I was unsure if I wanted to share my experience here, but as I am reading the other reviews, I feel that it's important to add additional reasons to NOT bring your pet here. Similar to another post I would do zero stars if possible. I left with serious concerns over the professionalism and motivations of this clinic. I brought my senior cat in on Saturday as it was later and they are the closest emerg site to me. He wasn't eating or doing well as he appeared to be experiencing complications from a recently diagnosed medical condition. They immediately suggested a 48 hour hospitalization and a gamut of testing for $6000. I asked about the prognosis but wasn't given a clear answer and was pressured to sign a billing authorization to have a specialist see him on Monday. They kept reiterating the fact that it was difficult to book the specialist, and were adamant that I sign their form to be able to reserve an appointment. All the while no explanation given as to what the outcome of testing could be or what they would be doing. I was in tears and could barely compose myself at the thought of losing my guy, who I've had since I found him abandoned in an alley at 2 weeks old. The second older woman who came in to explain the quote to me in more detail (Susan? Susanne?) was initially kind when she came in, but did a 180 when I said I wanted to bring him home. I informed her that I was not in the right state to be making any major decisions like this blindly (I could not stop crying and was waiting to talk to my family). She became completely unprofessional, condescending, and rude. The first thing she said to me when I said I would be taking him home was, "He will die." She then agreed with me that the quote was indeed a lot of money - a price she personally could not afford either but was still pressuring me into signing the paperwork which I refused. She then continued on in this manner, saying something along the lines of how I should have considered the cost of care for treating a sick animal before getting one. Keep in mind, he has been completely healthy up until now at 15 years old. She began insinuating that I was a horrible parent that did not care for him, and stated, "as a parent you should be concerned about his welfare and that he is in pain. And if you are not, then I would suggest you consider euthanasia for him." They went from being concerned and wanting to get to the bottom of the situation with testing to ensure his well-being, to killing him on the spot because I refused their care plan. I told her I was done talking to her and would like my cat back, so she left the room in a huff. (If he was going to pass I did not want him passing away in this clinic.) Another vet came in after being told I wanted to leave, and it was only then that she nonchalantly said they could actually give him some fluids, anti-nausea and an appetite stimulant to see if that would help him eat. And when I asked about the previous woman stating he was in pain she was confused and said he was not in any pain at all. (He was still jumping on and off his ottoman that morning.) I took him home where he rested and began eating and drinking again (and not dying) and from there I took him to an alternate clinic on Monday for treatment and a second opinion. This other clinic was able to give me a comprehensive prognosis about his condition and care and showed a level of compassion and understanding that was not present at VCA. I have had pets all my life and have never had such a horrible experience with a vet. There was no compassion or empathy, just a desire to sell, make money, and take advantage of pets and their families in distress. I appreciate that they were able to give fluids and an appetite stimulant which did help him to eat, however, that was only after their attempt at sales failed. The lack of tact, respect and professionalism in this situation made a difficult situation even worse. And it was clear the welfare of my pet was not their priority. I do not recommend taking your pet here even as a last resort.

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.

My cat, Byron, was referred to Dr. Pearce for suspected melanoma of the iris. After discussing our options, we elected for a unilateral enucleation (complete removal of the eye) with a laser treatment on the remaining eye. The surgery itself went great. His kidney values weren't quite where we wanted them at so Dr. Pearce was sure to take that into consideration when prescribing pain medication afterwards. I will admit, I felt very unprepared for the aftercare he would need. I wish that I was given more in depth instruction on what to expect after I took him home that first night. I ended up finding a good rhythm after some frantic consultations with Dr. Google. It's very jarring when you have to see a member of your family in that state and you're tasked with taking care of them. There was a lot of seepage from the wound the first two nights and the poor guy was so swollen that looked like he took a left hook from Mike Tyson himself :( He had some complications afterwards and I had to rush him back to the ER where Dr. Tani (Dr. Tari...?) treated him. She is an absolute godsend! She was so calm, she had to explain the same thing to me a couple times in a row because I was so frazzled, everything at that point was in one ear and out the other but she never once expressed any frustration with me. She was very thorough when discussing his test results and I sincerely appreciated how much she was working with me to find a suitable solution for Byron to keep him as comfortable as possible while also staying within my price range. As for the cost, yes, this place is expensive. Quite expensive. But you must keep in mind that this is a specialists office and you are paying for the expertise and the experience that comes with these doctors. I am happy to pay a premium when it also comes with 15+ years of experience. All in all, my true rating would be closer to 4.5 stars but as I can't rate half stars, I will keep it at 5 stars. The half star is simply because I wish I was more informed about the aftercare and what to expect. The only time I was really sat down to talk about aftercare was after the procedure was done when I was already a bit frazzled from seeing him in a cone.

I have been to VCA 4 times. Three for emergencies (one nail ripped off, one severe infection, and one episode of raisin eating) and once for a consultation on how to treat an adrenal mass. Three of the four visits have occurred over the last two months. On all four visits the service was EXCEPTIONAL. The staff and doctors are all very kind and patient. They listened to and answered all of my questions (and sometimes I have a hard time shutting up). They presented me with a variety of options and I never felt up-sold or pressured into spending money for spending's sake. Two of the four times I opted for less expensive procedures and I always felt supported in my decisions. They gave me ethical (in my opinion) treatment options and let me decide. Once I decided, they supported me in making sure my pet obtained the best possible outcome. This is an emergency facility so you do have to expect to wait a while sometimes. Just because there aren't a lot of people or animals in the waiting room doesn't mean the doctors and technicians aren't working hard in the back rooms. This is also not the cheapest treatment your pet will every get, but I don't regret spending a single penny. They were far more straight forward with me than my vet has ever been, and they were always up front with what I was going to be charged. Most importantly to me, everyone there seemed genuinely interested in making sure my dog received the best treatment and care. EDIT, December 3, 2017. I was walking my dog this weekend and one of the staff members came up to me and asked me how my dog was doing. I didn't recognize her and was confused at first. Then she explained that she worked at the ER and recognized us. How cool is that? They must see tonnes of people but this staff member still recognized us and took the time to see how my dog was doing. I am even more impressed now.

