VCA Canada Guardian Veterinary Centre

I had a great experience at the Guardian. Dr. Jake was so gentle and caring when dealing with my pup. My dog is usually very nervous around larger men but Dr. Jake clearly gave off a calming energy that was very comforting to him. He was professional, kind, and identified the problem quickly. I hope to not need to visit again any time soon but I'm happy to know that if my dog needs help that the Guardian is available. I definitely recommend this clinic.

Didn't have a good experience. My cat got into a fight, had a puncture wound. I had been keeping it clean and draining the abscess and giving her a natural antibiotic. I'm a herbalist so I at least kind of know what I'm doing.
She was doing okay. Still eating, sleeping, pooping, peeing, purring, wanting out. No heat or irritation. I started to worry that it was taking too long so I took her into Guardian because it was after hours and didn't want to wait until morning just in case.
The doctor implied animal abuse. He told me she was bitten which she was not. I pulled a splinter out and that's where the wound was. He said no, she's been bitten, she needed to be lanced so it would drain and said they don't do that at their clinic. But it was draining lol. He said she had a temperature. Not true either.
He refused to prescribe an antibiotic for her so I had to take her home and not get any medical treatment at all.
Okay here's where the plot thickens. HE CALLED THE COPS AND SENT THEM TO MY HOUSE THE NEXT DAY. They felt sheepish when they saw the extreme care I had been giving her. And they wanted to see the meds for proof I wasn't treating her myself
Back to the story, he takes her into another room and I hear her screaming. No idea what he was doing in there. I took a very unhappy cat home that night and he did nothing for her. He was also judgemental that she had no family doctor. The place she got spayed at some years ago told me she couldn't have a family doctor unless her vaccines were up to date. My mom died of a vaccine so I wasn't going to get her vaccinations. I was misinformed about the family doctor thing. I'm sure he thought I was lying.
Next morning I take her to the Holistic Veterinary clinic 9793 54 Ave. Best experience ever! I took a cab and was there as they opened. They don't take walk ins but took us in no problem. Had a doctor AND an assistant spend an hour with us. Super nice to both of us. Reasurred me that I was doing everything right, I just need to continue what I was doing. Said the natural antibiotic (coloidal silver) is good. Doctor at Guardian had never even heard of it. But to be sure we should do a round of their antibiotics. That's what I had hoped for at Guardian. Said her vitals are good, no temperature, wound is clean and no irritation. They agreed with me that it wasn't a bite. I told them I pulled out a big sliver and they believed me. I felt so heard! They shaved, drained, flushed with antibacterial solution and cleaned the wound. They were so kind and gentle, definitely no screaming cat. Plus I got to stay with her the whole time. Sent us home with antibiotics, a special solution for the wound, pain meds and a nice cone all for under $200! That included the exam!
The other customers were telling me I brought her to the right place. They didn't have to tell me that. I knew it. So I'm giving Guardian Veterinary clinic a bad review here. Hope this helps someone!

Dr Zho and her team were compassionate and responsive. Unfortunately our poor Timber had to leave us, which was devastating.

They are absolutely amazing. Loving, caring, and reasonably priced. What they do for you after your animal passes away is beyond words. Well run, compassionate, and the staff are top notch. So greatful to have this facility here in Edmonton.

I found an injured bird and took it to them and they examined it. It needed medical care, so they kept it to take to the wild society the following day. They were polite, courteous, and professional

VCA is a wonderful vet clinic. They did knee surgery on our Yorkie and everything worked out great. The staff were very knowledgeable and helpful.

I expected more rather than ripping me out. Just to be checked my pet had to go through parvo test even though she had her vaccination for parvo. Then she went for ultrasound and they told me that they have to do radiology to see what’s causing her breathing issue. After doing that they told me that they have to do further tests and doctor consultation. Please help others in assisting the pets and not doing tests after tests and making a huge bill. Not everyone can afford all unnecessary tests. My pet may have only suffering from something minor which caused heavy breathing. She settled down while waiting for an hour in then hospital and still doing tests. I think you guys can do better. Thank you

My old soul dog reached the end and was now suffering, brought her here and the diagnosis was not good. The staff here were very professional and treated my old girl and us with genuine compassion. It was a very hard day. Thank you

Had to wait too long. Lied about wait times. Under staffed. Wouldn't give pet back. Or bring up the bill in a timely manner so we could pay and leave. Had to wait 5 hours for service. Shame on you Guardian Veterinary Clinic. If I could give 0 stars I would. Get your act together.

Great vet techs and receptionists. They were busy when I was there and they kept apologizing for the wait. It was not their fault, they were doing the best they could with all the patients. They don't charge for the initial consult, so you don't have to pay anything unless treatment is needed. They checked her vitals, recommended some actions and to see our family vet in the morning. No charge. Highly recommended.

