Vca Canada Guardian Veterinary Centre

Very bad. I have written them a lengthy letter about it. My cat and I waited 7 hours before anyone saw us. It was terrible. My cat died in this miserable place. Rest in peace my beautiful Megan. I will love you forever. Read Less

we had to bring our baby in , a kitten , for a head injury . they treated it , did xrays .. it was just some swelling . but the two meds they bad her on were not only really high for her size (confirmed by another vet in town AND my bestfriend who is a vet in a diff country) but one was super harsh (metacam) and everyone questioned why VCA prescribed this . one medication states OFF OF VCAS OWN WEBSITE "do not prescribe if on NSAIDS" - which her second medication was . as for the second medication it states (again on their own website) "do not prescribe if theres head trauma" .. so two garbage meds . we took her to a second vet who thought initially it was the meds that caused her severe dehydration (one caused vomiting , the other med caused lack of appetite so she hadnt eaten in nearly 2 days so we took her in) . we hydrated her two days on IV fluid . she would get these fluids and comes home in better condition but she kept regressing so we had to go in the next day one more time for fluids as she was dehydrated again so soon (despite me having an alarm set every two hours to finger feed her recovery food she was given and help her drink) . they did blood work again and found she had feline panleukopenia . its a virus that kills fast and is only contracted if in contact with an infected cat . the second vet confirmed , since Maiko was ONLY EVER AN INDOOR CAT , and had never met another cat before , she had to have contracted this from the first vet we took her into - VCA Guardian .. so lack of basic sanitization killed our kitten . she didnt deserve this 💔 Read Less

Friday before thanksgiving we were forced to bring our cat to this vet because no other vet would take him. Our cat hadn't moved from one spot in the basement for 24 hrs, and never made it upstairs to eat his food in the night.. Dr. Jenny took him in and as with all the cats she didn't get him to walk.. only hobble to his feet which he can barely do with his 3 working legs. They ran x-ray and blood work on the wrong areas. fixating on his growth and thinking him lethargic and inappetite. When in fact he couldn't use one of his back legs. After getting him home and phoning the vet back to see what can be done since they missed this issue.. Dr. Jenny. insisted that it was a new issue and wanted to recharge us an entire exam for something she missed on the initial exam because she said she wasn't "presented" with not walking as her reason for looking at my cat.. I'm sorry I'm not a vet why do the owners have to examine their animals and diagnose them properly before the vets will treat them? Dr. Jenny was a vet who was suppose to help our cat by examining him and figuring out what was wrong. (in this case it was simple. one leg doesn't have any link to his brain).. Rather than help us by examining him for the proper reason this time.. They continued to say he got this way in the 20 minute car ride home.. This is a lie to cover their business, there is no way I would have brought my cat in had he been moving before.. So how dare they say this was caused on the car ride home, as he would have never been brought to the vet in the first place!.. They charged $840 for tests they didn't need to do. and the one x-ray they x-rayed in the wrong spot. nothing shows his hips or leg. They only refunded us $50 which still hasn't even shown up.. They should have at least refunded us the whole exam fee as they didn't see the issue, so why pay again for them to see the issue only after I found it.. By ripping us off on all the overpriced tests we can no longer afford to treat our cat.. Luckily it was only $63 at a real vet for the exam and they said ya they should have caught this serious issue.. there was no need for the blood work and the x-ray is in the wrong spot.. Sorry guardian.. Get cats to walk stop being afraid of a little scratch. Dogs bite harder.. I'd be more afraid of a dog than a cat. My cat was scared, Who knows if they even took him out of his carrier. Read Less

I didn’t get the opportunity to meet with the doctor and discuss the treatment plan, received a call and a short conversation without the opportunity to ask questions. the price for a visit without tests was $ 232, the doctor did not find the time to sign the papers for the insurance company. I have been waiting for the request form for the insurance company for a week! terrible service! Read Less

I called at about 330 in the morning because my 11 year old kitty had a UTI blockage, which i verified is an emergency ( he was fine the day prior). I rushed him in and i was greeted and taken in right away. My options i felt were not really all that clear for what the procedure would be or the cost given i was unfamiliar. I did feel i had to clarify and ask what the approx overall cost would be given my kittens age to treat him. Screening and tests on my cat with 2 days of possible hospitalization and a catheter i was told would approx cost 1900-2500 dollars. I was expecting higher charges for walk in Emergency appointments but was honestly intimidated by that price point. I was thankful they provided him pain relief and assisted me further when i made the decision to put him down. I was mentally and emotionally overwhelmed given i was there alone and never been through this before. My Princeton, like most other peoples animals, has been my best friend everyday since I was 18. He has beat cancer already, had his front limb removed and have gone through many procedures over his lifetime; i really did not want him to have to go through another major recovery that with his age he most likely had other underlying issues. I appreciate the compassion they provided in the last short time i had left to say a very unexpected goodbye to my best friend while i was by myself. I am happy he is not suffering or in any pain any longer. The front end member on Oct 2 2019 was very kind to me and helped me pick out options for Princeton and the vet was very delicate when I was saying goodbye. I really appreciated their compassion. I would recommend Guardian in times of emergency such as this where time was already ticking. Forever I Love my Princeton. Read Less

