligament in our little dog, and the team at VCA took immediate, knowledgeable and compassionate care of our little gem. A clear diagnosis and solid plan moving forward were hallmarks of our visit to a normally stressful situation. High marks to the surgeon as well as intake staff!

Expérience fantastique: Thank you for taking such professional and compassionate care to our sweet girl, Rita who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure by your team. We couldn’t be more pleased with the treatment, received. ♥️

Expérience fantastique: Best emergency vet we have gone to for all three of our dogs for a myriad of issues. VCA staff here carefully prioritize the safety of your pet, making great calls without billing you for unnecessary or invasive things. Most of all the staff are lovely, upbeat and empathetic which must be hard considering everything they might see in a shift. Hera Tyson and Juno love the staff and give them give five foreign objects out of five!

Expérience fantastique: I will always trust VCA. My cat has heart failure and I brought him to the hospital after I noticed his breathing was not normal. He had to stay a couple nights in the care of the doctors at VCA Emergency and I could not be more grateful. During his stay, I got constant updates (and even photos via text!) - when he was finally sent home, I had pretty clear instructions on what to do and what to watch for. I life far and I would not hesitate to bring my pets here again.

Expérience négative: Went there in November 2023 for emergency as our cat was constantly going to the litter and we didn't have know if it was serious, it can go bad quickly. The staff is nice but made us go for all the expensive tests, it took more than a week to basically have non answers. By then we had gone to the vet who determined it was FIC and could have done it cheaper. We then got referred there for cardiology before tooth extraction and got given a price of 1.5k up to 3.5k on top of the 2.5k-3k which is price gouging. We live our cat but don't have potentially 7k lying around just for a heart check and tooth work. It's not a matter of qualifications, it costs less I'm a human and Vancouverites need to start protesting this kind of ridiculous prices.

Expérience fantastique: Dr. Peterson saved my dog’s life! And this was after another animal emergency hospital make a very time sensitive mistake. While my parents were dogsitting and I was at an airport without reception, when my dog swallowed a lamb bone. My parents took her to another emergency vet somewhere else, but the vet there just sent my dog back home with medication and said to monitor her. When I arrived from my flight in the morning, I could tell she was not well and vomited her food right after eating. I called VCA immediately. They were so friendly and checked in with the veterinarian to determine if I should bring her in. They took her and checked her vitals almost immediately upon my arrival and gave me updates throughout the day and evening. Long story short, the lamb bone was stuck in her esophagus and she needed and endoscopy, but because at this point it wad been in there for 24 hours, which meant the ulcerations increased the risk of fatal complications. While livid that the other vet hospital made such a mistake, I put all my trust in Dr. Peterson, and I’m glad I did. After hours of being a nervous wreck, she called to tell me the procedure was successful! My baby girl is now at home recovering, but already so much more herself. Thank you VCA. I am forever grateful.

Expérience fantastique: Bucky the bunny won another battle with the help from VCA. This time he was given medicine by us for three times at home but there was no improvement, so we immediately decided to go to VCA and spent a thrilling 24 hours in the hospital for treatment. What I appreciate most was that they took Bucky inside for warming him and having some primary care before we got to see the doctor. As a rabbit that is suffering from GI stasis, they would feel cold and that “snowball” effect would even worse the problem. Keeping a sick rabbit warm is the first thing they should do and VCA did it well. Knowing that most animals emergency clinics don’t have any rabbit specialists, fortunately this clinic has high transparency. The vet and staff willing to do their best and listen to our suggestions. Bucky had a hard time fighting this battle with taking blood tests /Xray/fluid & glucose injections. For a rabbit that with congenital defects and a timid personality, it was like the end of the world to him. Thankfully he’s fine now.

Expérience fantastique: If you're ever in the terrible situation of having an emergency with your pet, I highly recommend VCA Canada Emergency Clinic, the team here was really great to us. My French Bulldog had a ruptured eye due to an infected ulcer in his right eye. When I called, Kai at front desk took all our information over the phone (which was so helpful) while we were driving to the clinic and as soon as we arrived they (Antonia I think?) quickly took my Frenchie to be treated by the vet team. Dr. Pearce performed a surgery to remove my dogs eye (Enucleation) and did an amazing job of walking me through the whole process and recovery....and of the surgery too! The follow up care was excellent and I can't thank the whole team at this location enough. My Frenchie is happy and healthy and I'm so happy to have him home and healed up.

Expérience fantastique: These guys a great. Really kind and patient. Surprisingly reasonably priced and very thorough. Night recommend. My experience with internal medicine and Dr. Amanda Root was amazing. She took her time to explain my puppers situation to me in great depth. Really appreciate the kindness.