Their veterinarians are excellent, however, their receptionists are atrocious. My pug just had a possible UTI or kidney stone, so I called my go-to emergency clinic (Canada west veterinary specialists) unfortunately they were full with patients, and I had to go to the VCA Animal emergency. I called ahead of time at 3:30pm to check if they’re at full capacity like Canada West was, and they said they’re open and I could come down. I filled out the check-in information through a link they provided to my phone and I got to the VCA at 4pm. I literally sat there for 4 hours in the waiting room, without one single person who worked there come to check in on us. After about 4.5 hours around 8:15pm, I hear the receptionist tell someone on the phone that it will be at least 8 hours till their pet could see a veterinarian. This is what kills me, I work at the BC Children’s Hospital so I fully understand the term “triage” But the fact that they talked to me on the phone, and fail to mention a 10 hour wait, then let me arrive there, watch me and my dog sit there for literally 4 hours, not say a single thing, and have me overhear the actual waiting time. Literally zero regard for people’s schedules and time. I could have gone to another emergency clinic within this time frame if they communicated the ridiculous wait time. Now I’m back at Canada West, and even they agreed how unprofessional their receptionist were with the lack of communication. They actually took my pug into the back within 2 minutes of my arrival. I won’t be comming here again or recommending them to anyone, unless it’s the last resort and Canada West is closed. If you want the best veterinarians, and friendly competent staff, literally save yourself the time and go to Canada West.

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.

In the middle of the night, when you're stressed about your pet with nowhere else to turn, I suppose it does the trick. However, with our rabbits, our bills were always between $1k and $2k and never gave us any concrete answers, despite them running just about every test (which they seem to love to do). What we did get is a heavily sedated rabbit, a handful of pain meds, and an unhelpful prognosis such as "they probably just had gas, but they're feeling better now." Well, I would feel better if I was high as a kite and could barely stand, too, especially once that wore off. I would suggest you only go here for serious dog and cat emergencies after-hours, such as a laceration or broken bone that has only one obvious solution. Do not go here for diagnosis of a mysterious condition, especially with an exotic animal, unless you think they are in critical condition and won't make it another 24-48 hours. Otherwise, you are just temporarily putting your own worries at ease, at a rate of about $1k per eye shut (if even that at all). I've heard Burrard Animal Hospital is even worse, though (by actual word of mouth), but I can't personally confirm. I would only return to VCA on the conditions I imposed above, with a high degree of skepticism. To be fair, we went twice during lockdown. Maybe the experience is better if you get to actually step foot into the building now and make contact with more than a debit terminal at the door. But I still stand by what I say. You have no excuse going here for a daytime non-emergency.

I am writing to very strongly recommend Dr. Sakals and her team. My family and I are indebted to Dr. Sakals for her incredible assistance to our bullmastiff, Lily. In the spring 2021, Lily started to walk more slowly. We arranged for a surgical assessment at another animal hospital. Then Lily tried to chase our other dog and tore her knee. I took her to the other animal hospital for an emergency assessment and was told there would be a surgical assessment. We waited and waited and it never happened. We then switched over to VCA. Shortly before the VCA assessment, Lily tore her other knee and was totally lame. It was a really brutal situation and my review of cases of large dogs with simultaneous ruptured knees was not encouraging. However, Dr. Sakals did the assessment followed by an immediate surgery (TPLO) on one of the knees. That surgery restored weight bearing to one knee and Lily was able to walk again, though gingerly. Over the ensuing 2 months, she got stronger and then Dr. Sakals did the 2nd TPLO on Lily's other knee. Lily has continued to rehab and build back strength and has been doing better and better. It is frankly miraculous to see a dog that was completely lame in May now walk and be healthy again. Not only was the surgery done expertly and with unbelievably good results but the clinic provided amazing, caring and responsive post-surgical care and review in the weeks that followed. Thank you so much, Dr. Sakals, and your wonderful team! We are so appreciative to have our girl well again!

Unfortunately I have not had good experiences with this clinic. We have visited a few times and there are always long waits, which can be understandable. However, this week when I called because my dog was quite ill and bleeding, they told me it would be a six hour wait which turned into an over 10 hour wait. Once they admitted him, no one called me or provided an update. In total, we waited 10 hours. I called every 3-4 hours to see how he was doing, and got the same message every time, "your dog is in a kennel and happy". They did take him out at least once that I know of, maybe more, which I do appreciate. When I called, each time they told me it would take longer and longer because there were critically ill patients ahead of me. I understand the triage system, and accept that the other pets need care (and encourage it!), however if you are so busy that you cannot care for ill animals in over 10 hours, please just let me know so I can make adequate arrangements instead of holding my puppy in a kennel and not letting me know about the increase in wait time. After 10 hours of waiting, I decided that we would need to move him to another vet, which I am happy we did. When we picked him up from the VCA hospital, he was lethargic and unhappy. He also had diarrhea smudged in his fur from being sick and no one cleaning him up. I was told over the phone that he did not have diarrhea when he was there, which I know was untrue from the mess.

