Vca Yaletown Animal Hospital

I don't normally write reviews but I had to for this hospital. I scheduled a very last minute appointment (day before) for my cat. Reception was so nice when I came in. Then the vet I spoke to was very thorough and kind. She asked me lots of questions and was so helpful in explaining everything she was doing and her thoughts. Once it came time to consider diagnostic options, she broke down the estimate line by line and gave me a couple options to consider if I didn't want to do all the tests the same day. She also happily answered questions I had and was candid with what tests I could revisit later if I didn't want to do everything all at once. Way better than another emergency clinic I went to last year where I didn't feel nearly as informed on what was going on and left confused at my bill. I'm very happy with my experience here, and would be happy to come back! Read Less

Dr.Gavin Myers at Yaletown Pet Hospital is updated with alternative veterinary medicine, nutrition and practices that have changed and revolutionized veterinary-medicine. He is the main Veterinarian that sees the animals in our life. Read Less

I can't say enough good things about Yaletown Pet Hospital. All of the staff are wonderful and SO kind. Truly compassionate for animals. I have been to several different vets and this place I can say is truly the best in the city. Thank you Dr. Archeck and Dr. Spooner for your continued support for our dog. You are a blessing and I could not be more thankful for you and your Pet Hospital. Read Less

Overall quality of veterinary care and cleanliness of facilities are great, services are at a higher price point that other vets but they are downtown so you pay for convenience. Subtracting one star because have had a lot of inconsistency with sufficient information being recorded to a pet file and essentially having to re-explain your pet and their condition every phone call or request for a prescription refill with administrative staff. Once you can reach the vet it is always resolved. Read Less

I love Yaletown Pet Hospital. I've been to a lot of places where they treat your pet like a number and an invoice and this is certainly not one of those places. Everyone I've dealt with has been incredibly patient and attentive and have taken the time to answer any questions I have (it's usually a lot). Also, I appreciate that they are understanding about the expense of vet visits and haven't pushed unnecessary/extraneous check ups which is a perk. Read Less

A huge disappointment! When my dog needed the most help in his life, this ‘hospital’ did absolutely NOTHING! They’re best skill is sales and setting follow up appointments for more sales. Cross selling is a thing now at vets?? Sales people guised as vets. They don’t help fix your pet, they help sell you they’re products and services. It’s disgusting how they can call themselves a hospital while turning away sick pets. Read Less

It’s been weeks since the disastrous incident at Yaletown Pet ‘Hospital’. It took me this long to get over my rage. My dog was puking pink frothy blood at home so I rushed him to our family vet at this ‘Hospital’. The blood was everywhere when I got to the hospital and the receptionist was completely non-chalant and asked what was wrong? When I explained the situation, without acknowledging the situation, he just said he’ll be right with us. With my dog still bleeding and barely breathing, the receptionist resumed his phone conversation, leaving us waiting in this state. After his call ended, all he said was ‘all our vets might be busy, but let me check’. He casually walked back and few minutes later comes back to tell me they’re all busy but he can take the dog to the back to check his vitals. A few minutes pass and this time a vet came to talk to me with my dog. They say he looks bad and couldn’t get vitals because he’s too sick. Without asking for more info the vet just told me to go to the Animal ER across the Cambie bridge. I sprinted back with my dog to grab my car and rush to the Animal ER. My dog was seen immediately. They took care of my dog and respectfully with dignity, euthanized him. This was the service I was looking for at my family vet. Yaletown Pet Hospital isn’t a ‘Hospital’. This place is a dog store with sales people licensed as vets. When i complained about the entire issue, all they did was provide us with a disingenuous apology, saying that they did nothing wrong. If your pet is healthy and need a check up, this place is the place to go to get sold on their products. But if you’re pet is truly sick, this ‘Hospital’ will absolutely disappoint you. Read Less

I can't recommend Yaletown Pet Hospital enough. The reception staff are so friendly, welcoming, and helpful. I've seen three different vets here, and found all of them to be super knowledgeable and caring for my anxious dog. On our last visit, the doctor suggested something new we could try to calm my dog's nervousness that I hadn't come across despite lots of research, and it seems to be helping. I know that coming into this calm and well-run environment makes a big difference in what could be a scary event for my dog. Read Less

This is a great place to take your pets. They are so nice, are willing to help in many cases where time is important. They are respectful and treat my dog as I would, as a living thing not a pay check. Amazing! Read Less