What a gong show. Waited 8 hours and then got told they are too busy. Did not update contact number and called the wrong person. A run over magpie has more importance than my dog with a scratched eye. Rude people, bad service, do not keep their word. Do not ever go here.

I love how this veterinary Care is 24/7.
We took our dog, family member, and companion. My best friend, to the guardian veterinary Care hospital on the 20th of May first thing in the morning.
We called upon arrival and the staff came out fairly quickly and they were so gentle and they help comfort me and my kids and explained everything to me very well and gave me privacy and time.
Because of this veterinary I was able to show Mercy and put my dog to rest and help cross the rainbow bridge for free, as we are low income and he was 15 years old and really suffering. Offered some of Chico's hair as well as his paw prints which I gladly accepted as well as wrapped his body up and allowed me to take home.
Not even a week later I received a card in the mail sending their condolences.
If you're needing any type of care for any of your pets I highly recommend this place, the staff are incredible, gentle, fast to help and patient. They will walk and talk you through to at your pace and give u a shoulder when needed. I couldn't have done it without them.

Guardian is a place that no one wants to go to. If you are headed here it is because your pet needs help. The staff at Guardian make the stressful visit as easy as possible. They are extremely friendly and explain everything extremely well.

This place was an absolute nightmare! I would only use this place as a last resort if you have a sick animal. I would if possible contact your after hours vet at the clinic you utilize for direction, support and treatment rather than going to Guardian.

After reading a lot of the reviews Ifeel sick that maybe I should have waited and gotten a second opinion instead of putting down our beloved pet. He was sick, vet Kelly was a nightmare to deal with. Advising treatment could cost over 10 thousand dollars or more. Had spent 800 on tests, was told that it would be another 3200.00 for three days of treatment of saline and insulin. And that most likely he would need more treatment with no guarantee he would survive. We waited from 9pm to 8am before they would see him, when they took him in for tests I thought they would be putting him on an IV but no they left him in the kennel suffering. When talking to vet Kelly she said no we were waiting on your decision he’s sick, depressed and suffering and I support the loving choice to euthanize him if funds are an issue. I only had an hour’s worth of sleep in over 24 hrs so worrying that our pet was suffering we came back and had him put to sleep. I now wish we would have waited and taken him to another vet for a second opinion. We were spoiled for 20 years with an amazing vet until he retired. If they feel that what they provided was ethical and supportive care…. I would have to disagree. I will always regret bringing our pet here and will avoid it at all costs in the future.

I brought my cat Marley in to the ER in July. We thought it was just something he ate, but unfortunately we found out very quickly that it was something very grave and would not have been a good life for Marley if we decided to continue care and tests. My poor boy was in a lot of pain. The vets and support staff tried their best to make him comfortable but unfortunately he was showing that he had made the decision to go. I want to thank the doctors and all the staff for their incredible work and caring support through this ordeal. You guys are honestly the most hard working and dedicated people. You kept me updated, gave me honest answers while being especially compassionate and caring. I can’t thank you enough. The work you do is hard and stressful, but for those on the other side I appreciate you and see what an amazing team you are. Thank you again for taking such good care of Marley. It really made this process easier for me. ️

Took our family pet, 15 year old Bella the 17 lb cat, for a consultation with a surgical specialist vet. Couldn't have been treated better. They were very compassionate and understanding. Thank you to our new local vet for the referral.

Extremely nice staff and very honest too. Dont usually charge for a quick triage only if you need a doctor to examine would make the long trip from Northside to Southside to make sure my pets are in good hands.

I had a wonderful experience last night dealing with my ill cat. Even at 2am the staff was upbeat and friendly and I very much appreciated it! I didn't feel pressured or made to feel bad for not going ahead right away with additional testing and that made me feel better as I already wasn't feeling good about having to refuse extra tests due to financial strain. I'm very glad I made the decision to come to this clinic for help.

I am not impressed with this place. We took in my dog as she was in extreme pain and had trouble walking on one of her front paws and would cry out a yelp as it was painful for her. We even had to carry her out of my vehicle as that is how much pain she was in and she is a bigger dog too. The Vet Tech told us this was not an Emergency and a priority compared to the other animals they had come in that evening because we were told her vital signs were normal. How dare she say to us this is not a Emergency or priority when she can see clearly my dog was not able to walk and in pain.

We were told to contact our Vet first thing in the morning to see if they were able to get her in. In the meantime, we asked for painkillers and the Vet Tech said that she cannot prescribe only the Doctor, the 1 Doctor, working that evening with many animals to be seen. You would think they would have more than 1 Doctor on shift. Totally ridiculous! The Vet Tech said it would be 6-8 hours wait if we wanted painkillers and it’s not guaranteed we would actually see the Doctor. So frustrating because at first the Vet Tech tells us this isn’t an emergency or priority. We stormed out walking and was send home with nothing.

