Spadina Animal Hospital

Thank you for providing refuge to an ailing animal. I was unsure of what steps to take, so I reached out to the nearest vet, and they offered valuable assistance.

Highly unprofessional and rude vets. They do not give you the time to ask questions and seem very unknowledgeable when it comes to diagnosing your pet. Ask questions and you will get attitude for asking.

Lack of care for your pet and do not really care what is going on. Just seem to want to charge additional fees and unnecessary add ons to make you spend $300+ for a 10 minute conversation. I have had bad experiences with 2/3 vets there and I would suggest you avoid this place unless they want to start giving a damn about their clients.

Our encounter with this establishment was an absolute nightmare. Trying to reschedule a simple appointment turned into a full-blown melodrama, with a staff member unleashing a verbal storm upon me and literally yelling at me. The staff member was really rude and even threatened to charge me more and not keep my pet's records. They didn't seem to care about our pet's health either. The doctor barely checked the kitten, even though we was worried about her because of the blood were seen on her back. They made my sister come back multiple times for the same thing, which felt like they just wanted more money. I suggest finding somewhere else for your pet's care. This place was disappointing, and I hope others don't have to go through the same thing.

My initial experiences here with Dr. Julian several years ago were good; HOWEVER in the last 2 years, I have had consistently negative experiences:

1. For a 10am appointment, I was kept waiting 1.5 hours without explanation or apology. I totally understand that clinics can run behind, but when I asked how much longer it would be because I had to go back to work in the afternoon, the people at the front desk were rude, dismissive, and did not offer an explanation or apology.

2. When I finally got to see the doctor (did not catch his name, but it was not Dr. Julian), he rushed through the encounter and spent a total of five minutes with us. When I tried to ask follow-up questions, he told me that he had sicker patients to attend to that day, and that someone would call me to wrap up the visit and answer my questions. I did not receive a phone call and received no follow-up.

3. I was assured by the vet & front-desk staff (and it is even mentioned on their website) that they will call you back within 2-3 days to discuss results of tests. I did not hear from them for >1 week and finally had to call them myself to follow-up. This caused significant anxiety and stress during that one week period, and when I finally called, I was treated as if I were wasting their time.

4. Compared to other clinics in the area, I find that there is a lack of transparency when it comes to prices/charges. They present you with a bill at the end of your visit (which I admit is similar in price to other clinics), but there is no discussion about costs before that.

I have given this clinic several opportunities in the past two years, but time and again, I find myself disappointed and frustrated by my experience here. I have since moved clinics to one a few blocks away and was BLOWN AWAY by their professionalism, compassion, and patience towards me and my pet.

Easy to find, it’s right next door to my condo. Compassionate, caring and friendly. Nice vet hospital.

I always enjoy bringing my little Daisy to this vet. All the vets are great and really informative.

Spadina Animal Hospital were vital when bringing our dog Mary from Canada to Portugal on vacation. I would recommend coming here for all your pets needs. They were so accommodating for us and were totally reliable during a time sensitive, stressful time. All the staff offer great service and I'm looking forward to seeing them again soon

These vets are very informative. Helps me make sense of all the crazy things that the internet scares me about. Reliable and trustworthy

I had always taken Sasha to my clinic uptown but my friend told me Spadina Animal Hospital was excellent and to try them out since they’re way closer to me. No regrets, the vets here clearly know they’re stuff and quickly diagnosed my cats’ condition. They even helped him with his arthritis and he’s back to jumping around like his old self again. Give them a shot!

I’ve moved out of the city and I still come back to here for all my vet appointments. These guys rock.

Words can’t describe my gratitude to the Spadina pet hospital. With the recent passing of our beloved old family dog they were supporting and did everything to help.thank you for your kindness, time and effort that each of you put to continue supporting our family with communication.

Spent $450 here only for my dog to get worse.

The doctor advised us to keep our puppy on the same food and diet she was really allergic to, alongside putting her on antibiotics. Her symptoms subsequently got so much worse, and she got even sicker. I did not feel like my concerns were heard at all.

