Reviews of VCA Canada Shawnessy South Animal Hospital (Hospital)

Linda Kennedy

Our dog "Jersey" was diagnosed with incontinence. She was put on a LIFETIME MEDICATION. This medication was not cheap. We continued to bring Jersey back to SHAWNESSY PET HOSPITAL because she was still peeing. She never just dribbled, she would empty her full bladder. She seemed to only do this when we were not home. Each time we brought Jersey back we had to have more expensive testing done. Her medication was changed and we still had the same problem. Since we had many tests done, we thought that Jersey was diagnosed based on the outcome of the tests. As we found out later after spending over $1,000.00 she was diagnosed on a "GUESS ONLY". We were not aware there is no such test for incontinence. Jersey also developed a rash on her stomach. I feel it was due to her laying in her pee. The vet disagreed and put her on a medication to clear the rash up. The medication did not help so I put some baby diaper cream on it. The rash was gone the next day. SHAWNESSY PET HOSPITAL suggested we run some test to find out if Jersey was having a allergic reaction to something. The tests would have cost us a lot of money. I decided to take Jersey off of all medications and try something else. I read on-line that this could be a behaviour problem. We bought Jersey a large crate and put her in it each time we went out. That was in December of 2012. Jersey has NOT had one accident since that day. She obviously did have a behaviour problem and NOT INCONTINENCE. We were so happy to find out our dog did not have to take a LIFETIME MEDICATION. We contacted SHAWNESSY PET HOSPITAL, but they insist they did nothing wrong. We also had to bring in our cat Smokey in December 2012 to have her put down. She was 18 years old and was feral when we got her. She hated going to the vet and the experience was always horrific. We would have to have her sedated most of the time just to have a check up. Smokey's health was fading and we knew her time was short. We were hoping she would fall peacefully asleep at home. On her last day we noticed she was dragging her back leg. She was still eating and drinking. I think she had a stroke and had no movement in this leg. She was still alert and still trying to walk. She appeared to be in no pain. I decided it would be best to put her down due to her age and her lack of mobility. We phoned SHAWNESSY PET HOSPITAL and requested to have Smokey put down. We said we did not need to have a vet examine her. It was suggested that they could try to save her as a cat's instinct is to fight to live. We understand all this, but we also know the fear this would put into our cat. We wanted her last hours to be calm with as little stress on her as possible. To put Smokey through testing etc. would have been traumatic for her. After the 30 minutes consultation it was finally agreed to have her put down. The experience of holding my dying cat in my arms as the vet continued to advise me on other alternatives was devastating. I could not stop crying. SHAWNESSY PET HOSPITAL suggested I contact the College of physicians. This too turned out to be a JOKE. I won't go into details, but the outcome is your chances of getting any money back are slim to none. The worse thing that could happen is the vet gets fined. "Big Deal." I suggested the vet be more concerned about the animals rather than how much money they could make on one animal. "We have decided NEVER to take a LIVE animal to this clinic again. One last thing. "We are with TRUPANION INSURANCE FOR OUR DOGS." ?????

Brenda K. Wallace

They carry the pet food I need

Craig Van Dongen

I always recommend Shawnessy South because of the professional Doctors and staff. Especially like their recommendations on dental care for our 2 dogs.

J F

I've come to this hospital before, and the service then and now is still awesome. The people who work there are very professional and caring, the vet doctor was fantastic as well as thorough with our cat Mr. Jax. I will continue to come to this hospital.

Miko and Bandit Jette

A really friendly clean clinic! The staff are all very friendly and knowledgable!

Ben Dyer

Great vet if you need one but sadly you're gonna pay much more than necessary for the service

Anthony Siferd

Great vets

Lisa

I have a senior dog who is my sweet little fur baby. We found out she has kidney diseas. They take the time out to talk to you and discuss all your options. Talking to you about the best care for our fur babies is so very important. She is on a special kidney diet food which she absolutely loves and she is eating it. They are they to help you along. So very kind.

Sharlaine McEachern

Always great with my pup, plus no waiting right into exam room. Lovely and knowledgeable staff

Liesl Hanlan

My appointment was for a vaccination for one of my dogs. They called and talked me into bringing my other dog for the same vaccination. (Bortatella which I guess is "kennel cough") - half of the one dog's vaccine which is squirted in the nose, ended up on her face. That trip cost me over $300. Vets are getting greedy. I will be finding another vet.

James McGivern

Staff was excellent in taking care of our sick pet. All costs were explained and the care was exceptional. We were well taken care of during a stressful time and they followed up with us to ensure our pet was healthy and healing well.

kira c

Always a pleasure coming here! Front staff are always kind and welcoming. Veterinarians also take the time to patiently explain my pet's diagnosis with me while answering all questions in a clear and transparent way.

Rebecca Duquette

This is the best vet in the city. So thankful to have them on our team taking care of our fur-family.

Kaine Leikeim

The staff here are helpful and friendly. Thankfully I don't find myself going often, but I would never hesitate to take my cat here if I felt she needed it.