I have been bringing my two dogs to Yaletown Pet Hospital for years now and am sad to say I will no longer be returning. 2 weeks ago, my husband brought in our dog Jay, a 15 year old bichon, who was in urgent need of comfort care and ultimately euthanasia. He had an unexpected event at home, where he suddenly started having difficulty breathing and was clearly in pain. Since we live a few blocks away, my husband grabbed Jay and ran to the clinic. From the moment he walked in, he was ignored by the front desk, and then ultimately turned away by the veterinarian, stating that Jay was too sick to be treated there. There should not be any situation, where a dog is too sick or their condition too emergent for them to be turned away when all they are asking for is alleviation of their symptoms and suffering. This is a concept called compassionate care, a concept this clinic is clearly lacking. So, my husband ran home with Jay and drove to a 24 hour emergency hospital, where he was immediately provided with palliation of his symptoms and we were able to let him go in a dignified way. At the 24 hour emergency hospital, Jay was seen immediately, the veterinarian listened to us, and compassionately and appropriately treated a dying dog – they did what Yaletown Pet Hospital was incapable of doing for Jay. Yaletown Pet Hospital was our family veterinarian clinic, but when we were the most vulnerable and in need of their help, compassion and expertise, we were completely let down. They turned away a dying dog, unnecessarily prolonging his suffering. When I brought this up to the clinic, they blamed my husband’s poor communication. This to me, is completely unacceptable as I feel that it is the veterinarian’s job to clarify goals of care, especially of an animal that is known to them. They should be ashamed, as their actions that day were an embarrassment to the field of veterinary medicine. I wrote this review because I truly believe the culture at this clinic needs to change, and if they are to be called a pet hospital, then they should start acting like one, before more animals endure undue suffering. Read Less

We took one of our cats to Dr. Karley and it was the best vet appointment we've ever experienced. Neither of our cats like going to the vet (as is the case for most cats/cat owners, I'm sure) but Dr. Karley went above and beyond to make our cat feel comfortable. We will definitely be going back there for any and all future appts for both cats. It's also a perk that it's so much closer to our apartment than our previous vet clinic. The only downside is that it *might* be a tricky location if you're driving/parking there (I'd avoid parking on Expo, park on any of the side streets and walk over instead). Read Less

I've been to quite a few vets as I've moved around a bit since getting my two cats 12 years ago and these guy have been my favorite.Recently my male cat had a urinary obstruction and they took great care of him. (Please also read my review about VCA Emergency Clinic.) They do a great job of finding the balance between what people can realistically afford and making sure your pet is cared for, which I really appreciate. Unlike many other vets they do not try to convince you to do every test in the book unless it seems really necessary. Pragmatic and compassionate, and easy to trust because it feels like they really care about giving you and your pet the best experience, not just how many loonies they can convince you to spend. LOVE them. Read Less

Koda & I love it here. The staff are kind and informative, and feel very much like extended family. The cost isn’t prohibitive either. We walk by it daily and Koda loves the staff (& treats) so much he wants to go in every time. Highly recommend! Read Less

We take our Boston Terrier here for regular care and recently he needed surgery to remove some suspicious growths. Everything went well and the surgeon Dr. Deb Archeck was very helpful and informative, as was all the staff. He's just had sutures removed and everything looks good. It's a nice office, but one drawback is parking. There is no street parking in the immediate vicinity but there is parking in the adjacent office building. Thete is street parking a block or two away, but it can be hard to get. Hours are good, open 7 days a week. Early morning and late appointments are available. Read Less

It's ALL about profit with this clinic. Not about the true long-term health of the pets at all. Now that I've gone to another vet for my dog, I realize what a terrible thing I have been doing taking my dog to this clinic. At least he's in good hands now at a vet clinic that actually cares about animal's well-being. Read Less

Save yourself the time and money and DONT GO HERE. I've had a previous good experience with a vet and a now recently terrible visit with a different vet. Let's just say I paid 500$ (could be more still awaiting for the test results) to find out my dog has a urinary track infection. Are you kidding me.I saw blood in my dogs urine, so I immediately thought, infection. He wasn't having any other accompanying symptoms such as lethargy or pain, so I thought it would be a simple urine analysis, then a culture to see what bacteria was growing. Simple.When I got there, the vet did her assessment and pressed on his bladder and he didn't flinch. Then I was told I need an X-ray BEFORE a urine test because he may have a kidney stone. And, he needs a full bladder for an X-ray. That's weird, I thought that only applied to ultrasound testing. I work in healthcare and feel the order of diagnostic testing would be in a similar fashion to humans... So, I refused and said I'd feel better to have the urine test before to rule out infection, then I can get an X-ray after, save myself an extra test. Well the vet explained that he's a male and infection is least likely, which I agreed, because it's true. And explained to me about the full bladder, which I didn't fully understand because I'm not a radiologist, but my gut told me that this was only applicable to ultrasounds... but she had to come back and explain this after her assistant tried to take him away for his X-ray... Didn't fully explain her thought process the first time or ask me if I wanted the X-ray, just said he's going to need one and that's what she was going to do.So when she explained this to me, I agreed with some of what she said, but was also unsure about the 'full bladder'.  I wanted to trust her as a professional and give her the benefit of the doubt, so I paid the 170$ for the X-ray. And the results came back negative for 'big stones', because smaller stones can be missed. So after, did a urine test, and she told me that they will call with the results... and what the results will tell us is if he has white blood cells in his urine which indicates infection or if we see any crystals, which indicates stones... uh what?!? So you can see crystals in the urine too and you still didn't do a urine test FIRST? I haven't had a patient with a stone, but I heard it's the most painful thing to pass for a male- like childbirth to women. And my dog was unaffected by her pushing on his abdomen??Hmmmm... i think it's safe to say that this professional would've done the urine test first if she wasn't trying to get money out of me. I was so blown away, and mad at myself for not following my gut..Moral of this story, go to a clinic where they give you options, and explain to you what they're doing and why. Read Less