We had to see a new vet, who actually helped her get better within a few days, and cost much less.

On the plus side however, the vet assistants were lovely.

We had an emergency situation and my regular veterinarian could not take us, he recommended we call spadina animal hospital. The receptionist was extremely accommodating told us to come right away. Turns out our dog ate one of his rubber toys a week ago and they confirmed with x-rays that it was still stuck inside his stomach. The doctor went ahead and proceeded with an emergency surgery. It was an extremely stressful time and we called every half hour to ask for an update on him. They were very patient and reassuring during the whole process and our dog is good as new! Needless to say, we will NEVER let him have a rubber toy again!

As a first time puppy owner, I had a million questions during our first examination and Dr. Stewart was extremely patient and informative. I would highly recommend asking for him if you are also new to the dog’s parent world!

My old chihuahua is a patient of Dr. Julian since 7 years and she always receives the best care to keep her happy and healthy!

I’ve tried several vets in Toronto looking for the perfect fit and I’m feeling great about this one. They took the time to explain clearly what was happening with my pet and how to go with the treatment. I called after the appointment because I had follow up questions and they went over the vets recommendation again with me with kindness and patience.

Hello Spadina Animal Hospital. I would like to thank you publicly for the fantastic work you are doing and the genuine care you are showing to our dogs and our cats.

TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE! DO NOT GO HERE.
Front staff was nice and attentive but the doctor himself was absolutely appalling.i came in to check on my female dogs skin condition and her skin was not checked! Not at all! The checkup was not completed properly as i was given no info on anything about my dogs health.i was simply told she has scratches and sent home, ive done my research and what this vet is calling scratches was actually the beginning stages of mange.when speaking with receptionist on if there was anything else they could do the vet doctor overheard my convo and stormed out his office to YELL at me! Arrogantly talking about how he clearly said thats all he can do so he doesn’t know why im asking the front desk.adding on how im disrespecting his degree and his years of schooling. (mind u he told me mange was scratches so he didnt do enough schooling clearly!) i was not talking to him nor was he even in the room this guy listened through the walls and came to yell at me when i was asking someone else a simple question in a polite way trying to understand what was goin on.i told him i aasnt talking to him so i dont know why hes coming at me so aggressively because the conversation isnt his business.he then went on to state he owns the company and so he runs the business so anything i talk about in there is his business (the receptionist later confirmed this is not true) he was just on a power trip.during the yelling the receptionist sat quietly at her desk and said absolutely nothing while he verbally abused me.he then walked out of the room and said “charge her extra” on the way out of the front room.clear as day for me to hear.terrible customer service and NO care for the actual animal just interested in scamming their clients.i visited another vet in my area and she confirmed that the skin issues were mange and administered treatment.this guy should lose his job & complete an anger management course cause he does know what hes talking about and is clearly extremely hot headed and arrogant.

I was amazed by the level of care my old chihuahua has received at Spadina Animal Hospital. He wasn’t eating for several days and I was prepared for the worse… The vet did not want to give up on him, he prescribed some medications and my little guy is back home with me. He’s eating again and his energy is back. I am so relieved that my he pulled through. The vet was very compassionate and follow up to make sure my little pup made a full recovery. I’m thankful for all the great advice and care I’ve received from the team at Spadina Animal Hospital.

Thank you Dr. Julian for being so thorough, patient and kind when taking care of our cat during his last days. He even called us personally to offer his condolences after he found out we had to put him down. Thank you for the recommendation to Midtown Mobile Vet Services, who were wonderful with the home care services.
This veterinary hospital is great overall and all the staff is really friendly and helpful.

I just arrived here in Toronto and my dog was sick after the flight. They prescribed something to help his diarrhea and now my dog is feeling better and I’m not waking up in the night to clean up after him anymore!

We moved outside of the city and we are still taking all our pets to Spadina Animal Hospital even if it’s a 30-minute drive. I really trust Dr. Julian and the team to make sure my furry friends stay in top shape.