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.

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.

If I could give this place negative 5 stars I absolutely would. Jen the receptionist is an absolutely horrible person with 0 customer service skills. I have never in my life had to write a review before, but I've had to deal with her over the phone and in person over multiple weeks. Honestly words can not do justice how mean and cruel this receptionist is, I have never in my life encountered someone working with the public who should truly not be interacting with them at all. Having a sick pet is an incredibly traumatic experience that requires some compassion, Jen makes the experience even more traumatic. There were times I barely said three words to her on the phone and she would already be raising her voice at me, getting short, and being condescending. I have two jobs and work over 64+ hours a week, no matter how stressed I am, I would never speak to people the way she does. I honestly thought that reviews were being dramatic, or that perhaps it was the customers fault for upsetting the receptionists. But no. She has made my experience with the emergency an absolute night mare and has even made me scared to call. Other receptionists have been very kind in the past. I will be calling in to follow up about this review and have a conversation with management because it's unacceptable for people to have to deal with this kind of behavior.

The staff here are….amazing. We were referred here as my vet had discover a complicated looking tumor in my dog. We initially saw Dr. Sakals, and she was incredibly helpful and explaining to pros/cons of each investigation, followed up anytime there was a hiccup, and kept me updated during/after surgery. When the biopsy came back, she called me at 9 (maybe 9:30?) PM to provide me with the unfortunate results. I would have never expected a doctor to communicate after hours, but she knew how important it was to let me know. When she told me the news - I could feel her compassion and it felt like she was in it with me. I will always be thankful that. We then saw Dr. Ford for a brief period. She was very realistic with me about my options, even if I didn’t want to hear it. Ultimately, my pup deteriorated before we were able to start treatment with Dr. Ford, but she helped me make the decision as to when the right time was. When we had to say goodbye to him, she was there, and just like with Dr. Sakals, I really felt like she cared. I am grateful that in my dogs last weeks he had such caring vets and techs around, and I appreciate the care that they took with me as an owner. Every office assistant, vet tech etc that I encountered in my many visits were kind and patient, and I just cannot thank them enough.

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!

honestly had an awful experience here 2 years ago and didn't say anything, but upon going with my friend here 2 days ago leading to him having to euthanize his rabbit, feels like this place should be called out a bit more. 2 years ago i took my cat to this vet because he was lethargic, had a severely enlarged stomach, wasn't drinking and wasn't eating. i had told this to them and when he returned they said nothing was wrong yada yada and gave me some medicine to increase his hunger, i ended up taking him to my actual vet the next day only to discover he had FIP and he had discovered something was seriously wrong within maybe 5 minutes by just touching his stomach. the amount of money I spent at my actual vet for exploratory surgery, overnight stay, medicine and unfortunately, euthanasia was less then half of what I spent here to be lied to. I wont blame my cats passing on this vet cause obviously he had a rare disease and that is something no vet can help with, but i sure as hell didn't need to spend that much money and be told nothing was wrong when he had all the tell tale signs of this disease. id say if you have an animal who is in severe danger, do anything you can to take it to literally any other emergency vet that isn't just some cash cow playing on your anxieties.

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.

We were referred to this hospital through two veterinary clinics in Kelowna where I live. Dr. Debbie James the Neurologist who was our dogs specialist was fantastic. She spoke to our regular vet prior to us seeing her and made sure that our dog was able to get in quickly for testing. Dr. Chambers went over all the options for testing to give us choices on what to do along with probabilities of what might be wrong. She was compassionate, caring, realistic, and very knowledgeable during a very upsetting and stressful time. All four technicians and the nighttime vet who helped our dog were also great! They were attentive, thorough and went out of their way to make sure our dog was comfortable and looked after compassionately. All the staff literally sat on the floor with me and my dog to speak to us and treat him. Yes, the testing and charges are expensive but the staff are highly trained professionals that take years of schooling. The equipment itself is also outrageously expensive. My recommendation for all is to buy pet insurance so at minimum you have some of your costs covered when your pet needs care. We did not have insurance but thankfully were able to afford the care needed for our dog.

Avoid this place if your pet is seriously ill! My cat was seriously ill and I could not get an appointment with my own vet even calling at 8am, they told me to go there. Despite my own vet saying she needed to be seen that day, the hospital said they were busy and maybe I should just wait to see my vet the next day. They eventually saw her and said that they wanted to keep her overnight to see a specialist the next day. I ask if they though she would improve by tomorrow. They replied that she wouldn't. As she was old, I didn't want to leave her there overnight and I had an appointment with my own vet for the next day (cost of this stay would have been just shy of $3k). They did very little and when they returned my cat in a crate, there was no towel under her despite her being like a ragdoll and unable to move on her own. Needless to say my cat passed away early the next morning. I was overcharged and given more meds on discharge than needed, considering I would see my vet the next day. Their consultation fee alone is twice the normal which seems excessive. It seems they rely on owners love of their pets to get as much money out of you as possible. If you love your pet, take them elsewhere.