To the Vet Tech that told us this was not an emergency or priority to them, just to let you know we took our dog the next day to our Vet and found that she had a Tumor on her leg, Bone Cancer, and we had to put our furry best friend down. Definitely I DO NOT recommend this place turning us away and sending us home!

Our son had a dreadful experience at this clinic. He brought in his blue heeler who had ingested foxtail grass. She wasn’t eating or drinking and hadn’t for three days. She was in distress. He drove 3 hours to the clinic. He waited eight hours (2.5 hours in a exam room) without his dog seeing a vet. He ended up driving to Calgary where his dog received excellent and timely care. While he understands how they prioritize based on severity, all the animals that arrived around the time he did were seen and gone while he was still waiting. Our concern is that they made an assumption that because he was a tree planter (Un-showered with a full head of dreadlocks) he wouldn’t or couldn’t pay and that delayed her being seen. The communication during the long wait was poor to non-existent. If you don’t look like an accountant or a professional present your credit card on entry.

My older cat became very ill and I brought her here on Canada day when every other place in the city was closed. My cat, Sophia had to be put down, it was an extremely traumatic experience.

I dealt with 3 staff, a blonde lady with a ponytail who initially examined our cat, a lady with dark hair and awesome tattoos who was working at reception, and a lady with curly hair who I believe was named Jenny who helped us in Sophia's final moments. All of you were so incredibly sweet and genuine, you truly helped me with my pain and the energy you put into helping us is something I'll never forget. Thank you for your kind words, you were all so amazing.

Following the appointment they sent an extremely sweet letter in the mail to comfort us, as well as having a grief councillor reach out. Thank you so much for caring, this entire thing has meant so much to me and you helped turn a truly horrible thing into something peaceful and supportive. The most amazing veterinary with the most incredible staff. Thanks again.

Love this vet clinic. Brought my dog in a few times during the night over the past 2 years, and the staff are awesome. They are very knowledgeable and they care about the animals that are brought in. On the phone with Guardian, the staff clearly answer all of my questions, and are super helpful. Great that Guardian is open for 24hrs too!

A couple days ago we brought in a fledgling that we thought to be injured, but turned out to be a healthy baby bird! Staff were super quick with examining, so we could put the bird back where we found it.

Kudos to all of the staff at Guardian!
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Horrible place no compassion for what you think, its all about money made me wait 2 hrs after 1 hr visit close to 1000 dollars, i mentioned that to vet pricey she said they have to pay the staff. Do not go here, I recommend westlock vet unbelievable people who care
And no hesitation in helping you and your furry babies.

We took our 3 year old Golden in as she had been diagnosed with cancer earlier.she was in medical distress
The staff was very supportive and helpful and understanding.
We had to put our young girl down as the cancer had spread.
They were so supportive and gave us time with our girl before she was euthanized. They explained the process and talked to us, the process was peaceful, also gave us time alone with our golden.
Thank You for helping us through this tough time.

I cannot say enough good about this place, though I went there under not so good circumstances. They did everything they could to help my little Rune, sadly my poor boy didn't make it. They also sent me a card, with some beautiful heartfelt messages in it. Thank you for everything you do!

If I could give zero stars, I would.
My cat was sent there for post op monitoring by our regular vet. They obviously did not read his file, as his recovery was very diet dependent.that was ignored and he was fed the wrong food.which prolonged recovery and was used as an excuse to keep him longer. Had they fed him properly, he would have done better. He also sat untreated for 4 hours, until they informed us we had to pay a very large deposit to begin his treatment. My cat had kidney damage that required constant iv fluids, but he went without for 4 hours. It cost us more to send him there for post op monitoring and fluids than his entire surgical procedure. Poor communication and a very condescending attitude by staff as well.

I took my very sick cat there. They told me that they needed $2400 for his first 24 hours of care. I told them I only had $2000. They then told me $2200 and would need more money after the 24 hour period. I had no choice but to euthanize him instead of saving him. Yes they were compassionate and caring but that is way too much money. I found out afterwards that surgery for a blocked bladder and 5 days in the hospital costs vets $500. They ask for way too much money!

BUYER BE AWARE. These people will see your animal quickly but they will rob your bank account based on your emotions. I brought our sick kitty in because she wasn't eating and drinking and my son and I were told it would cost $5000 for a life saving surgery. We were left distraught and crying trying to figure out how we could save our kitty's life. We did go get a second opinion from another vet who did the same procedure for $2000 and our kitty is currently on the road to recovery. I get that some things are time sensitive but these people here are straight out crooks. People if you can wait an extra hour or 2 to see a regular vet I would say just relax, calm down and choose wisely unless money isn't an issue for you like it was for us.