Service received was very good and the appointment started on time, which I appreciate as I have a busy schedule.

My last vet appointment here was the first time I was every allowed to be in the room during my kitty’s appointment, because of the pandemic. My fluffster is not the friendliest with new people but she was great with the doc. She didn’t even flinch when she got her shot. Hopefully I don’t have to go to the vet anytime soon but I’ll definitely be coming back here for all my future vet care.

I can’t believe the contrast between this vet and human doctors. I often get test results next day or same day and I can pick up meds on site and my problem is solved right away. I like the efficient, professional visits at Spadina Animal Hospital.

Spadina Animal Hospital helped me with paperwork when I needed to travel to Germany with my dog. They advised on the process clearly and prepared all the documents for me. The whole process was really smooth.

I’ve received an excellent care for my dog Sophie. They were all very professional and I felt like they treated my pet like their own!

I needed to have my dog looked at quickly since she was sick. My usual vet told me they were too busy and referred me to an emergency clinic. The emergency clinic was not able to see us, so I caĺled Spadina Animal Hospital and it was the best thing that could have happened. All the staff was very friendly and the doctor didn't push unnecessary tests or treatments. He even cleared up some information that my previous vet had told me in the past that was making me very worried. They are now officially my family veterinarian and I could not be happier with the service. Highly recommend!

This animal hospital is simply the best! We took our crazy little girl there a few times and she has been
treated like a princess each time! The reception staff is friendly and pleasant to deal with. They always
welcome her with treats, love and care. I would highly recommend this hospital to all puppy owners
who are looking for the best care!

I’ve been going to Spadina Vet for 4 years and I never regretted my decision. The staff is super friendly
and helpful. They are very responsive and always follow up with me to see how my pets are doing after
their visit. It shows that they truly care!

Absolutely fantastic service and exceptional care! I have an extremely anxious rescue dog, and they are
always so patient with her. Highly recommend!

We just recently switched to Spadina Animal Hospital after moving to the area and we could not be
happier with them! Thanks again to all the staff and doctors from Chris, Sally and Bella

I always have a great experience going to Spadina Animal Hospital, with both my dog and now my new kitten. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeble, and the doctors are very attentive. They were also available on a short notice when my dog ate something off the garbage and we were very worried! Thank you again!

We've been a few times with our two cats, and Dr. Oksenberg helped this helicopter mom feel better about the health of my elder cat and younger kitten. Her service is excellent - she's patient, kind and loves the animals!

Dr. Oksenberg is great, but within the office itself we had a jarring first experience when a team member in the back was yelling at someone over the phone and the person disregarded an anxious dog. Overall, not a bad place with a great vet!

Vet here said my kitten may have a heart murmur and needed a $600 ultrasound. We went back to the breeder and her vet and he said there was no murmur. We went to another Toronto vet and she said he had no murmur. Years later, he is still healthy and no murmur or any other condition. It seems like we were being scammed by this clinic or the vet was outright terrible. In either case, we highly recommend avoiding this clinic.

Dr. Julian is attentive, knowledgeable and caring towards my dogs. I have been going to this animal hospital for several years and appreciate the service received on the phone (including responsiveness to voicemails) as well as the ability to book same day appointments in critical situations. Dr. Julian provides thorough and clear information regarding the dogs' health as well as adequate advice on treatment options. It's apparent that the doctor is considerate and mindful of unique health issues with different dog breeds and continues to learn about breed nuances. The staff are generally friendly and I almost always receive email follow ups to see how the dogs are doing and if they're better.

I believe there are two areas where there is room for improvement:

1. COVID protocols - if the doctor is running behind, you may find yourself walking around the block for quite some time - not ideal in the winter. It would be nice if calls happened at the time of the appointment or if an estimated wait time was provided to help plan.

2. Like most places, things get pretty pricey very quickly and more consult about the cost of tests/treatments ahead of time would be useful.