My dog had a lot of green discharges in his eyes today, so I brought him to the hospital to see an eye specialist this morning around 11am. I waited another hour and a half to see a nurse to bring my dog in. I was told that I'll have to wait another four hour for my dog to see the doctor because of other critical patients. In reality, the doctor was able to see my dog at 730pm. Because there were more critical patients who came in in between. After waiting for more than 8 hours, he was only give some simple eye test that doesn't require a eye specialist to do. He wasn't even able to see the eye specialist. They say they need to book another appointment to see the eye specialist for further investigation. I was able to pick him up around 9. They did not even feed my dog the whole day. And he's been howling ever since he came back. A simple test and a eye drop cost me almost 400$ and my whole day. I am sure I will not come back here ever again. By the way, my dog is 17 years old, and he had a seizure two weeks ago due to head injuries. Letting him wait 8 hours without seeing the specialist is unacceptable.

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.

NEVER, EVER take your small mammal here My Guinea pig was shaking when he came out Here’s what happened: I waited for half an hour before my pet can have a checkup, another hour before a staff came and talked to us, and clearly the team had little experience with small mammals — it took them one hour to get my piggy on his side for an X-ray. In another clinic it took the vet less than five minutes I waited for a long time even after paying and getting the medication for my Guinea pig After four and a half hours in total just sitting in the clinic, I finally get my Guinea pig back. He was shaking so badly. He didn’t eat or drink after the visit, and his condition was 10x worse. The visit was a waste of money, time, and dare I say Trauma for my piggy ****************************************** Well, it’s been two weeks since I wrote the review now. I contacted the hospital via email and all they said in reply was “could you please inform me which VCA animal hospital were you referring to?” A week after. I replied immediately but I still didn’t get a explanation for about my Guinea pig’s experience.

OUR 2 YEAR GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE IS DEAD. We brought our 2-year Golden Retriever rescue to VCA Canada [Vancouver Animal Emergency and Referral Centre] as he had ingested a chicken skewer and had a fever of 41. Jackson was admitted to VAERC under the care of Dr. Sarah Nasan, the first x-ray was performed 5 hours after he was admitted and did not include an x-ray of his chest. 24 hours later, Dr. Uschi Craigdallie said they still didn’t know what was wrong with him and that they were going to look into infectious diseases from Turkey. They still had not found the skewer. 40 hours after being admitted to the ER, they found the skewer lodged in his esophagus, passing through his lungs and pressing on his heart. Our dog passed away 36 hours later. We were billed by the hour for every hour that Jackson was in the care of VAREC while they looked for the cause of his illness despite being told what was wrong. Given our experience, we would not recommend taking your animal to VAERC if your animal requires emergency services.

I can't speak to the emergency services but we've been here twice with our pup to see a specialist (Dr. Pearce, opthalmologist). The care we received both times was very professional and thorough, and I felt my concerns were heard. It was great to be able to come back for a follow up without needing our vet's referral all over again. It's obscenely expensive but this isn't unique to VCA and comes with the territory of seeing a highly specialized vet. Our dog's symptoms resolved immediately with the recommended treatment. Unfortunately, I was misquoted the price for a procedure and agreed to it during the consultation, only to find out later at the cash that it was more expensive. I'm sure this was unintentional as the price of everything has increased. Parking is usually full and I don't think the 15 minute spots are respected as short term. Beware of the grass along the sidewalk, nobody picks up after their dog and we both walked away with poop shoes/feet. The hospital would do well to put a bin out there!

How do you thank the dedicated vets, nurses, and staff of the Vancouver VCA hospital for saving your furry family member's life? My Frenchie had dental surgery with our regular vet. Unfortunately, she had an adverse reaction to an agent in the anesthetic and required emergency care. VEC hospital is a busy place and emergency care is not cheap. However, they nicely outlined procedures and costs, and held open and honest conversations about these. They also had the vet on site do a full check-up of our dog daily and call me to update me about her progress and about the next steps of the care plan. In addition, they accommodated a quick morning update daily and had us come in to feed our dog, as she would not eat initially for anyone else. No one ever wants to have their pet end up in emergency, however, I know that if my dog ever needs emergency care again that she will be well-cared for with by the Vancouver VCA Hospital staff.

First I need to say I've been coming to VCA for years, and my review only reflects a single visit. Unfortunately this one time left a very big concern. I understand there is a shortage of vets who care for small animals/exotics. So when the nurse told me the one on shift that day couldn't see my dear one, I understood. As I begin grieving, my frustration is at the fact that no one at the front desk mentioned this to me, not over the phone when I called ahead, when I checked in, or when I sat there almost 2 hours waiting for a nurse. Maybe those 2 hours could have made a difference. Maybe not. Maybe my pet would have been less stressed going to one less vet that day. Please train your front desk better, when someone is dealing with a life or death emergency, extra care goes a long way. They should be aware of the vets on shift. As I mentioned above, this review does not reflect on my usual caring experiences at this hospital.

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!

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.

We took our very sick puppy to this emergency centre at 8:00 pm one evening recently. We were seen by a triage nurse, who conducted a parvovirus test. She reported to us that it was negative. We were then left in an uncomfortable room for the next five hours, until 1:30 a.m. No one provided an update on when we might be seen. No one offered water, coffee, or tea. We asked at midnight when we might be seen and were told that there was one consultation ahead of us. At 1:30 a.m. we gave up and went home. There was no one in sight. The next day we were contacted no fewer than three times concerning payment of the invoice for the test (which we received early that morning and which it was impossible to pay when we left). This centre showed considerable alacrity in pursuing its invoice, but otherwise ignored us. We wouldn't take our pet to this centre again if it was the last one on the planet.