If you end up here, you better really love your pet. It will cost you. Or have pet insurance, but I am sure they will find a way to squeeze more out of you.

Our pooch is getting better
good advice from them they really care about what they do really take your pet there

Called my regular clinic for an appointment but they were fully booked so they gave me the number to Guardian's. I was concerned that my pup hasn't been eating or drinking and lost a lot of weight. He was very lethargic and didn't want to take another step; very VERY weak. I was promptly brought to a room which was great, thinking that he will be taken care of and we can have our little baby all energetic and happy again. But they did not seem to be concerned that he hasn't eaten AT ALL. He was brought back for a glucose test which came out normal and also two spinal X-rays. I told them I found a little lump on his back and they just told me it was a glob of fat and didn't do any further inspections. We were just told he only had a minor neck injury and was sent home with pain medication only enough for 3 days (we never even had the chance to use it all). The doctor did not tell us how to treat his injury. Just to give him pain medication and try to give him food. That's it. We were charged almost $400. He came home even worse than before we brought him. He shortly passed in front of my eyes within hours of bringing him home. There was definitely something more than "just a minor neck injury". My family and I lost a loved one even though we've had him for a short period of time. He was family. He was barely a 5 month old puppy who passed without solid reasons to why. Our baby was sent home on death's doorsteps.

After desperately trying to find a place to drop off an injured wild Great Gray Owl, Guardian was the only place in a 2 hour radius that would take an overnight drop off of wildlife! They were polite, punctual, and had a great snack machine/tea before I set off.

It was 11: 24 when I arrived and they were still there ready and willing to help. I really hope the owl pulls through, they'll be calling me tomorrow to tell me if they made it through the night. Hope this owl will be back up and ready to return home soon.

Not willing to actually help people who call their 24hr line. It’s really just the number to call so they can try and convince you to come in for VERY EXPENSIVE after hours emergency care. I ended up calling another clinics after hours line and spoke to a vet who was kind, helpful and informative who agreed we do not have an emergency on our hands. She gave advice and even texted me some literature to read after our call. Guardian is a rich persons vet and nothing more.

I took my dog there to get a lump tested, they said he needed surgery to live. When I took him to the surgeon I was told that even with surgery, he has 3 months top to live. I was devastated but I loved my dog so much and we went ahead with the surgery. My dog passed away after they stitched him up, cardiac arrest. The surgeon said that Guardian should have told us how long he'd live, that it was cancer, and that surgery was risky. I wouldn't have put him through that stress, I would've put him down and let him go out with us beside him comforting him, not alone in a cold surgery room. I hate guardian for this. All they care about is $$. Not the animal or the family. If they did, they wouldn't have done the surgery.

They really helped me out big time. My diabete cat was in a true emergency big time. They really helped fast and made everything so easy. Sadly I had to say goodbye to my baby boy but it was for the best. They made the process easy and professional for me. They let me take my time with my boy and supported my decision. They were great with emotional support. And even help me with doing ashes and paw prints too.

This place is amazing.the staff was compassionate with myself and my fur baby.excellent care in such a stressful time.

The vet clinic is the most caring place for our fur babies. The clinic took great care of my dog even though I had to put him to sleep. Very caring staff.

24 hour pet service. Doctors made a good diagnosis and our dogs pills worked. She is making a great recovery from meningitis. I recommend.

Friendly staff, helpful with nervous pet parents, good health protocols, go the extra mile by clipping my dogs nails every visit no matter if I ask or forget ect. Great vets and services. Pee grass area outside and pet baggies available.

On November 11th, I had to take our Pitbull Daisy in because she'd chewed 1 of her front toe nails off of the toe.
They fixed her up and she was home within a few hours with a nice bright bandage.
Thanks to Megan et el.for making this lemonade out of a lemon.
Wayne Colwell & Daisy.

We lost our cat 1month ago today. Kibbles was our family. This vet was amazing during the entire process. It was my first time having to go through all this. VERY compassionate. The after care for is after Kibbles passed, was so amazing. Thank you for helping us during that difficult day.

Friendly staff and taking the time to explain Milo's health issues. Was willing for us to call to find out as we are waiting and worrying and didn't treat us like we were intrusive but instead understood we were worried and concerned.

Dr. Ken Cockwill and the wonderful staff at Guardian took such great care of my girl Cadence when she wasn't feeling well last week. Although it was unbelievably hard to not have her home for two nights, I got regular updates on her from Dr. Ken. Of course an emergency clinic isn't somewhere I want to say that I'll be back to. But if I ever do have to go again, I know my dogs will be well cared for!

