Vca Canada Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital

We attended the emergency services on a weekend and were met with the utmost professionalism, compassion and most of all attention to our Airedale Terrier who had been suffering from extreme lethargy, refusing to eat or drink, all day. An intensive physical exam was performed, including a brief ultrasound, and a diagnosis. The cost was not prohibitive and we don't carry dog insurance. We feel so very fortunate to not only have this facility available, especially on weekends when no veterinary services are available, but access to wonderful Veterinary Doctors. Thank you for caring for my beautiful girl, Annie. Read Less

I would not and cannot recommend this clinic,the fact that I gave them one star is an over rated valuation of their service and lack of compassion.My daughter took our 15 month old kitten to the clinic  to have her evaluated due to some concerning symtoms. In as much as this was late on a Sunday evening,the clinic was the only option as none of the other vets were open.We were advised that the cat had a serious uterous infection and if not operated on immediately she would not make it through the night.The cost was estimated between $3000 and $5000.unless there were complications it could be more.A comparable operation at a cat clinic would be around $500 to $1000.We were devastated at this cost as my daughter is a parent of 6 children and this close to Christmas it was simply unaffordable. The cat belonged to my 11 year old granddaughter and we wanted to do everything possible to help this poor little animal. We asked if she could remain on antibioctics and put on a drip for hydration until morning so we could take her to another clinic. We were informed that they doubted the cat would survive the night without surgery.They did inform us that if we were to surrender the cat,the humain society would undertake to look after the operation and the cat would survive but my granddaughter would not see her again. We were caught in a rock and a hard place so I was able to negotiate a lesser fee of $2100,as the maximum we could afford and the clinic said they would operate for that sum as the procedure included spading at the same time.The assistant indicated that it was a simple procedure and given the cats young age she was sure that it would have no complications.We agreed to proceed with the operation and the cat would be the first to be attended at around 12 am.Around 4:30 am we received a call from the clinic that there were complications that our kitten actually had a cut intestine that was infected.This required an immediate response that would need an additional 45 min of surgery, cost estimate back to $5000. Not only did we make our stressful decision on the wrong diagnosis we were now required to complete the surgery with the only option was uthanation. the option of having the humain society assistance was off the table. Inaddition no option to undertake a payment plan,it was all or nothing. Rather than proceed to complete the operation we were force to have the kitten uthanised. During this period it was also very apparent that the doctor was becoming angered with our hesitation, What ever happened to a little compassion,the cat was then uthanised after we stated as before that we simply could not afford the cost of $5000 to complete what was now an irrevocable procedure.This clinic and our veterinarian were totally concerned about getting  an absorbitant pay 5 to 6 times the cost at an vet clinic that was not designated an emergency clinic. Now in addition to the $2100 paid we are being charged for disposal. This has been one of the most tramatic expirences of our lives and Neither my daughter,grandaughter or I will ever use this facility again. Read Less

Unfortunately I would not recommend this clinic, but they are the only after hours option so you may have no choice.  It is going to be expensive if you don't have pet insurance - be prepared.  We waited a long time last night and Dr. Browne's bedside manner was not good - both in lack of empathy and explanation of options.  She told me she didn't have time to explain the reason for an x-ray  as she had other patients to see.  I am fairly well educated.  If I had not had some confidence in my ability to understand and analyze information this would have been a much more stressful encounter in an already stressful situation as our kitten had aspirated water and was in respiratory distress.  We knew from other online reviews, past experience with our dog (who had pet insurance), and interactions with owners, that this emergency clinic was prone to provide an expensive care plan without concern to budget.  We did not agree to the care plan proposed ($1500-$2500 with lots of testing) but instead, at 10pm, and after waiting 2.5 hours to speak with the vet, agreed to x-rays (at insistence of Dr. Brown who informed us this would be critical to have before morning and told us in a very disapproving manner we'd need to sign we declined their full care plan), oxygen, iv, antibiotics and an overnight stay.  Phoned at regular intervals between 11pm and 2am to find the results of the x-ray and found they had been taken by 11pm but not read until 2am. Was not really impressed by this as the reason we had agreed to the xray was Dr. Browne had emphatically told us it could make a difference to the care our kitten received - and then she waited three hours to read it! Finally, had the doctor call us at 2:30am with the xray results, and an excuse as to why she had not returned our previous four calls stating that normally the matter is transferred over to the morning vet to contact us.  Weird response when we had informed the staff repeatedly that we really wanted to know the results and were waiting anxiously, could not sleep, and were promised each time we called the vet would call.  Dr. Browne also told us that because we hadn't approved their care plan our kitten might be discharged in the morning by the vet who was on staff before our regular vet could see him (he was at the emergency clinic in the morning for a shift and this is the reason we'd wanted to wait).  He wasn't and we just picked him up at 7pm. My view is that this clinic is in business to make money and it shows.  They provide a much needed service and there are some caring staff, but the focus on an expensive care plan comes at a cost to animal welfare imo.  There is no doubt it is in the best interests of pets to have every type of testing, but there needs to be some adjustment to a reasonable budget without the attitude or pets that could be treated in a less extensive but precautionary manner are instead going to be euthanized when owners are presented with, as the patient care rep stated, "the gold standard care plan" in the thousands (and just to start) for a matter that could be managed in a more cost effective manner first.  My feeling is this is a corporate directive couched as best interests of, and advocating for, animals.  Fine line but definitely no attention to this matter from the vet, only the patient care coordinator seemed aware of this.  I would also guess from the way our final $1270 bill for a one night stay and which still included items we had not authorized but didn't have the energy to contest, is divided, that the vets are being paid based on a percentage of billings in this clinic. Read Less