They tried charging us $4000 to test and treat my dog for his GI issues. Dr.Tara White had zero empathy and was not patient to answer our questions. She probably thought since we couldn’t afford the bill, we were there to waste her time. We brought him in to our old vet and did blood test. Turned out he had pancreatitis. We spent less than $700, and now he is doing great! If you are looking to go to an emergency, we recommend Canada West. The doctors there would not give you sloppy reasons to all the different tests and exams they recommend your dog to go through. They certainly will not tell you, “I only suggest necessary exams. If you have budget issues, go with the bandaid solution.” If you had good reasons to perform these tests, we would have paid for them. They simply lack professionalism and treat animals as money making stocks. Please have some morals, Dr. Tara White.

The hospital itself is good. They provide good care and their doctors are very open, honest, and helpful even in the middle of the night. What was less good was the treatment I received when I rushed my cat there one night as he was having breathing trouble. One of the people at the front desk was incredibly passive aggressive about the size of the carrier my cat was in (it was a larger cage but I only had the one I had purchased to travel with and he was a very long cat so he needed a bigger cage on the plane) making my already panicked self feel that much worse about everything. My cat died that night. And one of the last memories I have of him was him being taken away by someone ridiculing me for not having the proper equipment for an emergency trip at 10pm. That has stuck with me. They also didn't give the cage back afterwards. I didn't have the energy to bother asking.

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.

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.

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.

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

The wait times are unbelievable. Why they only treat one pet at a time is absolutely ridiculous when it’s an EMERGENCY hospital. Absolutely go somewhere else if you have a choice! My girl was vomiting consistently for four nights in a row and I went there on the third night they told me it would be a two hour wait which I declined as her vital signs were normal, and we were just exhausted. Then the following night I went back and they said it would be a two hour wait again turned out to be over three hour wait and they don’t let you know when there’s a problem with one of the other pets ahead of you. So had to leave again and my pup has still not seen a vet. they also kept us separated for two hours. until I finally said, I’ve had enough and I want my dog. Serious disappointment

I could not be happier with the lovely team at this emergency clinic! Nobody wants to have a pet emergency but when it happens, I am confident bringing them here. Even during COVID, their team has been patient, attentive, and understanding to any issue my pets are having - even noticed issues their primary-care vet had missed! While the entire team is fantastic, a huge shout out to Dr. Gu and Kinsley for making a stressful situation so much more bearable and keeping me informed and updated regularly while my boy was in their care. Their admin staff is awesome too and deserves recognition!! The compassion this team has for the animals they care for and the concerned pet parents they see is very clear. I would confidently recommend this clinic to any of my fellow pet-parents.

Don't listen to the nay-sayers. Everyone at this hospital are lovely, knowledgeable, compassionate, and professional. I took my dog here twice during COVID. Did I wait 2hours for admission? Yes, its an ER and they have to triage the sickest pups first. Did I pay more than my usual vet? Yes, that's to be expected for on demand care, and they were up front about all costs. In fact, when my dog needed treatment, they had me pre-approve all associated costs before they treated her (took 5 mins). While waiting, I observed vets come out to speak with other concerned owners, and one who's pup didn't make it. What I saw was a team who really cared about animals, and the people who loved them. I highly recommend this hospital, and would bring my dog here again without hesitation.

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!

I'm really thankful for this 24 hour emergency hospital. Both my dog and my cat have had signs of serious illness surface in the middle of the night, and VCA was brilliant in treating them both. I've beem especially impressed with how they're dealing with COVID, taking payments over the phone, and how the vets will take their time with you over the phone to explain your pet's prognosis in detail, as well as offer comforting details... apparently my puppy is quite the suck up, and my cat doesn't even know he has claws is very wiggly. Those moments put a brief smile on my face during a long wait. Wait times can be a while, but animals are trialed sensibly. Both of my animals were released with the appropriate medications and care for speedy recoveries. Thank you!

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.

I would leave -5 stars for these crooks if I could! This animal hospital overcharges and is all about the money. They charged me almost $9000 for bringing my cat in and having him unblocked and a blood transfusion which should have only cost around $4000. I know this because I took my cat to another animal hospital and I was quoted to have the same procedures done plus they stitched my cats leg up for free. I ended up having to go through with a PU surgery, have him unblocked, and a few other things. The total bill was 6800 for everything. Do not ever bring your animal to this hospital they will take advantage of you and overcharge you. Now I am stuck with a massive bill to pay back to friends and family because of this horrendous situation.

This ER has saved us and our bun twice now. Our rabbit went into GI stasis years ago and had to stay in overnight care which cost an arm and a leg but they saved him! He went into GI stasis again recently 5 years later but it was really mild. We are thankful that they have someone on staff that can tend to rabbits since there are so many vets that only focus on cats and dogs. Rabbit care is so important especially when it comes to GI stasis, time and catching it early is what can save them. I wish more places provided services for exotic pets. Both times have been slow but they are quite a busy place with a lot of emergencies coming in even at 1-4am, so it is understandable. Bring a book while you wait! Thanks again to your team!

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.

For some reason , my cat can’t stand up, and lost his balance, I called on Sep 5th, and was told that I needed to bring my cat in right away. After waiting for 3 hours, I was told by a lady vet that my cat did not stand up ,probably because he was nervous in the hospital, and the blood test showed everything was ok. Unable to stand up exactly is the problem I brought him in for. Eventually I was given some pain medication and was asked to go back to my vet after a couple days observation. Really had feeling of being pushed out. I was recommended by friends, a little disappointed, at least explain to me what might cause my cat lost balance. However everyone is really polite and pleasant, but the price is really high

I had to bring my 4 yr old cat Mickey to emergency after he vomited and started having difficulty breathing. I was very scared and had very little knowledge what was happening. But I loved how everyone there was so helpful and I loved the fast service that was provided. They lost no time to see my cat. While I was waiting everyone was very comforting to me. Unfortunately they couldn’t save my cat but even though I was going through such a difficult time everything was done so fast and easily. I was very happy to receive a beautiful sympathy card from the doctor and the team in the mail. The team VAERC not only provides amazing service but also takes great care of our little ones. Thank you so much for everything.