Our Shih Tzu had hurt her leg, we thought she had broken it but it was her hip dislocated thank god VCA is 24 hr. Awesome service

The staff seemed very friendly and professional however been given misleading information caused unnessasary confusion. In the end I receieved what I was lead to believe a reasonable bill but found out that the medication was marked up by atleast 25%. I can't really recommend this business because marking up medication that high is an illegal and wrongful act. I was also given someone elses bath towels instead of my own hand towels and was not allowed to enter even with a mask but someone demonstrating vomiting and coughing was allowed to enter.

They gave 3 units of pain killers for $60 when I got 30 for $16 from a pharmacy. Exact same prescription.

I recently had my dog here for surgery, when i brought him in i mentioned that i dont have a penny more than what i have paid, $6129 approx, and at that i even had to borrow, I have suffered some financial hardships in the past year, and I made it clear to every staff member the vet and the surgeon, that when that money is gone its gone. I called Friday my bill was at $5000, when i called back Sunday it was at $6700, no one called to say hey this is going to cost you more, I think what the clinic needs is an audiologist to check everyone's hearing. I ended up picking up my dog, regardless of the fact that he should have stayed in longer but that wasn't a financial option for me. My dog had pretty major back surgery, and they sent me home with gabapentin for 5 days. You would think the amount of money you pay they may have given enough for 10? I miss the days where vets cared more about the animals then how much is lining their pockets.

Was able to diagnose my cat for free to put my mind at ease until I could get him into his usual vet. Very friendly and professional staff.

It might be good but when you sit outside waiting to get your pet in for 2 hours. They phone you and tell you there to busy, you need to go somewhere else!

If I could I would put zero stars! Horrible to deal with! Take you pet any where else! They would not release my dog and could not give me a bill, it change by the minute! Beware!

Not forthright about costs and won’t even give you an upfront answer when you ask about how much procedures cost, staff are extremely rude whiny young women who don’t even ask the vets the questions you need to know, horrible, horrible place!

My senior parents brought their dog in last night. The dog is older and has been coughing and gagging recently and yesterday was quite bad. About 2: 25 am they took Dante to this emergency vet. Due COVID restrictions they were not permitted to come in and were told to wait. They waited in the parking lot until 5am with no word. So they called and were informed that the dog was "fine" and had been in an oxygen tent but no vet or vet texh was available to speak to them. They left the parking lot as they had an obligation but after they and their daughter in law tried to get some answers about what was done or determined with no success they went to pick the dog up around 7am. They were billed $150 and were told they should have some disagnostics done.why the heck would they have brought the dog if not to be diagnosed? !? ! Just returned from regular vet and the dog is in congestive heart failure. Absolutely terrible service.shame on your clinic.

Turned away an animal at their door because it wasn't quite after hours yet. Pathetic excuse for animal care.

We've used this place before we brought in a stray kitten we found they didn't seem interested in helping unless someone was going to pay but they give good care if you bri g your pet in

We took our boy in after he had a seizure. They did lots of tests on him and kept him for the night because he was dehydrated. They recommended if he has another seizure bring him back they would put him on meds. He had another one shortly after, we took him back. Sat in the parking lot for an hour before going inside to check in at 10 pm. Said he couldn't be seen for at least 4- 5 hours maybe longer and wanted us to pay to do the same bloodwork again, that he had just had previously. No option of meds until the tests were done. We took him home with us. Went to see a different vet who went with other options besides meds and he has been fine so far.

BEST pet hospital on the planet! If you have a loved one that needs immediate help, this is the place to go! I recently had to make a life shattering decision to help my puppy Chica get eternal rest. The vets, the staff, everyone was so compassionate, understanding and respectful, they looked after the family and they're wishes just as much as the pet itself. It was the worst day of my life but they helped make the experience alot less traumatizing than it needed to be. For me, my family and of course my Chica! I can't thank them enough and appreciate the fact they are open Sundays! Thank you Gaurdian! From the bottom of my heart, I know it's not an easy job but you are all top notch and the best at what you do! I'm sure Chica would agree with me as they wasted no time with her! I'd give them more stars but 5 is the limit

My 16 year old black lab is quite old and quite sick. We called a couple of days ago to verify that if his condition worsened, could we bring him there on short notice. We were told, not a problem, we are an emergency clinic. It's Sunday afternoon and after talking to a person for about ten seconds, I sat on hold for 45 minutes, parked out front with about 15 other pet owners, all on hold.we called an actual clinic, and got him an appointment in less time than we were even talked to here. Not real happy about this company and won't ever use them again. Really sad, way too much Covid protocol after July 1, and downright uncaring.

My dog's behavior began to slowly change over the course of ten days and in the end he needed emergency surgery for a large tumor on his spleen. All of the staff at Guardian were professional, thoughtful and caring. Even with the challenges of Covid protocols, the staff were thorough and kept us updated every step of the way. A special thank you to Dr. Kurach for performing the surgery, thank you so very much for the amazing care you gave Duke. He is now here at home, safe and snoring in his bed.