I had to take my cat for an emergency appointment. I was a mess and they were so understanding and kind. Accommodating as well. The veterinarian was very compassionate and helpful. I am so appreciative of this clinic not over charging people in awful circumstances. I got to take my cat home and thanks to her instructions my car had improved immensely. Highly recommend. Read Less

Went to get 4 specialty exams done on our dog yesterday and left shaking my head . Only 1 customer in the whole place so i waited behind her until she was done. She was advised to take a seat and they would look after her dog . So i stood and stood and stood ( no one else in the large waiting area ) looking at these 2 receptionist for 6 minutes as they chatted with each other , then got up and walked around but no "acknowledgement" or any "can I help you" . The other lady was on her computer so i respectfully waited until she completed what she had to do . Eventually I said " your both sure busy today huh ? The younger one mumbled something to her co-worker and so i turned around and walked out. I am now left to drive to Calgary to the Specialist vet center to get the certified tests because I refuse to do any business with this place. Read Less

Yes, this is an animal hospital and triage is part of it. Emergencies happen that take the staff away from the less injured animals. Triage is hard to deal with, but an important part of the process. Once we went through triage, the staff checked on us when they could, and offered us options such as going to our regular vet if it is more comfortable now that they were open. We chose to stay because, we couldn't get into see our vet until 1 pm, and because about five years ago we had to take our other dog in to get euthanized and the compassionate care we received then was second to none. After about 4 hours, and being given the options by Dr. Erin (clear, to the point, and delivered with empathy) we had to make another tough decision. The staff and Dr. Erin gave us as much time as we needed not only to make the decision, but to also spend the last bit of time with our 14 year old dog. I feel a little bit bad that we seem to only use Guardian to put our dogs down, but I the compassion and comfort we've received both times is something I will never forget. Read Less

Took a long time and I mean hours.... But it is first come first serve only had 1 vet and emergency cases come first (as they should), the staff was pleasent and accommodating. Also loved how the vet laid out all the possible options for my pet and the prices before having to make any decisions. Read Less

I have parrots and normally I would never go to a clinic like this because they dont have an avian/exotic vet on staff. However, one of my guys got into an accident late at night & we were forced to go here as I could not get the bleeding to stop.When we arrived we were greeted by fairly rude staff and were told to wait as they triage, okay fair enough. Apparently a bird that is bleeding nonstop (and has 3ml of blood in his body) is less important than a bunch of cats & dogs that were able to walk out of the clinic on their own. After almost THREE hours wait, where I was holding my birds wound closed the best i could we were finally able to see the vet. She was rushed & obviously didn't know a ton about birds (ie she said he might DIE of fright which was very unlikely in this case.) I wanted so badly to leave right then but I knew even a vet with little knowledge would be able to stop the bleeding.We were forced to sit for almost another hour and had to listen to the vet techs basically making fun of my bird through the door(cuz who wants them as pets, right?) On top of that this vet cost almost 4 times as much as my normal one would. 4x as much for way worse care..great..Thankfully my guy survived and is recuperating but I can't even imagine what would have happened to someone who didn't know how to perform first aid on their birds. I highly recommend all exotic owners to learn & attempt to stabilize so they can go to their regular vet instead of suffering through a place like guardian. Just abysmal. Read Less

I found the way they managed triage was very frustrating. We were able to see a vet quite quickly (within 1 hour), were given a tentative diagnosis, and opted to do x-rays just to confirm. The x-rays were optional. We then proceeded to wait over 3 hours for. 2 minutes conversation with the vet about what she had already told us. I understand that there are other animals here that need help, but my dog experienced tremendous anxiety due to being trapped in a room without medications, when I feel it is not unreasonable to assume the vet could have made room in her schedule for the 2 minute conversation. Read Less

I would like to take this opportunity to write about my aweful experience from the some of the front desk staff, "doctor" Laura Kutryk and the "manager" Shauna Bearchell. First of all they had overdosed my 8 pound dog twice with Gebapettin where she was unable to move. They haf agreed the first time that it was too much but hadn't adjusted the dosage the second time. My dog could barely move and was screaming. I brought my dog back in and suggested she be put on iv fluids for her kidneys, not once did anyone mention this may hurt her already enlarged heart. I waited an hour and then tried to ask Laura Kutryk questions about the prognosis, etc about my dog who stayed overnight with the iv fluids. She was rushing me and straight out says " I have other patients I have to see." She then laughs and walks away. She also could not answer my questions, it was like she had no clue I mean really, you demand $1000 from me and make sure I pay this before anyone helps my dog and I wait an hour for you. I then bring up my concerns with Shauna Bearchwell and she then sends me a letter informing me I am no longer allowed back to this facility. I mentioned in this letter how they overdosed my dog as well and I was informed by my regular vet in Ellerslie to contact VCA or CTV news. My dog's life had to be ended bc they destroyed her heart from the high rate of iv fluids they were giving her!!!! I still have not gotten any records of the procedures they had done. They also coldly tried to sell me a pawprint stamp minutes before I had to end her life. Classless, unprofessional, and took no responsibilty in their actions. Shauna Bearchell has no expertise in handling such a situation and her only solution was to prevent me from ever coming back to this facility. Not that I ever would come back ,but give yourself a pat on the back for being the most pathetic person in charge I have ever encountered. These people are only all about money and have no morals or methods in how to properly deal with pet owners who are distressed about their fur babies. The culture in this facility comes from the top Shauna. I watched other people waiting in the area shaking their heads and had discussions with three other people of how they were treated. Does that make you feel good? Good Luck, I hope you find your heart and some ethics!! Read Less