Expérience fantastique: My dog ended up needing emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction and ended up needed splenectomy as well. The Doctors called regularly with updates on his condition, they offered options and communicated details clearly, the nursing staff were knowledgeable and compassionate (sent me photos of him post op), the front desk was competent, efficient and friendly. The quote came out on the low end, even with the unforeseen splenectomy and him having to stay an extra night. My little buddy has been returned not only stitched up and having survived a potentially deadly ordeal, he smells good, looks clean and has had his nails freshly trimmed. Private Medicare at its finest! I feel that he was not only professionally tended to, but also genuinely loved.

Expérience fantastique: I’m blown away by the red carpet service we have experienced so far! In my 13 years of being a dog mom, I’ve never felt better about the care my dog is receiving and the customer service I am receiving. Every staff member has been competent, caring, thoughtful, diligent and knowledgeable. I had some questions for the doctor following my dogs visit and in most cases at other hospitals that would have been an extra fee. The receptionist offered to have the doctor call me free of charge and she was so lovely! I would give the 7 stars out of 5 if I could. Top notch in every aspect.

Expérience fantastique: I brought my dog in today after he ate something that was causing him incredible distress. Everyone in the clinic was helpful and kind. After an initial vet review, they brought him out to let me know that his vitals were good, but he'd need further support. However, since they had quite a few more serious cases ahead of him, it would be hours before they could get to him, so they instead booked me an appointment at the clinic down the street. The clinic was able to help my dog quicker than they could have. They didn't charge me for this visit. I appreciated their quick assessment of my dog and the honesty about the wait.

Expérience fantastique: I took my 4 month old chihuahua in after he had some concerning symptoms and I thought he may had ingested something on our walk. The receptionist on the phone was wonderful, she gave me the instructions and told me what to do. I went down to the hospital and she met me outside. She was very friendly and reassuring. My puppy has had 2 out of 3 sets of shots so he couldn’t go inside with the other dogs. They found me a room to wait in which was very much appreciated as normally you would have to wait outside of your dog isn’t fully vaccinated. We were seen in a timely manner. The staff were very accommodating and explained everything before hand. Turns out my puppy ingested some THC at the park which luckily didn’t require any treatment. The staff explain any possible costs before hand so you can have an idea what the costs are and can consent to them. Because my puppy didn’t need any treatment and was seen quickly, I wasn’t charged anything for the visit. I would trust my pet with VCA anytime in the future. From the phone call to the visit they were helpful, friendly and supportive every step of the way.

Expérience fantastique: My dog fell and we were extremely worried because we thought he had broken his leg. We took him to the emergency room, and the service was great. Staff were super friendly, and they explained everything, they let us know in advance that it was going to take a long time for our dog to be taken care of, but we still waited. It took exactly the time they said it was going to take and the service was great and for a reasonable price. You can call ahead to ask the waiting times.

Expérience fantastique: I had a great experience here ! I was quite distressed that my cat seemed to be choking on something and I decided to give this clinic a shot. I felt comforted and informed just through the phone call. The receptionists were welcoming when I got there and I was impressed with how nice and educated the doctors were ! :) Dr white knew exactly what was wrong with my cat before even finding the source of the problem. They didn’t perform unnecessary procedures or over charge me and for a 24 hour animal emergency it was well priced. An X-ray for a cat here is about $330, other day time clinics were 600 and burrard emergency is about 800 :/ just to compare! They even have comfy cushioned seats and outlets for charging devices in the waiting room ! It was clean and all around good vibes. 5/5

Expérience négative: I’m never bringing my dog here again. This was my go to for emergency veterinary services but with the new location and ownership things have drastically changed. I brought my dog in at 1230am because his belly was very bloated and he was showing signs of discomfort and pain. A technician took my dog to the back to check his vitals but I was not allowed to accompany him. I could hear my dog was very distressed during the exam. After she brought him out he was visibly shaken. He is 11 years old and should have been handled with care. His back legs and tail was wet and I have no idea what was done but they said his vitals were normal so my wait would be about 2 hours. I decided to monitor him at home to keep him more comfortable and explained to the tech I would return approximately within the 2 hours unless he got better. At some point he vomited at home and I called at 230 to tell them I would be returning with him. Once I arrived I was then told by the tech that due to protocol he would have to have his vitals retaken and start the triage process all over again and now my wait time would be more than 3 hours. I left immediately because I was not going to allow my dog to go through yet another traumatic “vital check.” It did not feel like a safe environment at all. I was able to bring him to the Burrard ER vet where he was successfully treated within 1.5 hours by kind, professional staff and my ordeal was finally over. As pet owners we love and treat them like family so finding the right care makes a world of difference.