This place is great. When my kitten hurt his eye badly, I was an absolute mess - screaming, crying.basically all the ways you expect a mom to act when their baby is hurt. I had heard of this place before, so I rushed him down there.i was able to get him triaged after about 10 minutes, where they examined him, and then 4-5 hours later he was treated and ready to be picked up. I think I was more scared than he was, but the nurse and doctors were very kind, informative, and helpful. They helped to put my mind at ease, and proved that they knew what they were doing. (The price of everything was pretty average for a vet center for those wondering). 2 weeks later, he has made a great recovery, and I owe it all to Dr. Jeff Thomsen and the amazing team at Guardian!

They saw our pet in the wee hours of the morning, without waiting very long at all. They were very friendly and helpful and talked us through our issue without charging us an arm and a leg just for emergency care.

I of course like everyone else had an emergency with my 13.5 year old basset hound she wasn't breathing properly. They were so good with her didn't try and force her to walk came out to the car with a gurney and carefully transfered her to it. It's covid so I couldn't go inside and you could tell it killed them to tell me I had to stay in the car. Within mins my phone rang and a nurse was asking me the questions they would if I had been allowed inside. 10mins after that the vet called and was so kind after explaining a few things to me it was clear my puppers wasn't going to make it but of course they don't just come right out and say it so she politely told me there were test they could do but that if it was her pet she would just help her pass away peacefully with no pain. It was such a relief to me because I knew this was the right option and they didn't put any pressure on me to spend money on tests I knew were going to come back bad news. They were kind gentle and honest and surprisingly affordable considering it was 1am and they are an emergency clinic. Once it was decided I was able to come in and say goodbye to my wee girl that had a beautiful room where I was able to spend her last moments with her. It wasn't a sterile vet table like I assumed it would be. It was much more meaningful and I was able to really give my pup the love she deserved and needed without her being completely stressed out. Honestly it was 10/10 and I can't thank you guys enough.

The best experience I've had at a vet. Our time here was sad and my puppy was in a great deal of pain, still the care they took of her and us is something I'm very grateful for and with 24 hr care you can visit your pet anytime. I highly recommend.

I have been fortunate in my life to have several pets. Which puts in vet offices a lot. Guardian has by far been the best experience that i could ever ask for.

Never have i met such compassionate, kind people that genuinely wanted to help us. They went above and beyond to help our Cat Loki. In the end he didn't make it, but they pulled all the stops out to try and make sure he had a fighting chance.

I would recommend them to anyone that ever asked. They are the standard to which all pet care should be.

I'll go straight to the point up front and then provide some details:

You should be advised that this facility has wait times of up to 6 hours.

You should be advised that this facility follows strict procedures that requires that a Vet consult with you first before any treatment step can occur.

You should be advised that this facility does charge an exceptional premium for the convenience of after hours care.

You should be advised that as a direct result of being understaffed you can expect to hear the cries and whimpers of other pets in the back in various states of stress and health

I'll point out that anyone who has a pet should know of the difficulty for lay people to navigate pet care. If you do not know this already, then let me warn you that not all vets are made the same. Some are clearly predatory, while others are nearly angelic in comparison. With the utmost respect to my fellow pet owners, I would suggest caution when approaching Guardian Vet.

If you need things spelled out to you, I submit my opinion that you take any and all precautions to avoid this place. If this place is not avoidable, then ask any questions and make any requests of your regular Vet to ensure that you are able to leave this Emergency facility with your pet as needed at any time.i. E. If you need an IV kept in, gauze, or any other supplies such that you will not have to rely on the Emergency for self care or monitoring. Bottomline: A regular vet will provide more tailored care to your pet and to your own family than an "Emergency" facility such as Guardian.

There are some explanations for this opinion. According to Guardian, they follow triage procedures, and prioritize serious cases. Part of this procedure is to have a Vet Tech consult with the family and pet to assess the situation and take notes. From there, a Vet doctor will eventually see you according to Triage, propose a treatment plan, and then carry out this plan, and bill accordingly.

From my own personal observations and speaking with staff, there are limited numbers of staff available. As a consequence, while Guardian's procedure outlined above sounds fine, you can expect wait times of 2-6 hours for what may seem to be simple tasks.

If you were referred to this location by your family Vet, be warned that any advanced notice or discussions by your Vet to Guardian does not change the above procedures or wait times. The Guardian Vet Doctor must personally see your pet and assess your pet, and generate a Guardian treatment plan each and every time. This does not matter if your Vet spoke to a Guardian Vet, nor if your Vet sent test results, etc.

Please note: This is a business. Unfortunately you are vulnerable while you have dealings with this business. Enough said. Do try to protect yourself as much as possible and prepare as much as possible before arriving here. Do not expect assistance here between the steps of the Vet Tech and the actual Vet.