Dr Myers is absolutely wonderful. Our family Pomeranian pup spends most of his time in the interior and that's where his regular vet is. He came down with my parents this weekend and we ended up needing to see a vet ASAP and we were able to get in super quick at YPH - on a Sunday(!). I seriously can not say enough good things about YPH, and particularly Dr Myers. He calmed our panic/worry, helped sort out our pom, and also kept him as calm as possible whilst keeping us informed while he went. His knowledge and bedside manner completely reassured us and made the whole group feel at ease. Thanks a million! Read Less

An excellent experience! Got a convenient appointment within days. Clinic was clean and had a fresh, modern vibe. We were taken directly into a private exam room and only had to wait minutes to see the vet! The doc was very friendly, down to earth and didn't try to upsell us on any unnecessary treatments, tests or products. I feel that the prices were very reasonable (I have been charged way more by other vets in the past). Overall, an excellent experience and would be my first choice of clinic if needed in the future. Read Less

On Saturday morning I brought my female Husky puppy to this place because she was hungry and I was aways from home without any of her food with me. I purchased a can of wet dog food and I asked if I could borrow a bowl so that my dog could eat her lunch while we were there. The young asian female receptionist told me no and that I should go to starbucks to get a disposable plate.I wrote to their email address to let them know about my complaint and nobody responded.I would not recommend bringing your pet to this animal hospital Read Less

This is now updated to January 27, 2017. I have continued to be totally happy with YPH - vets, tech, and admin people - all great. I lost all my cats to old age ailments around the same time, but now have a kitten of 8 months and he has been introduced to YPH (even before he was neutered) and appears to be happy with all as well. This is Spenser. I have been a client of Yaletown Pet Hospital since it opened. I've brought a total of 4 (delightful) cats to the Hospital and have been more than happy with the care they received, as well as with the respect I received. I've also recommended the YPH to friends. Dr. Spooner and his "gang" of vets, technicians, and other staff are great! I also like that YPH sponsors a fund raiser for the BCSPCA every year. Read Less

The staff are great with my cat that I board for 5 days. They have separate cage for each cat (she's a bit anti-social as an indoor cat). She seems happy as a clam. They are really thorough to make sure we can leave her stress-free. I'm totally down for this place and will be my trusted place for my pet, definitely! Read Less

We love our vet who's a great listener and provides excellent care for our dog. The staff is friendly and professional and Yaletown's facilities are super clean. We hope our dog lives a really long time and YPH is our partner in his well-being. Read Less

Our little 5 yr. old Yorkie is really sick with an incurable illness. Dr. Myers at YPH has been with us throughout the painful journey and is very compassionate, knowledgable and understanding. The front desk staff are very helpful and attend to our requests quickly and professionally. We highly recommend Dr. Myers at YPH! Read Less

Yaletown Pet Hospital has always given both my pets the best of care in the last 7 years, well into their senior years. Their new office at the Expo location was a vast improvement and enabled them not only to carry a large variety of pet foods, but also health products. It brought a whole new dimension to make a bright and pleasant atmosphere for both patients and guardians. Although all the veterinarians are great, Dr. Vandermeer stands out as not only a great professional in her trade, but also a very compassionate human being, even after the passing of one of my pets. It was with her help and care that my Maltese, Frosty lived to 18 yrs., 7 months, and one week. She now helps care for my 19 yr. old Birman cat. I couldn't have done it without her health care and support through many things, The girls are pleasant at the front desk and appointments are punctual. Explanations given are easy to understand along with directions. I will continue to seek my veterinarian needs at Yaletown Pet Hospital and recommend them highly. Read Less

I've had to go to a few different clinics back when they weren't open on Sundays and absolutely nothing compares. Super friendly staff who clearly really love animals and value you as a client. They are even supportive of you having your dogs on a plant based diet, which is important to me. I recommend YPH to anyone looking for a veterinarian. Read Less