They took such good care of my 10 week old puppy when he got an infection in his muzzle. It was a weird case because up to this point they don't know what happened to him but the doctors did the best they could without jumping into any expensive diagnostics to slowly rule things out. Eventually, my puppy had to get hospitalized for 24 hours so that they could monitor him closely and help regulate his fever and muzzle swelling. Read Less

Great vets and staff. My dog actually loves going here because she loves attention from the staff. If there are other dogs is a bonus for her. I have to make sure I dont open the car door until I have her leash on since she knows where she is and can't wait to see puppies. Read Less

We have gone there many times in the last six months.Of course the reason for going there, specially because they have 24 hours services, is not usually good.But I believe a professional environment and attitude can be very helpful for smoothing stressful situations.We had to put a cat to sleep about six months ago. During that time we have been going there pretty much 3-4 times a week. The staff were all very kind, understanding, polite and helpful. We pretty much got the best help and service and they tried their best to save that cat.Recently we have had to go there a couple of times for another cat. Like previous experiences, we got the best help and service again.During the last 6 months I had a pleasure to know Dr. Ashleigh Allen at the centre for the issues we had with our pets.Our cases for going there were not normal and usually we were stressed out.She was very patient, very helpful, explained everything very clear and logical.I'm very thankful that for both incidents, that were both very stressful and critical situations, Dr. Allen saw our pets.I definitely recommend this centre for emergencies.I don't hope I go back there, but I know if I have to, this centre is one of the best places that I can trust getting the best possible results.I just want to thank every single person that has helped us there and I want to mention all of you guys are the best!Thank you! Read Less

They were great when my dog ate an entire chocolate bar. All the staff were very kind and comforting as I was freaking out and my dog just thought it was play time (while we were there because of the other dogs). The only reason I give 3 stars is due to the price. It's expensive. Sick animals are expensive and I understand that and there is insurance available for them but there's no options for payment available. It's either pay now or don't take your animal home with you. I was able to pay with the help from someone but there should be payment options available. Very expensive. Read Less

This place may be abit more expensive than other vets but the staff is great and the location is beautiful!! My cat was so comfortable when we had to take him in & they were able to address his concerns right away. The vet didn't have best bedside manner, but at least his info was accurate and helped for preventing future health concerns-their hours are great for emergencies too!! Read Less

Incredible veterinary hospital with knowledge, attentive, and caring staff plus an amazing facility. Guardian helped saved my cat's life when he became critically ill with pancreatitis and IBD three years ago. He had an emergency ultrasound and was checked in and kept on an IV for 24 hrs after showing almost no improvement with regular vets for a week. Yes, it cost several thousand dollars and we waited around for hours at times but it was worth with it. We also relied on Guardian when one of our guinea pigs was at the end of his life. They helped us weigh our options and decide what was best for our pig Porky. They were unbelievably sensitive and compassionate and totally supportive even though I was a mess. The vet felt so bad for us that she didn't charge us for the exam only the euthanasia. They are our go to place when one of our fur kids is ill after hours or needs critical care. Read Less

I had an emergency issue with my dog at 3am on a Sunday morning. There was only one vet on staff which I would say is fair. It took long for my dog to get completely checked out and get x-rayed but they clinic had more pressing matters so it was understandable. Overall they provided good service. Pricing I would day is fair based on my case being more of emergency. The building is very nice and they do provide free coffee, tea, and water. They also have vending machines with snacks. Read Less

The prices here are absolutely absurd and the care provided is extremely rushed. They cut treatments short and sent him home before he was ready (he relapsed), not to mention wanting to jump quickly to a (ridiculously expensive) surgery. Once we transferred our cat to another vet, they provided the same initial treatment as guardian but allowed the treatment more time to work, then kept him afterward until they were confident he was doing well before sending him home, and didn't end up even needing the surgery. Not to mention that they only charged less than a third of what guardian charged. It breaks my heart to think how many animals must be euthanized by guardian because the owners can't afford the cost. We even considered that route for our little guy and thank goodness we didn't go through with it since we how have him happy and healthy back at home! However I fully credit the positive outcome to the vet clinic in Fort Saskatchewan that we transferred him to, not to guardian; I can only credit guardian with draining out wallets. I highly advise anyone to look elsewhere for vet services. Read Less

Was here under tragic circumstances saying goodbye to my best friends dog. 24 hours a day meeting the needs of pets in need of medical assistance. Modern clean facility with surgery and other medical services. Staff were wonderful, caring compassionate while still maintaining a professional attitude. My friend was very grateful for the support received. Need to bring a credit card. Better yet get pet insurance. Read Less