Brought 3 of my Guinea pigs to this place - all separate emergency occasions… not once did a vet offer any true solutions. I ended up with 3 dead Guinea pigs. Not a single vet was able to help or they didn’t know how to help - the only solution ever was, was to put them down. Not to mention how expensive their services are to begin with. So yea, go here if you only have a cat or dog and nothing else. Such discrimination. Like those are the only animals that exist. Seems like the vets could expand their horizon and learn beyond cats and dogs. PS. If you were unable to find my information - then that speaks volumes how poorly runned of an organization this is. Really hammered the nail in the coffin there.

Such a wonderful place to have available. I’m writing this review during a very difficult time as my little fur buddy had to come to this place 4 times in 3 weeks before ultimately having to be put down due to illness. However, when I was figuring out where to take him initially when I couldn’t get him to his regular vet, I went based on reviews rather than going to the one closest to me. I’m SO happy I did. He received great care. Yeah, going to the emergency involves long waits ( just like the human equivalent) and it’s a bit pricier than a regular vet; but you get what you pay for. Please take your pets to this clinic if they need immediate help. They were truly wonderful people during a hard time.

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!

We thought they did a great job. Our dog was completely disoriented, had lost balance, was vomiting, etc. We arrived at 6am and only waited ~5min to see the vet. They were compassionate, clearly described what they thought was wrong and what our options were, and at each step made sure we knew how much it cost. Yes, a 24 hour clinic is going to cost more than the standard vet, but I don't get the "price gouging" some people are complaining about - for example, they said we could do one blood test that might or might not help, but that it would be $200 and we should wait ~6-12 hours for symptoms to clear before considering it. 12 hours later, and our pup was perfectly back to normal.

I don't get all the negative reviews. Yes, the wait times can be long, but that's how emergency rooms operate even in the human medicine world - if you ain't dying, you're waiting. Yes, they cost more than regular clinics but they are staffed 24 hours a day, for times when you can't get in to see your regular vet, or for cases that can't be managed by your regular vet. I've had to bring pets here a few times over the years and staff have always been kind and compassionate, and upfront with costs. Except in one case where my cat went in with a life threatening emergency, they have always taken the time to show me an estimate before proceeding with any medications and blood tests.

I was disappointed with the ER service. I really wanted clear communication of exactly why my sweet animal didn't get pain medication within the first three hours in ICU. Instead, I called twice and got nothing more than the standard ' no change' response. I kept asking why she didn't get pain meds and twice nobody explained it to me. Also, when I phoned less than 24 hours later for euthanasia the reception staff were rude, uncaring and short. I was treated horribly by the receptionist that answered the phone. It's been 3 days since I visited and still haven't received x-rays, even after reminding staff twice. I am very thankful there are other 24 hour ER vet services I can use.

In no way am I insulting the surgeon/doctor staff. This review is based on the customer service aspect of the clinic. It would seem to me that if you are bringing your pet to EMERGENCY that the staff would be well versed in compassion, understanding, and most importantly the ability and the motivation to be prompt for appointments. This is not the case for this clinic. Anyone answering the phone is rude and seemingly oblivious that chances are the person they are dealing with is most likely going through a lot emotionally. My recommendation is that the staff should attend an emotional intelligence course because it is disgusting how cold they can be.

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.

We had a very strange experience at this hospital. Both my partner and I felt very pressured into treatment plans that kept increasing in cost. We are both very willing to pay whatever it takes to care for our dog. However, their explanations were vague and responses to our questions were even more vague and condescending. We really felt like their approach was sales oriented and that they were capitalizing on our concern for our dog. Ultimately we felt like we were taken advantage of. In my years as a pet owner, I've never had an experience like this and would discourage pet owners from taking their pets to this clinic.

Dr. Barnard and the neuro team are incredible. Our dog had an extremely rare spinal condition which the neuro team was efficiently able to detect through a CT scan. The surgery was successful and the condition was treated. Throughout my dogs recovery, Dr. Barnard was so helpful in answering the many questions I had. Fur babies are in good hands with these highly skilled specialists! I’ve noticed some people note the high cost of services here - I got quotes from multiple clinics and VCA is comparable to other specialists (for the services I required anyways). Thank you Dr. Barnard and your team for absolutely everything!

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.

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.

Last night I took my fur baby Tito in to say goodbye. He has been with me for 14 years and it is the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. I called ahead and let them know we were coming and when we arrived they promptly and smoothly took us to our room, the care started and ended so kindly. I am grateful for Dr. Sussex and her team for giving Tito a peaceful transition and for caring for us both. Thank you, for all you do everyday for everyone’s beloved pets. I know your job can be hard and sad but with out you all pet owners wouldn’t be able to enjoy their loved family members for as long as I got too.

