OVC Smith Lane Animal Hospital

The staff and student veterinarians and those who oversee the medical students are awesome! They are quite thorough and most knowledgeable and, best of all , they do it because they love animals and their enthusiasm is palpable. We had our dog there a year ago (little more than a year ago) for cruciate ligament surgery, and being a large dog (about 90 to 100 pounds), it was a big undertaking - especially since thos was a second such surgery (on a different rear leg). She recovered fully, and our most recent visit (different issue) has cemented OVC Small Companion Hospital and OVC Smith Lane Animal Hospital firmly in our hearts (in a very positive way). We know our dog gets top-of-the-line care and is treated well and is thoroughly checked when she is seen at either location I am so grateful that these veterinarian clinics or hospitals are available for our pet care needs (in truth, our dog gets much better treatment from these veterinarians than most people I know get from their family physicians). Oh, to be a dog at OVC; Great care. Compassion. Knowledge. Thorough. Empathy. Not feeling rushed. Quality care - excellence in care has to be one of their mottos. I cannot sing their praises high enough. Highly recommended.

posted: 09/17/2024

Dr. Ford is truly the best veterinary ophthalmologist in the country. Her level of care, expertise, and attention to detail is unparalleled. Not only is she incredibly patient and compassionate, but she is also extremely professional and highly experienced in her field. We have been bringing our dog, BaoBao, to her for regular rechecks, and despite having to travel three hours each time, we never hesitate because it is absolutely worth it. Dr. Ford's dedication to BaoBao’s well-being and the results we’ve seen make the journey 1000% worthwhile. She’s always so kind and gentle with BaoBao, taking the time to say hello and let him sniff her hand before each exam, which puts him at ease. It’s clear she genuinely loves animals, and that makes all the difference. We are so grateful for her expertise and the warmth she shows to us.

posted: 09/20/2024

My dog visits their physical therapy clinic and really enjoys it. The staff are so tuned in and encouraging, the best bedside manner I have ever experienced from the whole staff. They really give my guy all the attention he wants which is great for us, makes doing the right thing by my dog a great experience for all of us. Pictures of my boy Hulk happy to be there BC he gets treats and pets from all the staff.

posted: 01/04/2023

This is definitely the best Vet in Guelph. You can get your presentations filled right here for your pets, and saves an additional trip to the drug store. All staff are attentive and pet lovers. They have a monthly program for your pets that can reduce overall costs. Prices are reasonable and you are helping veterinary students learn.

posted: 01/27/2019

My family & I have been taking our cats to this hospital for over 10 years. Referred to by my aunt, who had also been taking her dog there. We all used to love it there. Kind staff, helpful & affordable.. But as the years dragged on, my family had noticed the quality of service being provided had greatly decreased. So much so that my aunt switched Veterinaries, & so did my family. Now, I hadn't experienced anything bad, so I stayed.. Until one day, my cat was having kidney problems, & they had told me that they needed to keep her for a few hours for testing. We've left her there many times before & had no problems. But as of last year, I finally saw how not only their quality of service changed, but how disrespectful some of the staff were. The same day I went to pick her up, I could hear my cat crying. Loudly. She's a pretty quiet cat & usually never cries. I tried to think nothing of it, maybe she just missed me. When we got into the car, as soon as I took her out of her carrying bag, her entire underside was cold & soaked with pee. I thought, oh no, she peed in the bag and went to wipe it only to find that the inside cusion was bone dry. My heart immediately sank. I gave them a call & was very respectful & calm & told them what condition my cat was picked up in & that I wasn't mad, but I was very disappointed. To which her tone changed, & she put me on hold right away. When the lady came back, she tried to tell me that my cat maybe peed while in the bag. When I told her no, she tried another excuse.. & when that didn't pass, she put me on hold again. I wasn't mad, but I was starting to become mad. Doesn't matter if it was an accident. Any human being would expect to pick up their pet, their family member, & loved animal, the same way they were dropped off. All I wanted, & I'm sure all anyone would want, was an apology. I don't care who did it. I care about how. Whoever got put in charge to take care of her clearly didn't. All I got was to wait on hold two times & excuses with an attitude. The bottom line is that there was not a single hint of remorse or empathy towards my pet. Forget how I'm feeling. Imagine how my cat felt having her own pee soaked up so much into her own fur it looked like she had been sitting in it the entire time I left her there. Looking back, hearing her cry in distress made sense, & I knew I should've trusted my instincts. Maybe if I checked her before I left, they wouldn't have a reason to think I was lying. Maybe if they did their job right, I would not have had to give my cat a bath because the pee was starting to clump her hair together, & the smell was too much to handle. I'm not saying that this is a bad place. I'm not even saying that everyone who works there is insensitive. But whoever was in charge of my fur baby & whomever I spoke to on the phone, I hope, along with their attitude, that they work on their compassion despite how they feel about the situation. Because I could've started the call lashing out on them & being one of those difficult customers, even if this situation called for it. Instead, I was calm & respectful, even considering how the state of my cat made me cry. Anyone can say or come to whatever conclusion they'd like to about this situation. But to give you some context, I ended up having to take my cat to 2 other vets, both for multiple overnight stays. One in Georgetown & one in Brampton. Not either of those places did I pick my pet up unhappy & wet. Not to mention that the stay was much longer. And with what had happened here, obviously I was worried about what state she'd be in after a night.. I didn't disclose the situation that happened prior, but when I went to visit, (they were nice enough to offer visits) I was very happy to see her dry & laying on a towel in the kennel. To which they changed anytime it got wet with pee or dirtied by food. I do not wish to post this with intent to bash, but in hopes that if you show the slightest bit of unhappiness with their services, that they remember this & learn how to better handle a situation.

posted: 08/28/2024