I was referred to Dr. Cockwill at Guardian in 2016 for my cat Pippin. Pippin was having digestive issues and was throwing up all the time. My regular vet was concerned it might either be IBD or cancer, so she recommended I get a surgical biopsy. (This was after Pippin had several ultrasounds and a needle biopsy which were inconclusive.) One of Guardian's surgeon's performed the biopsy and Dr. Cockwill reviewed the results. Thankfully, Pippin was diagnosed with IBD, not cancer.Over the course of a year and a half, I took Pippin back to Guardian whenever she needed to be checked or her medication changed. Dr. Cockwill was always very nice and thorough. He also treated Pippin very tenderly and respectfully. In November of 2017, Pippin got really sick, really quickly. Over the course of a week she had several procedures and was at Guardian 3 of the 5 weekdays. Two weeks later, Pippin was so sick she needed help to move on and Dr. Cockwill was there again. It was the hardest day of my life and everyone at Guardian was amazing. Guardian helped me and Pippin through a lot of ups and downs and they were always very nice and respectful. I would recommend them to anyone who needs emergency or specialist help for their pet. Read Less

I had my dog in for a TPLO a couple of days ago and was sent home to find this. His tail was caked with dried/wet stool and he clearly spent the better part of the night sitting in his own feces. It's unfortunate that we went in for an orthopaedic procedure and he is in more pain from the negligence related skin breakdown. I called your clinic last night to discuss this issue, cream/care options, and to question as to why/what to do now that he is having bloody and mucus diarrhea. I was told to hold his pain medication and expect a call from the surgeon and a vet tech in the AM. No call. I called to confirm the message had been passed along this morning, and it was again noted. No call. I'm appalled that no one alerted me to this issue. I would be understanding if someone had explained that there were multiple sick admissions occupying staff time, but there was no such disclosure. Someone had trimmed some of the hair around his rectum so this issue had obviously been seen. I have been a nurse for 6 years and can't believe the "care" provided by a "top-notch" and highly recommended veterinarian. I just would like some accountability, guidance as to best practice care, and a call back when I am promised one. I am so frustrated that I have to turn to social media to hopefully receive a response. His sore perirectal area is still bleeding and leaving serosang drainage prints wherever he sits/lays.The reason I provided 2 stars was because they direct bill Trupanion, the front-end staff were very pleasant, and the actual surgery seems to be solid. Read Less

I had my dog in for a TPLO a couple of days ago and was sent home to find this. His tail was caked with dried/wet stool and he clearly spent the better part of the night sitting in his own feces. It's unfortunate that we went in for an orthopaedic procedure and he is in more pain from the negligence related skin breakdown. I called your clinic last night to discuss this issue, cream/care options, and to question as to why/what to do now that he is having bloody and mucus diarrhea. I was told to hold his pain medication and expect a call from the surgeon and a vet tech in the AM. No call. I called to confirm the message had been passed along this morning, and it was again noted. No call. I'm appalled that no one alerted me to this issue. I would be understanding if someone had explained that there were multiple sick admissions occupying staff time, but there was no such disclosure. Someone had trimmed some of the hair around his rectum so this issue had obviously been seen. I have been a nurse for 6 years and can't believe the "care" provided by a "top-notch" and highly recommended veterinarian. I just would like some accountability, guidance as to best practice care, and a call back when I am promised one. I am so frustrated that I have to turn to social media to hopefully receive a response. His sore perirectal area is still bleeding and leaving serosang drainage prints wherever he sits/lays.The reason I provided 2 stars was because they direct bill Trupanion, the front-end staff were very pleasant, and the actual surgery seems to be solid. Read Less

Don't ever take your dog here. They are overpriced and take advantage of your affection for your pet. When I took my dog here, I wanted to get some quotes for surgery before deciding on where to take him. This company was 3times the cost of other places. And when I took my dog to a different clinic, this company wouldn't give me the X-rays that I paid for. They also gave me the wrong paperwork for my dog. FYI my dog got out of my yard, and a Good Samaritan picked him up, dropped him off here to get his chip checked. And they charged me $40 plus gst to get him out. He was only there for 30 mins and it took them 15 mins for paperwork. That's terrible Read Less

Yup, triage, and most severe cases are handled first. Would be nice if they were able to have more vets on staff overnight so you could be seen/treated faster, which it seems that's when pets that have issues seem to decline the most... but I'm certain that would cost a whole lot more.  I think we lucked out with the team that was working last night. Everyone we encountered was on their game.That said, Dr. Tannahill was kind, compassionate and understanding of our beagle's palliative care needed to make her comfortable, and sensitive to what our expectations were. I would be pleased to see her treat any of my fur-kids.Although the wait was long-ish, the urgent need patients were treated promptly, and the rest of the patients were treated in order of arrival and severity of issue.For the care we received, the fee charged was quite reasonable - and I've been dealing with too numerous to count vets and emergency vets for 30 years.  Critters from exotics, cats, dogs, personal pets to animal rescues to humane societies. I've seen pretty much everything.Parking is more than plentiful, greeting at the door on arrival was prompt, friendly and on point.  Chairs are comfy, and there are well-stocked supplies of pee pads, paper towels in every seating area to clean up if your pet is needing something while waiting.FYI - computer systems do a backup at 4am - from an IT perspective, EXCELLENT! But I'm pretty sure it sucks for the staff who have to check you out since they have to estimate the bill, charge you, and issue an adjustment (credit/debit +/-) when the system comes back up on line.  It's not their fault, don't take it out on them. They have found a solution that while not ideal for everyone, works.Hopefully don't have to drop by for an emergency soon, but our experience was a positive one. Read Less