Expérience fantastique: I came here a couple of nights ago with my sphynx cat , as she had sudden and extreme eye pain. The doctor we saw here was absolutely fantastic and recommended the perfect course of action. I wish we could switch to her as our permanent veterinarian. The team at the front desk was also absolutely phenomenal-very carrying professional and polite. A couple of days after our visit we even got an email asking how Mimi was doing. For people complaining that the wait is long, it is an emergency vet. Also as I waited, I have seen many people coming in with non emergencies expecting to be seen right away. It is not how it works.

Expérience fantastique: I am so thankful to have had an excellent experience, given the circumstances, at VCA. My cat had a complete urinary blockage that they were able to resolve quickly and has since made a speedy recovery thanks to them. After a terrible night, I found my cat unable to walk due to the pain - VCA received us efficiently and immediately took him into their care before even checking in. The staff were all very friendly - they let me come into the treatment area to see my cat before leaving him for the night, and the conditions he would be in for the next few days looked clean and well managed. The veterinarian we spoke to was well spoken, knowledgeable, and professional. They inspired confidence in his treatment plan and recovery. Due to this I would highly recommend VCA, and though emergency vet bills suck, you'll be well assured your money is going towards excellent emergency treatment of your animal. Can't thank them enough!

Expérience négative: 1 star is far too much. My dog is dead. My dog that was so full of life and love, and should have had years to go is dead after surgery at VCA. Any surgery can go wrong and I gave the benefit of the doubt to these "experts", but after the experience we had I'd never trust an animal to this place again. In multiple consultation, we could never get a straight answer, just said "it's complicated", no guidance on a recommended choice. Wasted close to a year when we could have tried some other options. Soon as we said OK to surgery, it was great lets get your money... The office was supposed to send an updated quote and didn't, so the bill was quite a bit higher than the only quote we had. Then they tried to bill us for another patient's account. Our dog's HUGE risk was if he were to vomit in surgery/recovery. That was the complicated part. They did not follow what would be suggested by AAHA guidelines (VCA stated they are AAHA), and presentations from other VCA specialists also suggest for medication choice. So instead of using the medication with "little to no vomiting/nausea", they used a different one that does not list that in it's benefits. They did not use the medication with lowest vomit risk in this case who's biggest risk was vomiting?? The surgery was successful, but he vomited into his lungs and we had to let him go (hearing the gurgling bubbling sound as he tried to breathe was the most heart breaking thing). If they had used the lowest vomit risk medication, my sweet pup might be here with me now... So they defined his complication then ignored it instead of doing what was right to mitigate that risk? The manager asked me to come talk to them after all this, and I did for 90 minutes. They said they'd follow up. Follow up amounted to no acceptance of their faults and a false claim that I was billed less than the quote so they "helped me out", and asking me to not leave a bad review. I did a line by line equal comparison of the quote vs invoice and almost every item was at least 10% higher, while some had almost doubled. When I sent that to them asking how that was "less", they flat out ignored the correspondence. Counter/billing staff was horrible, management seemed to lack ethics, and medical team seemed to ignore their own guidelines. I would not trust any animal I cared about to VCA.

Expérience fantastique: I had my almost 10-year-old Pomeranian brought in for respiratory distress stayed here for almost 3 weeks under observation. She had all sorts of complications and as much you can agree it’s not cheap (please get a pet insurance plan) they are very caring. Lolla was pretty much the only dog at the emergency care over the holidays and dr. Sakals made sure to always report on how she was doing. Sadly Lolla passed right after the New Year’s. The hospital team sent me a very nice card with so many nice messages, it was the best thing ever, to know how much love she had in the last days. Thank you all, we very much appreciate and we will be always hold that card with so much care and love. Sharing some of the best moments Lolla had.

Expérience fantastique: This review is very late, but my dog had to have a specialty surgery for masectomy because of a mammary tumour. The van emerge staff were friendly, accommodating, and professional. Got my girl check in and went over the procedure and estimates a week in advance of her surgery. When my dog was in surgery, I phoned to ask how she was doing the staff kindly sent me some cute photos of her. Mostly importantly, I want to applaud Dr.Sakals and her team for an excellent surgery. My dogs incision site looked beautiful and clean, and she recovered so fast and was eating and happy and back to herself within 2 days of surgery. She also phoned me multiple times to check in on Bali and go over the lab results after we got home. Thanks for helping me prevent cancer from my dog!

