VCA Canada Western Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre
4.1 (794) 1802 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0J8, CanadaHours:
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
How to Save Money at VCA Canada Western Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre
Schedule Regular Vet Visits
One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.
Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions
Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.
Pet Insurance
Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.
How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?
Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | Fetch Canada | 166 |
| 4.9 | Furkin | 348 |
| 4.1 | Pets Plus Us | 862 |
| 4.3 | PHI Direct | 31 |
| 4.8 | Spot Canada | 149 |
| 4.8 | Trupanion Canada | 25,888 |
| 1.0 | Desjardins | 1 |
| 5.0 | OVMA | 1 |
| 3.3 | Peppermint | 3 |
| 2.5 | Petsecure | 226 |
| 0.0 | Sonnet | 0 |
Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.
Thinking of insuring your pet?
Get Quotes & CompareGetting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask
Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:
Tell me about your experience with [pet type].
Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.
How do you handle emergencies?
You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.
How do you communicate with pet owners?
Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.
Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?
Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.
Do you have any questions for me about my pet?
This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.
Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?
Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.
Reviews from Google
Our cat experienced a serious reaction to anesthesia during a routine dental procedure, which resulted in fluid building up in her lungs. From the very beginning, the staff acted quickly and proactively with every decision, while also showing kindness to both her and us. We needed to transport her to the facility via ambulance, and the team took every precaution to ensure her safety. Dr Patterson kept us informed of her evolution and explained carefully the diagnosis and steps to follow. After three days in the ICU in an oxygen chamber, our cat was finally able to come home. We are forever grateful for the patience and care the team provided her, including their effort to pronounce her name correctly.
posted: 10/23/2024
Evelyn passed yesterday - at home surrounded by those she loves and who will forever love her. That was only possible because of the dedication of the amazing veterinary staff at Western. Dr Williams provided us with the best care. She not only clearly has amazing expertise, she also cares deeply for her patients, human and pet. The entire oncology team clearly loved Evelyn and provided me with compassion at every turn. The emergency team also provided us with amazing care. I will forever recommend Western both for specialist care and emergency services. Thank you!
posted: 07/02/2024
THANK YOU Dr. Lavallee and the entire team at Western! Our puppy Alaska was admitted 2 months ago because of a broken femur. The surgical treatment proposed by vets at a different clinic meant she would have some lingering side effects for the rest of her life. Dr. Lavallee proposed a surgery that could be extremely successful and she would recover fully. Even though there was a high risk of failure we decided to go with it. Everything went well and after 2 months of strict rest she’s made a full recovery! She’s back to her usually silly self. We’re forever grateful!! 💖
posted: 06/17/2024
When my Charlie was staying here in October, the staff were so sweet and understanding. They let me visit him when he was in the oxygen tank and texted me with updates every couple hours. When I brought him in a second time 3 days later they were so gentle and gave me space and time to say goodbye. There was no pressure or deadline. Just a room to let me stay with him. Within hours of coming home without Charlie, they sent me and my partner a bouquet of flowers with condolences. The staff here are amazing and treat their patients with the care and attention they deserve!
posted: 12/09/2024
My kitty Peta was quite ill and needed a few visits to the ER, with the last visit resulting in euthanasia. The VCA front desk clerks, RVTs and vets were all very friendly and compassionate, and helped guide us to make the difficult decision to put Peta down. They allowed us adequate time to spend with him and allowed us to hold him while he passed. The next day they sent us flowers which just made me burst out in tears again but was really thoughtful. Thank you to the VCA western staff for your care of our baby Peta.
posted: 04/15/2024
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