Oh boy. My partner and I recently got a dog, and out of the blue one night she seemed to have what looked like a seizure, along with some other strange behavior. So we looked up the 24 hour hospitals in the city, and took her to the one with the best rating, which was this one.The reception staff and vet tech were lovely. They were so attuned to the dog and her discomfort, and were super respectful and professional toward my partner and I. They also took a detailed history of what happened, which was typed into her file.The vet herself- terrible. I won't go into too much detail because I've actually called the clinic to file a complaint. The clinic manager was lovely and very empathetic about how horrifying our experience was. To say the least, this particular vet should not be working with animals. It didn't seem like she understood how to do her job or that she particularly liked animals, and I felt sick leaving my puppy in her care. I let the manager know that I would never be returning to this clinic and that it is really important to me that others don't have the same experience. She seemed highly motivated to address the issue with this vet, and I sincerely hope they do! Maybe some of the other vets were more capable, but I won't be going back to find out. Read Less

I came here late at night to put my best friend down. I was a mess and the staff here were amazing. The whole process was done with dignity and respect. There is a special room where you sit with your loved one until you're ready to say goodbye.Read Less

I had a horrific experience at this center! On May 11, 2017. I brought my small bird (an eastern rosella) to Guardian Vet Centre as they were the only vet center open at the time who claimed to know how to treat and care for birds. I rushed my bird to the center as soon as I could after he flew into a ceiling fan. Fearing for broken bones, internal bleeding, possible nerve damage and the fact that these birds commonly die from mishandling during physical exams (even while healthy). I explained to the veterinarian for over 5 min on how fragile he was in this state and how careful we have to be with handling him. What happened next shocked and horrified me. The technician quickly and aggressively grabbed my bird, squeezing his potentially broken bones and damaged internal organs...and then forcibly pulled him from his tail feathers to the point that they were severed from his body and left on the bottom of his cage... After all was done, we were left with no treatment or a proper examination because as they explained to us, they did not have the proper diagnostic tools or medication available to treat birds his size, but they were happy to charge us $150 for the abuse and mishandling of our poor bird. We later brought our bird to a bird specialist in Sherwood Park who was appalled by his inhumane treatment. The specialist performed a significantly more professional examination and provided proper treatment for him for less than what we paid at Guardian Veterinary Centre. Read Less

We came to guardian for a surgery consult with Dr Suresh Sathya for out dogs slipped disc. He was very thorough and made sure we understood and were pleased with the answers he gave us before proceeding to another question. He also was very compassionate and seemed like he actually cared about our dogs injury/outcome. In the end he recommended no surgery for now and our dog could heal properly with proper rest, this was an unexpected surprise as most would of just wanted our money. (Which we had no problem paying if it came to that). We would recommend Dr Sathya to anyone in need on advice for an upcoming surgery. Read Less

We had a surgical consult for a leg issue on our dog. Our regular vet was stumped as to the cause of the issue. The vet at Guardian had experience with this issue, which was great, because it turned out to be rare and hard to diagnose. A good vet with a lot of knowledge is invaluable. I give this clinic two thumbs up for thoroughness. Read Less

We have a dog who needed an eye specialist so were referred here. Aside from waiting for an extremely long time to see the Dr., the first visit was pleasant and the Dr. seemed really good. Unfortunately the rest of our experience has not been pleasant. During the second visit we felt like we were being pressured into a surgery that is very expensive and that our dog might not even make it through, because of her age. Not feeling like the surgery was the best idea at this point in our pets life, we opted to continue with the medication. Currently it is very difficult to get the prescriptions for the medication renewed by the vet. They seem to be happy to help you until they find out that you need the prescriptions sent to a pharmacy to be filled. It's as if they don't have the time of day for you once they find out that you aren't paying their high prices for the medications. If it wasn't for needing an eye specialist, we would not be dealing with this vet any longer. They do not seem willing to work with you to find an option that will work for your pet and also not break the bank. Read Less

Worst clinic I have every dealt with , so unprofessional , unhelpful and no matter what the situation they will take all your money without even trying to help out knowing there is a larvae bill. They only care about money there that is it . Never go here. Read Less

Had an emergency for my parrot was referred to go here . He had a bell stuck in his mouth and we couldn't get it off with tools . Worried about his tongue we took him here quick . The staff were friendly / attentive and kind to the animals . They corrected the problem and had us on our way quickly . I amAmazed with your professionalism I will recommend you to all my friends and family! Read Less

They saved my Izzy, what's not to love about that. But one suggestion: if you know that a beloved pet is not going to die then be straight up about payment to get them through their hurdle. Have payment plans for pet owners who don't have the means. If you really care about pets then have compassion, help us. Had I not had the funds I did Izzy would have been put to sleep. Either you do what you do for the love of money or love of animals. You can't do both. Have compassion. Because I didn't like that on the one hand you were telling me that you don't like people going into their savings and yet if you are able to save them, if what they have is not life threatening with proper medical care, then why tell me that if the only way to save Izzy was to go into my savings. Had you been compassionate, you would have suggested a three month payment plan which would have been great. I had to save her and you know you could save her. Just have compassion. God bless you. Read Less