I wish they would let you know beforehand about the 5-hour wait time. I asked multiple times if I the wait would take longer than two hours. I hope the vets are okay here, and I hope to actually get to meet one of them at least before 2 am tonight UPDATE: We got to see a vet at 2 am! He was extremely helpful, and answered all the questions I had after he examined my dog! I also got very specific instructions from him on what to do following the visit. I just wish they were a bit more upfront about the wait time if your case is not an immediate emergency, but other than that - the actual vet service is great!

I needed to go to VCA overnight for my cat who was suffering from aspiration pneumonia. The staff were super friendly, even at 1 am :) The facilities were clean and my cat really benefitted from their care. Keep in mind that as you read others' reviews, there should be no reason why longer wait times mean worse service or poor care. Vets, vet nurses, and receptionists are systematically underpaid and overworked. Emergency staff work extremely hard because they love their job and believe animal healthcare is important. Respect the triage system - it works the exact same as in human healthcare.

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.

After hours referral from our trusted vet. Our dog suffered a dog attack on a statutory holiday. When we called we were advised of the triage system and the wait times. We were kept informed throughout the process and met with the vet Dr Tari who was informative and very caring and reassuring. Our dog received excellent care and we were so relieved that she only had minor wounds. Can’t say enough about the caring and professional staff and the clean spacious waiting areas to say nothing of great parking! We’re glad for the referral and would highly recommend the clinic to all.

My beautiful cat came in to the VCA Vancouver Emergency Clinic with saddle thrombosis, a terrible, fatal condition that meant she had to be put to sleep that same day. Dr. Pedersen and the team provided exceptional and compassionate care, not just for my cat but for us, her family, as well. And now, about a month after my cat passed away, I’ve received in the mail a gorgeous handmade sympathy card with notes from several of the clinic staff. It is so incredibly above and beyond. I highly recommend this clinic to anyone and everyone who needs emergency care for their pet.

I recently witnessed an incident at VCA Veterinary that deeply disturbed me. A couple of kind-hearted individuals brought in a stray dog they found late at night, seeking assistance since shelters were closed. To my disbelief, the staff let the dog back out into the streets. The dog seemed desperate, but the staff ignored its pleas. I was there on Saturday, September 23rd, and was so shocked by the behavior of the night staff that I left immediately. I won't be returning and believe that those staff members shouldn't be working with animals. Extremely disappointed.

Professionally run and definitely the staff seems competent. But once you pay them, the level of care leaves much to be desired. When I asked for a bit of additional information on the phone about my dog's vitals since they suggested he would need a follow up CT, the technician said "your family vet will go over it with you". When I said that answer wasn't totally satisfactory she said I could "go to another emergency clinic" instead. Pretty dismissive attitude. Good in a pinch I guess but when they treat your pet concerns so dismissively it's best to go elsewhere.

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!

Possibly the worst hospital ever. Brought 4 days old kitten with complication after bottle feeding. Left it 2 hours and have been asked ask for other 2 before a doctor get to see him. No need to explain that time is the essence for a creature that little. Also nurses try to bottle feeding him ignoring the fact that problem was showing after fed and kitten passed from extremely active to barely moving. Asked to speak with a doctor and under refusal I had to bring the little one somewhere else. Stay out of this nut job place

Not conscientious workers. We were looking for a clinic with a cardiologist and ultrasound. We called here, we were told on the phone that there is a cardiologist, come on a first-come, first-served basis. We arrived, brought a pet in a very bad condition. We did all the tests, put up a pogrom bill. BUT THE CARDIOLOGIST IS ON VACATION! Well, how is it??? Why didn’t they say on the phone that we would have looked for another clinic! It's understandable, they want to get more money! I do not recommend this clinic!

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.

I WARN YOU DON'T COME TO THIS PLACE!!!!!! Spend 3 hours of waiting for nothing! They took my pet inside for 3 hours and realized we are still in line of waiting for other pets, then it will be our turn. IF I WOULD OF KNOW YOU NEED TO WAIT IN LINE FOR 3 HOUR IN A (EMERGENCY HOSPITAL) i would rather drive for 2 hours to go somewhere else! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN KNOW HOW BAD THE CONDITION IS FOR MY PET! THIS PLACE NEEDS TO SHUTDOWN FOR GOOD! Good for anyone that will be visiting here.

I'm sorry to say, but from my experience this is a money grabbing centre. We were referred to them by our veterinary as they needed an oncologist's opinion. This center just took our money for tests and initial screening only to mention that they don't have that oncology experience and they need to refer us to an actual oncologist. That will be another payment for the same initial screening. I feel deceived by the whole thing and find it unacceptable to profit from people's vulnerability like that.

Staff were very quick to triage and assess my dog when we came in for an emergency visit. The wait to see a dr was nearly exactly as long as they said it would be (which is impressive when dealing with incoming emergencies). All staff (reception, our tech and dr) were kind, compassionate and patient with us in our tired and stressed state. Everything was explained in a way we understood and we felt confident to leave our sick dog in their care for 24hr monitoring. Thanks VCA team!

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.

The Granville Island Veterinary Hospital referred me to this emergency center and I had told the doctor what my vet / best friends were saying about my kitten, Q-Tip. The staff and the doctors looking after my kitten were some of the loveliest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and I know that their loving energy helped save his life. This facility saved my kitten's life and he is now healthy, happy. and extremely energetic thanks to the fine folks here.

My rabbit needed emergency medical attention late at night. I called ahead and the ER took her in within 15 minutes of arriving. Testing revealed she was extremely sick with a guarded prognosis. They kept her for 24 hours and did everything they could to help her. It was not cheap ($1400), but it was worth every cent. They saved her life. Words cannot express how grateful I am to every single staff member for their hard work, kindness, and compassion. THANK YOU!