Overall, I recommend this animal hospital if you are in the area. It's way better than any others I have been to in the neighbourhood in the past. This vet does not try to upsell and respects boundaries around personal choice. You can trust that your pet will be cared for adequately.

Not attentive. An example: Vet told me my dog had lost 5 kg when I was surprised because he still looks over weight the vet said maybe let’s double check and he actually gained weight.

I am horrified at how many people in the community are talking at the dog parks about this establishment regarding issues they’ve experienced. From malpractice to complications. Seems people were afraid to come forward based on their interactions with the owner. If you value your pets life, avoid at all costs.

My cat sneezed like 100 times a day, went in and they did nothing, told me there is nothing wrong. But my cat is getting worse by the day. And the hospital refuse to provide any report of what kind of work done, not to mention any metrics on the health of the cat.

Update: 1: 55pm Nov 3 2021 - the hospital became proactive and called shortly after I post the review and they offer to prescribe medication. Upgrading from 1 star to 3 star. Will continue to update until matter is resolved

Update 2: 13pm Nov 3 2021 - the hospital sent over the check up report for the visit on Nov 1 5pm appointment.

Update 6pm Nov 3 2021 - went back to the hospital and spent about another $90 to get the medicine. Doctor told us no further check up required do we didn't bring the cat. Will monitor progress and continue to update.

I stopped by to pick up some specialized dog food. They searched my dog and couldn't find anything. Nothing for my name or phone number. They asked about the type of food but I had to double check with my partner. The list of orders, they said, was too long.

It turns out that they didn't process the order when my partner called 6 days ago, then again 4 days ago.

Overall attitude of person at front desk was rushed and dismissive. Poor attitude for customer service.

Edit (my response to the owner's response!) :
I do appreciate the swift response. I would just like to make two further points:
1. The food we purchase for our dog Balou is medicated and can only be made through a vet clinic. So this is not a product we can purchase at any random pet store. We have purchased this product over the counter from you folks for the past two years.
2. More worryingly, we were never directed to 'order online' until Wednesday. On our calls (both Friday and Monday) we were told the food had been ordered and was to be delivered the next business day or two. So it's puzzling to us that on our Wednesday call, you admitted that staff had "forgot" to put the order through on Friday and the order was late on Monday.

Again, we feel the customer service strategy in this whole situation is to be dismissive and blame the customer. It's sad since we had no issues the past two years.

I have had a very positive experience taking my cats to Spadina Animal Hospital. I am so happy I now take my cats here, after some less than ideal experiences at near by vets. Not only are the staff super friendly, they provide top notch care to my kittens! Their surgeries went off without a hitch, and they were kind enough to answer any post-op questions I've had. Their knowledge has been valuable through these new experiences. I always feel heard and acknowledged no matter how silly my questions may be!

Despite being in lock-down, they have made all my experiences very personable and I feel assured that my cats are in good care even when they aren't with me.

To be honest, I'm new to puppy care. The services provided were great until my puppy had eye infection. He was prescribed eye drops 3 times for 7 days. I did not get the support needed for the first 7 days as he refused to take the drops after the first one. For all other issues, he's been well taken care of so far. I was disappointed after the eye infection story and few other handling issues, which can be improved. I trust it will never happen again after speaking to the owners and I hope my experience will continue to be positive as it started.

Friendly and reliable:) even through covid, they've always managed to fit me in. Thank you spadina animal hospital, for taking such good care of my sweet baby Raisin!

I’ve been seeing the same vet for 12 years but was unable to get my cat in anywhere for urgent care.the whole team here was kind, accommodating and made it really easy to receive care through a virtual appointment.great experience and will return.

We've been taking our dog here since he was a puppy (now 8 years old!) And the care has never faltered! The staff take our concerns seriously and always give us multiple options on how to proceed. He's had 3 surgeries on site and also had acupuncture done for his legs/back issues! I highly recommend this hospital!