Amber Hannah Meyer

Best Ever

Mary Madelaine

My dog was very sick and I got an appointment right away. I literally think that I would be loosing my dog if it weren't for them. The female Dr that looked after my Casper is very sweet and soft spoken. She tried very hard to save us money also and in a week, my dog is back to normal. Definitely recommended!

Kyle Jones

They were able the take us in straight away to treat our puppy. The facility was comfortable, staff was very kind, and Dr. Stevens treated our pup like family. On top of that, the trip was very affordable.

Adam La Madrid

Great staff and always care about our furry children. Thanks for helping us when we have just a question or two.

Andres Cortes

Everyone there is kind, and extremely careful when it comes to the safety of my pet. They tell me what I need to know, and always have a friendly attitue.

Jeff Williamson

Great staff...thorough and compassionate.

Mandy McDaniel

Dr Blythe is amazing and really cares

Angela Lindo

They'll take good care of your pet

Brook-Lynn Bae

Typical corporate vet, I took my puppy in for a simple shot and ended up with an additional charge of $100.68 for an 'exam' I never asked for and wasn't told about. The 'exam' took under 4 minuets and didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Highly unprofessional for making good business. Would not recommend this vet if you know what your going in for. I've never payed over $60 for a puppy vaccine, I left this place charged over 200. Never going back.

Jonathan Draper

Dr Shane Blighe has been a great veterinarian for us. Great knowledge and advice.

Yasmin Hovakeemian

Great clinic, clean facilities and friendly staff. The only issue I have is that their staff rotates quite frequently, so you are not seeing the same vet each time you visit. If they could improve this, I think they could have a solid business model for customers who value having a lasting relationship with their vet.

Yasmin Niroumand

Amazing service! Love the staff they are extremely helpful, the vets are knowledgeable and friendly. Would recommend to anyone!

Chabely Aldunez

Caring and loving..

Alison Johnson

These guys were amazing with my little man and good at managing my anxiety...and making me feel more at ease though what we found is bad news their work communication and support will never be forgotten

Aria Martin Henderson

Helpful and compassionate staff. In a strip mall so lots of parking. Great fast service.

Laura Silver

Fantastic staff and reasonable rates. My puppies didn't want to leave!

Kirsten Nielsen

Always take good care of my boys and they are great partners in planning their wellness. They are always willing to listen to what I have to say and understand that I know my boys best. They know it is about working together toward a solution, not dictating what needs to be done.

Michelle. B

I took my cat here with a sore leg and had x-rays done. The vet said that everything looked fine but appeared to be bunged up so they sent me home with laxatives and some pain killers. My cat had no problems using the bathroom and his leg was getting worse and worse. I went back and saw a different vet here and they also said nothing seemed to be wrong. I went to another clinic for a second opinion and they said he might need surgery. They sent us to a surgeon and he agreed that he would need surgery. In the mean time my cat was in horrible pain he would be shaking a lot and every time he got up he'd cry. If I got a proper diagnosis in the first place I could have saved my cat from a lot of pain. The vets here seemed inexperienced. I was told by the surgeon that his is a common thing to happen in young male neutered cats.

Jessica Jarvie

Very impressed with this clinic! We were able to get in the same day for a concern we had with one of our cats. Dr. Stevens was extremely thorough with her questions/exam. She even sent us the full report from our visit a few hours after we had left which we were not expecting but were very happy to receive. The clinic even gave us a call the next day to check in on our cat even though the exam the previous day showed we didn't have much to be concerned about (just to keep our eyes on her for the next few days) Overall a very pleasant first experience. Though this clinic is a little bit out of our way it is worth the travel given their attentiveness and professionalism. We will be taking our animals here from now on!

Cheng Zu Cui

Visited in June 2021 for my pet's irritated eye. Staff was friendly, facility well maintained. Seemed less busy than other pet hospitals. Was charged $110 for a basic consultation, which included only a questionnaire, heart rate check, and a brief visual exam on the irritated eye (took about 15 minutes). The vet then decided an additional eye test is needed (tear production and cornea dye test), which costed another $110 (took about 15 minutes). In total, was charged $220 for a 45 minutes visit with at most 30 minutes with the vet.

Debbie McDonald

We have been taking our big yellow lab - Butters - to Shawnessy South his whole life - he will be 10 in August. We also take his younger brother Peanut. All of the staff here are terrific: friendly, kind and professional They always do their very best to schedule to fit our timetables! We take the boys here for all of their medical and care needs as well as their nail trims. We also purchase vitamins and other supplements from this clinic. I would highly recommend this team and facility to any pet owner.

jackie daurie

Wow this place is amazing. He told me stuff about my dog that I have been asking for years, and No one has been able to tell me!!! Thank you so much !!!

Mat MacFarlane

THE absolute best! From the smiling faces to the insurmountable knowledge throughout the entire team. You'd be hard pressed to find a more professional and well kept facility for veterinary care. Your furry friends and you will find yourselves in expert hands, at every visit.

mike evans

Went in and within 24 hours I had results. Long road to recovery for the kitty but he should be fine.