Long review, but I think it's worth the read.Dr. Colin Sereda saved my baby. That is worth a 5/5 star rating on its own. I love my cat more than anything in this world and would spend every last dime on him until I was flat broke. It might sound nuts but I really do not care. Even thinking about the potential death of my cat brings me to near tears. So thanks to Dr. Colin for performing emergency surgery on King, you basically saved my life in a way as well. As well as this your stitching of wounds is very neat and tidy which I like because a lot of vets have sloppy work. I also admit that my cat is not nice to vets at all. He has many mean words for vet techs and vets, he hates being in the clinic, and gets extremely stressed and volatile. It is very hard for me to witness him so upset. So I deeply appreciate how kind they were to me, and especially to him because I know he is a handful. To the vet tech with the long red hair: A) You are extremely beautiful, B) THANK YOU for being nice to me and King, C) Thank you for being upfront with me about some stuff. This vet is open 24/7. I needed to take King here on a long weekend unfortunately, and this was my only option. I was prepared for the worst, but of course, the cost you pay here is comparable to being shot in the face. The vets and vet techs also do not appreciate any humour regarding the price. I made a joke about how for $4000 he better be doing well, and got radio silence from one of the vet techs. Sorry but I get through tough times with humour. They also say they will keep you in complete contact with your pet, and there was a few times that I called but no one could talk to me. So they said they would call me back but they never did. I had to call in again to get updates about King. A simple call back would be nice, it takes 2 seconds and you said you would do it. Dr. Colin did call before and after the surgery which is appreciated. All I can say to others posting here is that Pet Insurance is your best friend. King's surgery came out to be ~3800. He swallowed a ribbon because ribbons are delicious and he clearly couldn't help himself. My insurance covered $3000 of it thank goodness.*** HOWEVER, this clinic makes you pay upfront for the surgery which is insane. It is extremely stressful to be presented with the problem of coming up with $4000 in the next 5 minutes or we cannot provide your animal surgery. I mean COME ON. Why is there no financing options? I basically had to call my Dad in tears to get him to put it on his credit card. For people who don't have that option, what do you do for them? Let their animal die? And I honestly do not appreciate the money grabbing. When I have already paid $200 for an xray that is "suspicious" enough to warrant surgery, I do not need to be offered another $500 - $700 ultrasound to "confirm". If the xray didn't show anything, I would be more open to an ultrasound. But it did - we all know what is going on here, he swallowed a foreign object. Please don't add insult to injury by offering another expensive procedure that is unnecessary. OR if I want to pay $1000 I can take him home but I'll probably have to come back? Like why was that even suggested? To keep the cost down? Because it doesn't - it just means that I pay $1000 today and $3800 tomorrow. Stop.In all honestly, this place needs more donations, or more volunteers or something to get the price down a bit. Maybe they need to make a YouTube like "Vet Ranch" and get some Canadian donations. If anyone owning this clinic is ever interested in starting something like that I would be more than happy to help with it. Getting some more donations could pay for animals who need help from shelters or those who can't afford it. I totally get it - people need to be paid. But these are animals they don't have a concept of money. There has to be a way to make this more affordable for people.So in conclusion: Thanks everyone for saving King. Thanks again Dr. Colin for not letting him die. Read Less

I'm giving this place 1 star because it seems like they are just in it for the $$. My cat has a heart murmur and our regular Vet suggested getting an ultrasound done. She suggested the cardiologist,  Dr. Hawkes, at Guardian. I called and was quoted $700. Apparently the cost breakdown is $500 for the ultrasound, plus $200 for the "consultation". I found it a bit ridiculous that I had to pay $200 just for them to tell me what I already knew, so I decided to make some calls.  I ended up contacting Capital City Animal Hospital and getting the ultrasound done for $500 + tax. And the interesting part is that they brought in Dr. Hawkes to do it. It's clear to me that Guardian adds the $200 fee, just because. And that it isn't actually something that the cardiologist charges. Sorry Guardian, charging silly fees is not how you gain clients. Read Less

My kitty was admitted to this facility after my vet found a foreign object in her intestines. She was in a lot of discomfort and we had to wait for about an hour before we got in. When we finally were seen, they did the exact same basic examination that was done at my vet, even though her paper work had been transferred over, and we were later charged for it, so that night I was charge twice for the exact same exam, even though I had the notes from my last vet. After that we had to wait for about another half hour before being called in for an x-ray. When the results came back I was told she needed surgery and that it was going to cost $3800. The idea of my baby needing surgery and the amount it would cost, when I was already struggling financially took my breath away. I started to cry and the vet said nothing. The she asked how much I could pay today and I told her I only had $700 left on my credit cards. She left the room after telling me someone would come in to talk to me about financing. When that person came in she showed me my options. I asked if I could have a couple days to sort out my financial situation, but they told me that they wouldn't perform the surgery unless they had the money or at least a good portion of it... So basically they were okay letting my cat die until they got their money. They also hinted that my other option was euthanizing. So they would let her suffer before getting their money, or kill her for cheaper. I am sorry, I understand the concept of running a business but what kind of human being gives those options?If it weren't for my family helping me until I could open a line of credit to ensure she got in that night, she would have suffered more or died. Yes financing was available to me, but at a price I couldn't afford per month and what if I wasn't approved for the full amount and couldn't make up the rest? They didn't save my cat, my family and I did. They did their job, and they did it well, hence the two stars, but if I wasn't approved for financing and didn't have a family to help me, they would have let my cat die until I got the money and that's why I will never go there again in my life. Great job on the surgery, but figure out how to have feelings for anything other than money. Life is and always will be more precious than cash, and when you give a $3800 bill to a struggling 22 year old in order to save her cat, it should be an expectation that she would need a couple days to get the money and that the surgery be done immediately anyways, cash up front or not. Read Less