The Doctors and team members are always super friendly, professional and answer all my questions. We just had our dog spayed this month... she received excellent care and healed beautifully. Thank you! Read Less

My cat has vaccinations and general check there today. Overall experience was great: staff was nice, professional and caring. Prices are regular and not too bad at all. They are open until 9pm and not busy , which is great. We will definitely come back. Read Less

The staff is always great with my yorkies and if you don't have pet insurance they offer you a few different choices where you get a Month free, which is a nice bonus. I went through Trupanion and they are amazing. Yaletown pet hospital files all  the papers for you so you don't have to deal with any paperwork. All the doctors are great and knowledgeable and they always try to save me money by finding an alternative or  less expensive procedure, depending on what the problem is. The doctors always seem to give me a choice and tell me the different ways i can choose depending on my yorkies problem. Definitely a great veterinary hospital to go to if you live downtown Read Less

Absolutely useless and expensive. Did a bunch of useless tests and charged $29 walk in fee, I've never heard of a walk in fee in my life! Couldn't diagnose and treat a simple eye infection. Said might me glaucoma and sent me to partner clinic who wanted to do same tests again. Avoid at all costs! They are incompetent and negligent and concentrated on money instead of helping the pet.I went to a different clinic next day who charged $20 instead of $69 for each test, diagnosed eye infection, gave antibiotic and my huskey's  eye is 70% better within 24 hours. Read Less

When we moved to Vancouver a year ago, I had to find a vet for our beloved 10 year old rescue dog, Tasha. Based on the reviews I read, I decided to give Yaletown Pet Hospital a go. I have had no regrets on that decision. The whole team is great ... the minute you walk in the door you feel welcomed. The care and treatments that Tasha received from Dr. Gavin Myers was exceptional. He is very knowledgeable, a great listener and easy to talk to ..... and he truly cares to do what's best for the animal. When Tasha was diagnosed with late stage lymphosarcoma, Dr. Myers was there for us whenever we needed him. He took our phone calls and addressed our concerns and guided us through the process ... but, always letting us make our own decisions. When it was time to say goodbye to Tasha, Dr. Myers was very understanding of our grief and pain. He was compassionate and caring and you can tell he truly loves animals. Read Less

Extremely professional group of people and very accommodating. Although they are not a 24 hour emergency hospital they are usually able to fit my dog in on the same day that I call-in.They are also extremely organized and send email reminders about everything your dog might need such as their vaccine schedules and check-ups. After a visit they always call back the next day to make sure you dog is okay.They also keep every single detail about your pet on file so that vets know exactly what your dog has been through and file insurance claims for you each time so you don't have to go through all the paperwork. I am extremely grateful for such excellence in service and gives me peace of mind as a dog owner. Read Less

Always great service. I have been taking my dog here for a year and a half. They have worked through allergies, worms, all her shots, numerous rashes and ear infections plus getting fixed and a hernia removed with no issues at all.Very caring team! Read Less

You know, when you're told that your dog might have a fungal infection that is contagious to both animals and humans, you'd think there would be a littttttle bit of urgency to get the results (only a 10 day turn around, they promised!) and to notify the owner.We went in on Feb 3 to get a possible hot spot tested because our dog was chewing at the base of his tail so much that it was inflamed. After being randomly given some antibiotics - "no idea what this is, we'll do a test but give him these meds just in case!" - and sent home to wait 10 days for results, we were left in the dark.Of course, by day 5, my dog was so bloated that he doubled in size. He was drinking 4x the amount of water he usually drinks, and he, a highly food motivated dog, stopped accepting food. I cut him off right away and called the vet."I'm sure it's only temporary! You should never stop antibiotics!"Well sure, I'll just let my dog expand with gas and stop eating until you get the test results back.Oh wait. Right, it took 23 days.The only time I got any information was when I called in Feb 17, only to be told that they haven't even come close to doing the test "but it should be soon! I'm sure of it!" I finally called back today. Apparently the results were in almost a week ago but they haven't gotten around to processing it. Oh, and they had left us a voicemail about how the test results weren't in yet on the 18 ... except we never received a call or voicemail.So there you have it. A "10-day" turnaround lab test that took 23 days to get results that wasn't even close to being processed and only completed after I called.This isn't the first time this has happened either. We were asked to send in a stool sample when we first adopted our dog only to get no test results back. Of course, being naive, I didn't call to ask about it although I can probably assume the issue was due to the vet's insistence that we feed our dog Hills Prescription Diet ... which contains everything he's allergic to.Remember: just because they don't call you doesn't mean it's good news.When I started writing this review, I gave them 2 stars because frankly, the vets are very nice - though one seemed scared of my people-friendly dog ... - but the more I think about it, the more I realize that there hasn't been a single interaction with them that hasn't left me frustrated with the complete lack of communication. Read Less