Expérience fantastique: Dont think I can thank the team at VCA enough.. everyone at the hospital was fantastic! The receptionist was welcoming and the vet tech was very friendly and caring towards our dog. Dr. Ellen Boyd was reassuring and was happy to take time to answer our questions. The nurse we spoke to about aftercare was phenomenal as well. You can tell they are all very compassionate towards animals and truly care about our fur babies. It was a scary day for us and their team made us feel calm and confident in their abilities.

Expérience fantastique: My 5 month old kitten decided to get on the table, make off with and chew the string off of a face mask in the wee hours of the morning. I found the evidence when I woke up in the morning. I called, they gave me an estimate of cost for the recommended course of action before I even came in. I brought him in; they explained the risks, and likelihood of success (not super high considering we didn't know when he had ingested it and it's trickier with cats than with dogs). The staff were friendly and professional. They were successful in administering a drug and having him bring up the string, to my great relief. It was expensive, but less costly and less dangerous than if the string had gotten tangled in his intestines and/or caused a blockage. I am very appreciative that they are there and available to help.

Expérience fantastique: I inadvertently brought home some pretty lilies and my cat promptly chomp on some leaves before I could notice. A couple of hours later, after she threw some of them up, I found out about their high toxicity and immediately freaked out! So I brought her straight to the Emergency and she had the best treatment I could ask for. They were super fast on her first check up, the doctors and technicians were very sweet, clear and helpful. They also kept me updated on her well being daily. Made me feel as she was in very good hands. After a couple of days of exams, fluid, activated charcoal treatment and observation, she was out of risk and ready to come back home. We left the hospital very happy and satisfied. Thanks for the amazing service! I'll always recommend you to any of my pet lover friends.

Expérience fantastique: Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! Our family is so happy we got the change to meet you all and that you performed the surgeries on our little buddy ( Harry) . All the love you showed him was amazing. We were so impressed with all the care and aftercare that was provided at no extra cost. I have never been to an emergency vet that didn’t cost me a second mortgage on my house to keep my Pups healthy. Again thank you!!!!!!!

Expérience fantastique: We were seeing Ophthalmologist for my dog about 6 month. He had glaucoma due to sepsis. We thought he would lose his eye but doctor saved his eye( eye sight was gone already before seeing doctor). He passed away last month and we received card from them. I barely see worker there n never seen doctor bc Covid protocol but I am so touch and appreciated they are thinking about Niko n us. Thank you so much for caring n your work.

Expérience fantastique: The staff at VCA Vancouver Animal Emergency were so helpful and reassuring today. I waited with my dog in the parking lot for nearly 4 hours before she could be seen. This is an animal hospital and triaging is in effect. As worried as I was, I'd honestly hate if it were first come, first serve and another animal in worse shape had to wait. Yes, you may be there a while... but do it for your loved fur-friend. After reading poor reviews within the past hour of my being there, I really started worrying about the care she'd recieve. She's had terrible experiences elsewhere and everywhere was booked solid for weeks. But our experience was nothing but good here. Staff were so apologetic for the wait, asked permission to run blood tests and administer pain medication before I brought her in to them, and called me within the hour of her admittance with an update. They could have charged me for far more (imaging), but thoroughly explained the options and provided their expert advice, admitting that was probably not necessary yet at this stage. All in, the visit was my insurance deductible- and here I was expecting $800 after how previous vet visits have gone. All staff I spoke to were patient and pleasant on the phone, and I witnessed the same as others spoke to them in the 6 hours or so we were there. I'd recommend this hospital to anyone, and will be switching my dog to their vet clinic on Broadway.

Expérience fantastique: I wish I could give VCA Vancouver more than 5 stars!! My dog had a freak accident that spiralled very quickly and we were referred to VCA. From the moment we got there, the staff were kind, compassionate and understanding. It turned out my dog Millie had developed a very deep corneal ulcer that required immediate surgery. We were told by the previous vet that referred us that she would lose her eye. The ophthalmologist we were referred to, Dr. Pearce, has to be one of the kindest medical professionals I have ever met. She was incredibly compassionate, and explained step by step a corneal graft procedure in a way that I could understand. We evaluated the risks and I decided to go through with the surgery. It was incredibly successful and Millie not only got to keep her eye, she actually has some vision left in it! Through the many follow up appointments, the staff were always amazing, from the front desk to the specialist. Everyone was incredibly gentle and understanding with Millie, who has high level anxiety. After 8 weeks, Millie is now back to her happy, playful self, and I feel reassured knowing if anything happens in the future, we have the best vets available! Thank you to the amazing team at VCA Vancouver for everything you’ve done for Millie!! I cannot recommend this place enough!