Was told my dog has a PDA heart murmur by family vet. Transferred here to Guardian to have the surgery done. First surgery was open heart, and unsuccessful. That's understandable. Second surgery was using a catheter insertion. Spent so much money, they specifically tell you most of the cost is labor costs. They proceed to try to insert the catheter into my dog, and then realize it doesn't fit. I have no idea how you can work in this business so many years and not know the size of a vein/artery to grab the right size of a catheter. Still charged a ton. All they care about is money. Read Less

The staff here are wonderful, informative, and very kind. I had to pay a visit this past Saturday as my Boston Terrier was experiencing severe pain and distress. The techs brought her into triage immediately and gave her some painkillers and completed our paperwork until we were able to meet with the doctor. The doctor was also very thorough and spent time with us explaining what the issue was. I want to express a tremendous thank you to everyone here for taking such great care of us! Read Less

We had our puppy for 48 hours before she starting vomiting nonstop. After she had a seizure we took her to guardian and she was seen immediately. The staff were amazing. We ended up having to put our pup down due to a congenital liver problem and we are thankful for the support guardian gave us. They gave us time before and after with her and there was no rush. It is pricy but what do you expect? It's what you agree to when you get an animal... there is always the possibility of expensive vet bills. They were upfront with our billing info and considerate of our financial situation. Even though the entire situation is sad I cannot speak enough good words about guardian.Read Less

I am forever grateful to Dr. Dave Fowler for his genuine care and concern for my Cane Corso - Ella. Ella ruptured her cruciate ligament and 2 weeks later her second.  I knew Dr. Fowler had a packed schedule but he fit her in for surgery immediately because he knew she needed to get on the quick path to healing. After each surgery he called me to let me know Ella was doing well even though it was 2am..and i knew he had worked an incredibly long day. I will recommend him and Gaurdian Vet Centre 1000x over - they treated out girl with care and compassion. Read Less

This hospital only care about making money. I took my 2month old pup to this hospital 3days ago. When we arrived there was 4a.m in the morning, we have been waiting in the room until 7am then the doctor comes and it only took the doctor about 5 min to check my pup. Unbelievable long waiting! And it was very inefficient. After my pup took the medicine that doctor gave us for 3 days, she is still very sick, nothing changed. Read Less

I heard good things about this clinic. And for its being a emergency hopital and open 24 hours, I was grateful that I could take my pup to a place where she can be looked after. . But.. although the hospital was open and the staff was amazing.. we did not get the chance to see the doctor during our visit. We were told that the doctor won't be available for another 2 hours or more. This was when we have already waited for 30 min. What's a use of emergency hospital when you can't get help when you needed. We end up waiting for regular clinics to be open and head to one of it as soon as possible.  I can't explain how much more of pain that my puppy went through because we could not get hold of a doctor at an emergency hospital.  I was heartbroken. .. it was not fair for my pup. Read Less

I was highly disappointed in this emergency clinic. It was clear to me this place only cared about making money. I brought my cat in because she was acting ill. They ran multiple tests on her, IV fluids, x-rays (which required a specialist to be brought in, so you know I payed extra for that), over night fees, etc. This was all to find out she had an upper respiratory infection.. So after about 3100$, they sent me home with a 30$ prescription for her and she was fine. I would never take my animals here for any reason ever again. Read Less

So grateful this place is a 24/7 vet centre. We discovered this morning my cat had a hole in his shoulder and it looked infected. Since it's a Sunday, our usual vet is closed so we looked up the nearest place and discovered this place. The waiting room super clean and is lined with leather chairs that are super comfy, which is a good thing because they do triage there so we had to wait for a couple hours before we could as a doctor who swiftly assessed my cat and gave us two options. One would be surgery to check under the skin for "dead space" and the other would be using a large syringe to flush the wound with water, twice a day for two weeks until the wound scabbed over. You could tell she cared more about helping pets get back on their feet than making a quick buck for the centre because she explained how unnecessary the surgery was and that if we kept the wound clean it would easily be enough to keep it from turning into an abcess. I highly recommend this place for whatever injury your furry baby has suffered!! Read Less

We brought our French Bulldog here by referral of our regular vet as he was unable to walk and in extreme pain. The vet techs and Dr. Fowler were fantastic - brought him in earlier than his original appointment date, they were able to do the CT Scan and spinal surgery the day of, and were so great with updating us on how Frankie was progressing. We were originally a little worried as they quoted quite a high price, but it ended up being MUCH LESS than the original quote. I would really recommend bringing your pet here. Read Less

I brought my pup to Guardian.. I was told he likely would not make it through the night and they advised that I consider putting him down.  I went to a different vet for a second opinion of Guardian's diagnosis and it was found to be inconclusive and wrong based on further diagnostics. I can see others on Yelp have had good experiences with Guardian, but I did not.  My pup passed away 2 months later. I will never know if this clinic played a role or if they hurt my dog behind their closed doors.Just think others should be careful with this place and don't be afraid to seek a second (or third) opinion. Read Less