We had an amazing experience here. Our sweet dog needed his right legged amputated after finding out he has bone cancer. Dr Sakals and her team were amazing and I felt so comfortable leaving my boy with them. So helpful and reassuring from the minute we walked in the doors to the time we left, they even helped us get Buddy safely into the vehicle. Thank you so much to everyone involved in helping to get Buddy back to being his sweet, goofy and loveable self.

I thought they were great, offered less expensive (over the counter) options for a recurring issue my cat has. They were very caring, accommodating, and knowledgeable. 9/16/16 I had to go back last night for the same cat. The new clinic is amazing. Saw a different Vet - it was very busy with some serious cases . My cat was seen, got a great exam, super caring down to earth Vet - my cat is doing well today. Most affordable, caring ER Vet ever. Still 5 stars.

Referred here to see a specialist. The cost has been significant so far. We have yet to see whether the results are twice good as our regular vet, who had already done one of the exams done by the specialist, but for about half the price. Be aware of the costs and potential need for additional referrals when you come here. On the positive side, the service itself has so far been good. Staff were pleasant and documentation was professional.

Regretfully my 20 year old cat fell ill recently and it was time to put him down... we had 3 visits with this hospital over 3 days, and each time the service was exceptional. The staff were attentive, informed, and genuinely compassionate while dealing with me during my experience of loss. Thank you Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic, you made a situation I have dreaded for 2 decades the best a person could possibly hope for.

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!!!!!!!

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.

I waited 12 hours (10pm - 10am) to get my pet seen, paid $1000 and then had to take her to another vet to get the problem dealt with…they were nice, but it was a really frustrating experience. they held my pet in the back room for the entire 12 hours…didn’t even look at her until hour 11. We were both stressed out and exhausted after. If i weren’t so tired and worried, I would have asked for her back to take somewhere else.

No one likes bringing their furry fam member into emerg, but every experience I’ve had with VCA has been extremely positive. The staff are professional, compassionate and skilled, from reception to the nurses and doctors. Yesterday they handled my dog Hector’s chocolate poisoning impressively, and I’m happy to say she’s fully back to her old self today! Thank you Dr. Shankel and team, we really felt we were in good hands!

Called in and arrived last night with an emergency situation for my kitty she was not breathing normally. The entire team was so lovely as I was completely distraught, and they took her right away. They are very professional and caring, and did a great job at explaining my options. It would have been a very different situation without their help. THANK YOU!

Excellent care. Quick, competent and compassionate. Follow up paperwork was thorough. Admin provided two estimates for probable treatment costs prior to my pet’s overnight stay (lowest likely cost and highest likely cost). Treatment costs were reasonable. The front desk staff and animal care team were kind and friendly. Thank you for caring for my pet.

They were very nice and showed compassion to me during an emergency visit. However I can only give 4 stars because I was informed that the facility is not equipped to cater to exotic pets like my hedgehogs. Hopefully things will change/upgrade in the future, but I also don't wish to visit for another emergency to happen again. No news means good news.

Dr. Pearce is the bestest. I recently had my bird’s eye surgery and it was 100% successful. I couldn’t afford the cost so she also gave me the discount which was so generous of her. She gave my bird a second chance to live a pain free life. I can’t thank her enough and the whole staff for providing such a wonderful service.

Dr Ford and the internal medicine team have treated our dog this year when she developed the some what rare masticatory myositis disease. We have worked with them nearly the whole year on a treatment plan and they have helped and guided us all the way, and now Luna is off the medication successfully in remission.

Excellent all around. We brought our cat in for the first time and the staff was very kind, courteous and transparent about everything. While the wait was long that is simply the nature of emergency triage services of any kind. We're really grateful they were able to help our fuzzy family member out! …

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.

First time bringing our American bull mastiff there. She's a very large, shy, but agrressive girl. She was treated just like a tiny little chihuahua. Was a great comfort to my partner and myself. The extra money spent there was money well spent for the treatment we recieved.

My dog was transferred here from another vet in need of surgery for an intestinal hernia and I have nothing but good things to say about my experience. They were great at communicating and the price was fair. My little dog is doing well thanks to their expertise and care.

We are so thankful for the excellent care they provided our cat on Christmas Eve night this year. Dr. Craigdaillie and the vet tech that helped us were great. We were also impressed with how welcoming, friendly and professional the receptionist was . Thank you all.

We had a phenomenal experience with all VCA staff during a stressful period of our lives. My dog needed both of his eyes removed. His surgery was performed by Dr. Pearce and her team - 10/10 recommend. His post-op recovery went smoothly. I'm so grateful.

Came in as my pup had been sick all day. Expect a wait (as normal with emergency clinics). The service was incredible, the staff were so helpful and kind to my anxious pup and took their time to explain the process, her medications, etc. Thank you!

Dr. Grieve is the best! She handled our case with extreme compassion and sincerity. I highly recommend avoiding the cremation services here as the SPCA ended up being x6 cheaper than what was quoted here.

The team and services here are top level. I believe we need to be far more understanding of what is involved for this company to operate as efficiently. We’re very grateful!

Amazing Staff and Dr's. We have been here several times and have always been dealt with the most caring sincere people. The quality of car and service is second to none.

Kitty went to see the ophthalmologist today. What a great experience! Dr Pearce and her assistant were lovely. All the staff were great!

Fast, efficient and knowledgeable. Would recommend to others in need of emergency services for their pet.