We had to send in samples from my dog to see if they were cancerous. I was told I would get results by Friday, or Monday latest. Today is Monday, so I called in the morning and was told that the results would be in any minute. I waited 4 hours to call back and when I did, a receptionist answered the phone seemingly lost and told me she isn't sure what's going on, but someone would call me. When I asked her when they would call, she said she didn't know and she hung up. This isn't the first time I've had problems with reception. They often say they will call me for a reminder, or send me an email and they never do so I have to call and ask multiple times. You would think given the extreme circumstance, she would understand why it might be distressing to say someone will call me but she doesn't know when.

I came few times for my cat and my dog, for vaccines. But every time I need an appointment for an emergency (my puppy had vomiting all night, blood in my cat's urine), they didn't have any availabilities, they told me to go to the emergency hospital because it was urgent.
Don't go there if you are looking for a reliable vet.
I recommend College Street Animal Hospital! Always there for you.

Some of the vets were a great experience although there was one who seemed afraid of my super friendly puppy and felt odd with them being a vet. I wondered if she is primarily for cats and saw my puppy only as needed. But still made me a bit uncomfortable.

Very pleasant when I called to make an appointment and was able to get us in within the week. They are open on the weekend which makes scheduling so much easier! When we got there we were immediately greeted and the staff was so kind.

I got a puppy in November and as he already has a record with a vet in Barrie, we wanted to stick to them at least until he's completed his 3 rounds of vaccinations. He was diagnosed with Giardia recently and the vet in Barrie mentioned they could potentially get a vet downtown to help dispense the medication since we live in Downtown Toronto. They tried to enlist the help of Spadina Animal Hospital but they turned us away. Insane they are in the vet business. We are looking for a closer option as our puppy grows up but now are disinclined to ever visit Spadina Hopsital. Meanwhile, our vet in Barrie says this is a common practice and they do dispense medications on behalf of other vets too. Very disappointing.

Although a very late review but the first time I went there was in Jan 2018 and I read other people's reviews that the staff is really friendly with your pets and they treat them like their own and this is 200% correct. They all very friendly people and my baby boy always loves it like crazy to visit them

First place I call always and hopefully they have time. Dr Jullian is very knowledgeable, confident and his up front personality is refreshing.

Dr. Julian is super helpful and took the time to listen to our concerns and answer all questions. Friendly front desk staff too! My dog loves this place:)

We've been bringing our doggy here her whole life and she's now 12 years old. They've never been pushy with treatments that may not be needed which we appreciate. Their quotes have always been accurate so no big surprises.

The vet is great with pets, super friendly, and doesn't try to upsell you on things. He tells you as it is and lets you make the decision yourself which is really important based on what I've seen online and too many vets pushing for a million vaccinations.

BEWARE! Bait-and-switch pricing on your Pet’s estimate.

On July 20/2019 – they estimate $435.76 for my pet’s surgery.

The very next day, July 21/2019, the estimate is “updated” to $852.14. Same pet, same procedure. The only thing that changed was the price.

I am not making this up. I have saved copies of both estimates. This vet is running a complete scam!

You are better off visiting Harbourfront Animal Hospital at 370 Queens Quay West. Unlike Spadina, they are honest and have integrity.

*

Response to Owner’s response:

It’s true. I did request to be paid the difference between the first incorrect estimate I received and the higher price I had to pay at another clinic. This would have made things right and not necessitated my original review.

Regarding the situation described by the vet.
- It’s true. I am not a client of Spadina Animal Hospital and they have never examined my pet.
- I called on a busy Friday (not Saturday) and requested an estimate.
- How is it the customer’s fault that one of their employees “erroneously sent an estimate for the procedure prior to it being reviewed by a veterinarian. ”? It was an official estimate on their letterhead.
+ They forgot to mention that I received the estimate Saturday morning and I called the employee to thank her for such a competitive quote. She said that I was welcome and she would try to book me for the coming Monday.
- I was in no way verbally abusive. The option they offered was a 10% discount. It’s true that I declined this. Ask yourself, wouldn’t you decline this?

Blackmailer, eh? Name calling is not beneath this vet. Read over the situation described above and decide for yourself. Is this good business practice?