I brought my pup to Guardian.. I was told he likely would not make it through the night and they advised that I consider putting him down.  I went to a different vet for a second opinion of Guardian's diagnosis and it was found to be inconclusive and wrong based on further diagnostics. I can see others on Yelp have had good experiences with Guardian, but I did not.  My pup passed away 2 months later. I will never know if this clinic played a role or if they hurt my dog behind their closed doors.Just think others should be careful with this place and don't be afraid to seek a second (or third) opinion. Read Less

I'm so grateful for this emergency vet.  My small dog was attacked by another dog on a Sunday morning.  Since my vet was closed, I headed straight to Guardian.  I had been there in the past and was treated very well, so it was the first place that popped to my mind.Once again, the staff were very friendly and moved quickly when I explained what happened.  My little buddy was checked over thoroughly, x-rayed and prescribed anti-biotics and pain medications.  I was also given a copy of the xrays to take to my regular vet.What I appreciated the most - was that the vet took the time to explain what COULD happen next, despite their best efforts.  I was really glad that she did that, because a few days later, an infection was present and VERY apparent.  Thanks to the vet, I knew what was happening and what to do.I did have to call this vet hospital the following Friday night after my own vet was closed and ask for advice.  The lady at the desk who answered my call was very happy to answer my questions without making me come in (I had an appointment with my own vet the next day anyway). Read Less

I can not say enough good things about this veterinary centre. I have used their clinic on several occasions with 2 of my dogs. When my older dog was found to have a tumor on his liver we waited a couple of days as we were worried about his heart and surgery. When we were ready we just dropped him off and the surgery was done the same day.When it was time to put him to sleep, I took him in and the treatment was VERY compassionate. I was not charged for an exam. They had a private room with couches. They filled out my insurance forms and let my regular vet and my insurance company know that Oscar had passed.When I went to pick up his ashes, they offered me a private room.I do not consider them to expensive. If you want something done quickly you should expect to pay more. I sometimes need to wait weeks for my vet. Read Less

This is a great place to come if your pet has encountered any sort of medical emergency! It's open 24/7, so you don't need to worry about there not being anyone to care for your pet. The staff is extremely friendly and try to process you through as quickly as possible. Like human hospitals, Guardian operates on a triage system and wait times can be a little bit long if there are other ahead of you. Luckily there's a huge waiting room with a decent amount of amenities for you while you wait. Overall, a great place to come when you've got a pet emergency. Read Less

I am not writing this as a review of the clinic, but rather for informational purposes for comparison of costs between emergency vet clinics.Last night we needed to put our 5 lb cat down.  We took her to the Guardian Emergency Clinic on 99 St.  The staff was fantastic.  However, they charged: - $158 for euthanasia and; - $120 for cremation (communal) for a total of $278, with tax $291.90.Since we still have 3 cats and 2 dogs, I checked with the Edmonton Emergency Clinic Downtown regarding their costs for future reference.  They would have charge: - $230 to euthanasia a 5 lb cat (goes by weight) and; - $134 for communal cremation for a total of $364, with tax $382.20.  That is $90 more than the other emergency clinic, something to be aware of.Our regular vet charges would have been - $70 for euthanasia and; - $70 for cremation (communal) for a total of $140, with tax $147.00.I realize these clinics are 24/7 and I expect to pay more.  However, I would expect to pay close to the regular price plus a surcharge per  1/2 hour of approximately $50 rather than 3 times as much of the regular cost.  Similar to when you call a service person on off hours.  I feel that the clinics are taking advantage of people who have no choice. Read Less

I brought my pug who was ill here are 2am on a Tuesday and they immediately took him in and looked at him. They kept him overnight and he was completely normal and back to his old self again the next day.The Vet came out and talked to me and explained everything to me (amazing woman), staff was friendly and very helpful.Only reason it's not a 5/5 is I do think $150 to see the vet at 2am is a tad pricy. But other than that, I was very impressed. Read Less

I used guardian as an emergency vet after my boy took a turn for the worst after being seen by the local vet. Yes the fees seem very expensive, however, I did not regret using guardian once. The tests they ran, all came back negative and we never received a confirmed diagnosis of his illness because we refused MRI etc. my boy passed within a week, and all I could remember from a horrible week was the overwhelming kindness from the staff, they called, they gave me updates. I remember walking in and feeling like if he could be saved it would happen here. Thank you guardian! They sent a card and when I picked up his ashes etc they had hand decorated his bag with a beautiful saying. Read Less

The Guardian Veterinary Clinic is a great facility. It's a bit more pricey compared to other clinics, but thats because this place is open 24/7, 365 days a year...and you pay extra for that convenience. The staff are pleasant and helpful. Waiting and examination rooms are open, airy and most importantly, clean. Doctors are gentle, caring, and friendly.Even on an eventful weekend like Easter when dogs tend to get their noses into some chocolatey goodness, the wait time wasnt too long. I'd bring my kitties here again in a heartbeat if there was an overnight emergency or health complications on a holiday and I'm truly thankful this business is around for those 'just-in-case' moments :)Side note: Google maps street view claims this Veterinary Hospital in an empty feild, but this newer building does exist. Promise. It's located on 99 Street, right across from that business with the giant Polar Bear balloon on their roof. Read Less