Expérience fantastique: I brought my dog Gumbo in after he had bloody diarrhea. The staff were fantastic - caring and attentive. The radiologist came in on his day off to see Gumbo and do an ultrasound, where we discovered he had a colonic torsion. Gumbo was rushed into an emergency surgery and given a 50/50 chance of survival. He spent 6 nights total at VCA and is now back to his old self! I don't know what the outcome would have been if not for the skilled staff at VCA. Everyone from the front desk staff to the nurses, veterinarians, and surgeons were fantastic. Since the bill was very steep, they worked with my insurance company to get pre-authorization for some reassurance for me. I can't recommend them enough!

Expérience fantastique: Amazing amazing experience with VCA. All the staff there are so clearly passionate about their jobs. I brought in my 7 month old toy poodle and they handled him the way any owner would hope a doctor/vet tech would. During the assessment, the vet actually sat on the ground with my dog and played with him before taking his blood pressure, etc. Dr. Wu was very articulate and understanding of my situation as I was on a tighter budget. She allowed me to explore different options and helped me decide which would be best. Now my dog is at home and healthier than ever. Such amazing staff and a very clean facility as well.

Expérience fantastique: I cannot recommend this facility highly enough. We took Moose in on Friday night thinking he had stiff hips, but an xray revealed a much more serious problem. The staff at all levels were extremely compassionate and professional and made recommendations for us to spend a final 24 hours to spoil him, which we did. It was the hardest time but also a blessing. When the time came, the staff set up a private room for us and gave us all the time we needed to say our goodbyes. They made sure we were as emotionally prepared as we could be. The vets and nurses were sympathetic, efficient and 'low key' the whole time. Moose left us relaxed and peaceful, surrounded by five of his favorite humans. I hope that most peoples experiences here will have a happier outcome, but from what I saw, if you are going through a highly emotional time with a pet, then the people here are ready to help you through it.

Expérience fantastique: I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the doctors, technicians and staff who helped with my little Rosie who's been through a lot over the past month. Your kindness, patience, expert knowledge, compassion and guidance have helped us to deal with some rather serious issues. Rosie just had surgery yesterday and is home recovering now. The phone calls and updates from doctors who made the time to keep me informed as to what was going on along the way was greatly appreciated. She was in very good hands and for that I am thankful. Keep up the excellent work!

Expérience négative: I am in two minds about my experience at the Vancouver Veterinary Emergency Hospital, because parts of it was excellent and parts were horrible. I decided on a Two star rating to reflect my overall memory of the entire endeavour. I will break it down in four categories: 1) Overall efficiency and timeliness of the service at the facility was reasonable at best. We waited nearly two hours before we saw any doctor and two and a half hours before we saw the specialist. This after our local veterinarian already diagnosed the condition and recommended specialist treatment. The waiting room was empty when we arrived and apart from an emergency that arrived nearly an hour after we arrived, it stayed nearly empty. 2) The pricing structure and cost involved was atrocious. I actually considered if I should take out a second bond on my home just to pay the bill. Numerous nondescript items was charged, which seemed to me like they were squeezing every possible legal cent out of our visit. Unfortunately, they probably argued I have nowhere else to go, so I had no opinion but to cough up. 3) The service of the specialist ophthalmologist was excellent and professional. She was fast, efficient and caring, obviously trying to do her utmost best. 4) The outcome for our pet is still in the balance, but at least at this stage it seems like it will be the best that we could ever expect. Like I said, a contrasting experience.

Expérience fantastique: We came in around midnight on a holiday weekend, and I'm glad we did. My cat was attacked by a raccoon, and they took him back immediately and we waited in the lobby. Everybody was very nice, even calling up on the phone was a pleasant experience. There are several parking spaces in the back, so you won't have to worry about that whenever you do come. You can tell everyone there really cares, and they have people on call for whatever you might need. They had just completed emergency surgery on a dog to remove some rawhide from his throat when we arrived. We got updates on what was going on pretty frequently, and were able to come back and see him a few times over the course of the visit. They explained everything very well and gave us our options, it was very straightforward, and they handled a difficult situation very well. They let us know what wasn't really an emergency and could be handled at a regular vet later. When we did take our cat home, they explained his care very carefully. All the medication bottles had very detailed instructions on them so it was pretty foolproof, and we had a few pages of care information printed out and medication info packets as well. If you have an issue with your animal at any time, I would definitely recommend taking them here.