The vets and all staff members here are so caring about all the animals that come in. Even when my baby cat started biting them during blood work, they remained very professional! Keep up the good work. Am very glad that my kitty is in good hands.

We so badly want to love this vet. It's close and convenient. The couple of vets we've dealt with are terrific, even taking the time to help over the phone. Going above and beyond. That being said we are constantly forced to be disappointed by reception. They often forget our requests, forcing us to call multiple times. When asked why - they complain about their jobs, saying that they need more people hired, it's too busy, all with an annoyed tone. They have actually told us across the span of multiple visits that there is a quick turnaround in staff. We find ourselves often looking at each other shocked at how unprofessional the staff can be. It all leaves much to be desired.

Very comfortable experience; took care of my cats very well and was able to answer all my questions. Very patient with me. Will make this my primary pet vet!

I brought my dog to SAH in November; she was coughing. I was hoping it was just a case of kennel cough. When i brought her in, the vet gave her an examintaion, she said that she would treat my dog for kennel cough and hope that that would take care of the cough.

I was sent home with a cough suppresant and another drug for nausea (which i have no idea why i was sent home with as Mona was not nauseous).

The hospital called me to check up on mona, her cough had calmed down a bit but was still present. The hospital suggested i finish the prescription and that they would follow up again to check on the progress. After two weeks, Mona still had a cough.i made another apointment to see if there was another reason for the cough.

On this appointment i saw a different vet who checked Mona over, he noticed that she had a pretty serious heart murmur, (stage 4) this is something that 2 weeks prior the vet missed. I'm not sure how a trained vet can miss a severe heart murmur, this is common for the breed and should have been found when the vet had FIRST checked her out on my first appointment.

Until now, my dog has been extrtemely healthy, and now im being told she has a serious heart condition. The vet speculated the coughing was probably due to a condition called collapsing trachea. He was confident that another round of cough supressant and a bronchiodilator would help to clear her airways. An xray was suggested; but the doctor was confident that the prescriptions would help. I was charged AGAIN for a full examination, even though i was visiting for the same reason and it hadnt really improved.i was just given a refill and sent home to hope for the best. In my opinion, charging me again when im returning for the same issue is crooked.

Mona continued to cough and the vet continued to prescribe the drugs, assuring me that they were helping. I even called and asked if there was another type of drug we could try for her cough and they once again assured me that the cough suppresant was best.

Just over a week ago, my worst nightmare came true.mona went into congestive heart failure. It was teriffying watching her gasp for air and her little body suffer. I rushed her to the VEC where they immediatly took her into intensive care. They suspected heart failure and within 10 minutes. She was barely holding onto life, but the VEC managed to get her stable. Monas heart was so big that it was pressing on her trachea and causing her to cough and make it difficult for her to breath. After just over 24 hours mona was released back to me with a heafty bill.thousands i had to pay, because SAH failed to diagnose my dog properly. Paying them for their expertise and medications when they had no clue what the actual issue was. Now im in debt a few thousand and had a very sick dog whos life expectency is only a few months.

I called the SAH to talk to the owner. I didnt think it was possible to be more disappointed with this business, but Mr. Tim Julien outdid himself with his careless attitude and 'college bro' type deminor.

He was so cold when talking to me. He said that had they diagnosed my dog properly she would still have went into heart failure; maybe a month or two from now. I've been treating her with the wrong drugs for 6 months; so dont tell me she would have been in this position even if i was treating her properly. He said to me 'congestive heart failure is serious man, it sucks' Thanks bro, im aware, she was clinging to life a few days ago. I told him about his gouging prices, he said 'if i sold a t-shirt for $50 and another place sold for $100 i'd be missing out' I told him we are talking about lives, not clothing. He was quite offensive. His remedy was to offer me a free examintaion. The second time i brought my sick dog to you should have been my free examination, too little too late. I cant believe youre allowed to treat animals. You see dollar signs vs.lives. It's a shame. I write this review to warn pet owners.beware.