If you were recommended to come to Guardian, have a conversation with your actual Vet about tips, steps, and strategies to get in and out of the Guardian facility smoothly. Ladies and gentlemen your goal is to escape this place. It is not a place you actually want to look forward to.

Good luck.

December 25 of this year my dog got very sick and I took her on the 26th to this hospital
I was more than overwelmed with what was going on with my baby but they kept me informed
She was really sick and we as a family ended up having to put our baby to sleep but they were so amazing with us
Anything major I suggest them they knew their stuff

Was needing to see a specialist for my puppy to see if she needed surgery. When I went to book, they asked if I also wanted to have surgery booked that same day.that caught me off guard as they hadn’t seen my dog or even the X-ray! I felt like they were pushing surgery. Not only that, a consult is $200! Needless to say I went somewhere else, and found out she doesn’t need surgery AND the consult was only $85! WOULD NOT RECOMMEND this clinic.

While my visit was not for the happiest of reasons the staff was professional and very compassionate.

They will not charge you for unnecessary tests and run everything past you first and explain all your options. I will be bringing my pets here from now on.

The staff was kind and did the best they could, however, I came in an hour out of Edmonton and waited 8 hours and all they could do was vital checks because there was only one vet on for the night so I ended up having to go home

Jeff Thompson is the vet who helped us and was awesome.we had to put our cat down tonight and he was extremely helpful and I wish I told him to his face but I didnt get to see him before we left.so if he sees this and remembers the cats name bean by any chance I thank you very much.you helped make an extremely difficult discussion possible and were very compassionate towards us.you went above and beyond exceptional care for our beloved cat.he worked on January 1,2019 on the night shift (terrible way to start the new year) and I thank you once again Jeff Thompson. (I really do hope I'm spelling your name correctly)

The care here is fine. I prefer my animals regular vet but when you need 24 hour emergency you take what you can get. The surgeon I spoke to for my first dogs surgery was amazing. The rest of staff are fine. The front desk ladies are usually rude, you get the odd pleasant one. I went in and waited four hours with two other dogs in emergency room. Then waited 15 in another room, then almost an hour for discharge instructions and medicine. It blows my mind for the price I pay (which I've paid thousands) that this is the kind of service provided. Hire another doctor if you're that busy because the amounts charged here are much higher than an average veterinarian so I'm sure you can afford it. I have no issues with inflated prices that's fine because we need a 24 hour vet and you're paying for convenience.maybe a little Competition would do this clinic some good. They used to be way way way better. Management must have changed.

We were referred here by our regular vet for my dog's hip dysplasia. Dr. Sathya was wonderful! Explained everything to us clearly. Wait time for us was not too long since we had an appointment. I docked one star because of the receptionists. For an emergency pet hospital, the reception could really use a little warmth. No hello, no smiles, no interaction with our pets. I felt like they weren't really happy with their jobs.

If I want a quote I would prefer to get one over the phone instead of coming in and paying for a consult. I am a Full-time student and I was told this clinic was the most expensive so I wanted to shop around. I do not need to be treated like I don't know what I'm doing with my dog. I am just looking for options. I mean its not like our veterinarian services in Alberta are regulated so they can say and choose what they "think" is the best price when everyone's circumstances are different. Morality shows in multiple ways, not giving an estimate being one of them. It's clearly a money grab and disgusting how quotes cannot be given over the phone through mutual trust of talking. Shows how little they care about animals & their owners.

Several of my pets have received care at Guardian, in the emergency and specialty departments. The internal medicine team got me a diagnosis for my older husky mix when she was left crippled after a stroke-like episode, and then helped me keep her pain free and happy for the last year of her life. It was an expensive journey, but it's a 24 hour hospital AND a specialty centre, you have to expect prices to be high for quality medicine and care.
Waits can be quite long especially on weekends in the ER, but it's nothing compared to waiting at a human hospital.

Prepare to wait before waiting, and then wait some more. Then followed by an emergency sized bill. Heh nice staff though and friendly overall. But even if you walk into an empty waiting room, settle in, it'll be minimum 3 hours

Been here a few times and it is always a ton of money for no answers. Went once with my female and was asked to pay 15k after paying 1k already for a test to look for something that no dog has ever had. We waited for another vet to open and they charged $100 and she was fixed.

Took a my male in awhile ago, spent over $10,000 on tests and still got no answers. Just want more money for more tests. I paid a ton for a consultation where the vet told me we had to do a bunch of tests we already done elsewhere. Once they read the actual case that was forwarded from another vet on us, they changed their song and dance on what it was and tried selling us on some other theories to chase.

Went in today for a simple ear infection. They want 300 bucks for a vet appointment and to sedate my dog that has been sedated 4 times in the last few months just to look at his slightly red ear. All they want is a much money as they can from you. This place is consistently beyond brutal. Avoid at all costs.

We cannot thank the staff at Guardian enough for their compassion and support. They were there for us when our pup got sick and needed surgery. From the surgeon to the techs to the front end staff, everyone was so amazing and so understanding - even with our many frantic phone calls to check in on our girl.
They are expensive, yes, but they offer the absolute best service a dog-mom could have ever asked for. I knew that our girl was in the best possible hands as she underwent surgery, post-op are and recovery.
I would highly recommend Guardian as an emergency/triage centre as well as surgery centre. Thank you so much for taking such great care of Bella <3

Very friendly. Took care of my little furry baby at 4: 30 in the morning on a Sunday. Very professional, very clean.

Absolute trash. Every time I inquired about the ct my cat needed the price jumped. The first quote I got was 1000, or 1500 if sedation was needed. Then it jumped to 3000 to call in doctors. Then it jumped to 4000 (not sure why 3k to 4k. They just gave me the same excuse they used for 1500 to 3000) (and they refused to tell me when it would be done. Staff is rude and very cold/uncaring. 1000 to 4000 is a ridiculous jump without reasonable explanation and should be done emediatley for 4k. Not whenever.if you value your pet go anywhere else. They will literally let your animal die if u don't have the money before hand. I hope the staff are treated the same when they are in need.

My cat got ran over by a cat but was still alive and breathing. They took her in and she was in there for a few hours. The doctor brought us into a room and said she might be able to make it but not until they do a bunch of tests that could be up to 1500 just for blood work and x-rays but said it might be worth ir. We went through with it and they insisted we leave her over night, we had to ask how mu h it would be and thats when they told us they cHARgE BY THE HOUR. Makes sense but if shes going to die we just would have liked if they told us to just take her home and let her have her last moments there. They also told us she was in an incubator and when we went to see her they were just blowing air in her face out of a tube:/ staff was very friendly and helpful though. Very expensive however

This place is unbelievable, 2.5 hrswe waited just to get a quote, I had to call from an examination room and ask what the rate was, then after being told multiple times “oh the vet will be right out and come talk to you” we chose to leave, but couldn’t because we had to wait another 30 min so the vet could write up diacharge notes so we couldn’t even leave or pay the ridiculous exam fee.
Nobody at the front counter has any idea what is going on. I would have drove my pet to Calgary and had him looked at there rather than this place!

Nicest lobby, coldest hearts

This is probably the most expensive clinic in Edmonton. Their prices are twice as high as any other place I checked. They were indecisive about my cat's health, basically saying they wouldn't be able to tell anything until I got a bunch of x-rays and bloodwork done.

Whereas, the next vet I went to basically said: "If this cat doesn't get surgery immediately he's going to die. " And they were right to make that call because he hadn't been eating for days and his signs were all VERY BAD. They didn't insist on doing several tests at once. They suggested we first do an x-ray since the most likely case was that he ingested a foreign body. They were correct.

In short: I would only recommend this place and their horrendous prices if your pet needs emergency care and nobody else is open. The prices are fair for emergency night hours, but not for regular day time hours.

So we came in last night after our dogs attacked a porcupine, one dog was mildly injured but the other was honestly pretty bad. We came at about 10: 30 pm, there was 1 other person waiting when we arrived. It ended up being a 3 and a half hour stay, for a job that, realistically, could have been done in half an hour. We decided to leave them overnight as it would be another couple of hours, and they said they would call when we could pick them up. Next morning, no calls. At 11: 30, we decided to just go there and see what’s up. As we are leaving, they call us and ask when we are coming! Ridiculous. We have been waiting for an hour and a half once again, just to pick up the dogs. People have come in after us and left before us as well. Also, it’s pretty pricey. Staff were friendly though & they have free coffee which was much needed at 1: 00 am last night.

My dog was referred here after my local vet in Fort McMurray was unable to treat her condition at the time. The situation was quite serious and after a stressful 4 hour drive to the city, the staff at Guardian were incredible. Very helpful and empathetic. My pup had to spend the night and the facility was nothing short of amazing. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done for my dog, but the veterinarian that we dealt with (Dr. Owen Clancy) was very kind, compassionate, and understanding. I had to say goodbye that day, but the staff and doctors truly made an extremely difficult situation bearable. If your pet is experiencing an emergency, I would recommend no other place than this.

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 Gebapentin where she was unable to move. They had 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 manager 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!

Was quoted $200 for a "consultation" fee despite them knowing what the required surgery was from my vet, plus, an additional $2500 quote for repair of a perianal hernia that I'm having performed for $800 at another vet in Edmonton. So ridiculously overpriced that they should be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage of people in an emotional state because of their pets health issues.