Terry Schmidt

Took care of my cat Tigger very well.

Marie-Eve Bujold

We had to put our cat down today and decided to go there. The staff was amazing and very empathetic. They have a separate room with couches and a dog bed. The vet was soft spoken and respectful.

Lee Laudy

Always great care here!

Tyrell Scott

The team here have always made us feel valued and welcome.

Sammy Jerace

Dr. Chan is an angel! I live on the complete opposite side of the city, but continue to bring my dog to see her. She takes the time to get to know you, your family, and generally cares! Not just about the wellbeing of your pet!!

Jim Pake

We trust our cats' vet care exclusively to VCA Shawnessy South. Our vet, Dr. Shane Bligh, os both caring and professional. We really appreciate the caring approach of the entire staff there!

jesse James

Great service and very friendly.

Jason Bennett

friendly staff ,vet was very gentle and thorough

Darren Stewart

They were great in helping us determine the best solution for an old family friend.

Colin Nordick

They were great with our cat Jake on his first visit and thanks again!

Tim Bruce

I can't say enough good things about the service, care and support our two dogs Max and Oliver have received in the past 14 and 16 years. We've used Shawnessy Hospital since there first puppy shots. Dr Blighe, Dr Denny, Dr Goulding, Dr Guest, and Dr lodge. All have been awesome, showing they really care, each visit exceeding our expectations. Thanks again.

Jim Pratt

Everyone is tremendous with Piper even when she shows her teeth from time to time. :)

Annie Mabbott

Had to write a review to say what a great experience we've had with Dr. Shane Blighe. We've taken our puppy and our cats to this VCA multiple times, and he's just been awesome. Particularly with our pup and some dietary/GI issues - he really valued our input, clearly cared about her wellbeing, and walked us through everything. Follow-up and responsiveness was great. All of their staff members have been helpful and kind, and we're grateful to have somewhere to take our pets where they can get fast, comprehensive assessment and care. TLDR: Dr. Shane = best vet we've ever worked with.

Lynne Lee

Good vets but their fees are way too expensive.

Mia Pinsent

Really personable, compassionate staff - they really try to help your pet, not just lure the money out like some other places. The best feature is that they have very long hours which makes it easy to balance with work life and they always follow through!

James Milner

They have appointments and are open 7 days a week, which works better than waiting two hours at Fish Creek hospital. The doctor was nice and explained everything clearly. The charges were also very reasonable.

Suzanne Larsen-Wall

Great vets, good availability

Kristie Buckingham

Great care, staff are knowledgeable and really care about the animals

**

We took our dog there on a Sunday as our regular vet was closed for the day these guys are really really good here pretty busy obviously on a weekend so plan accordingly which can be hard to do when your animals sick or injured they will take emergencies right away ours was just merely a walk in. I recommend this place to be sure it's just good people that work here and the vet is really good.

Raya Lee

I had to to take my dog in last minute for an emergency after calling a bunch of vets and they were the only ones able to get me in right away, Dr Goulding was so kind and caring to me and my willow, she was gentle and made sure to answer all my questions, I ended up signing up for their VCA care club insurance which covered a lot of the costs of the appointment as well as I now can rest assured my puppy is covered and in great hands if anything happens again. My girl is already feeling better the day after too. Thank you so much for helping me and my puppy!

Kaleigh Field

I’ve been taking my French Bulldog, Rafiki, here for just over 4 years. I live in Panorama Hills but it’s worth the drive. He had many medical concerns, and he has probably seen all the vets here by now (which is nice because we have built a great rapport with them)! 4 years ago he was diagnosed with severe hydrocephalus and would have died had they not acted so fast and referred him to the Care center where he saw a neurologist. I can’t thank them enough for the care they have provided him over the last 4 years. They are always accommodating if you need to get in and take your pets health seriously.

Morgan J

Very friendly staff!

Valeria Sanchez

the people there is so sweet, i definitely going back with my others cats

Braden Walker

Amazing experiences here. Open long hours so you don't have to worry about fitting an appointment into your schedule. The fantastic staff even called to check up on my Dog multiple times after an appointment to ensure she was doing well! To me, that is above and beyond what is expected and it's very much appreciated.

Jennifer X

I brought in a cat who is recovering from a urinary catheter. The vet was really detailed and attentive. I had some questions after the appointment and they were happy to answer. They also sent me a text two days after to make sure my cat was on the right track.

Melissa Yavis

We love bringing our cats to this clinic. Dr Shane is a fantastic vet and takes such good care of our boys! He helped us set up a diet plan for then that had been working really well for the past two years. He genuinely cares about the wellbeing of the animals in his care.

Andrew Sousa

We were in from out of town and our dog had an incident they were one of the few places open saw us right away and treated our little guy with lots of care! We came in scared and left with peace of mind and a cared for dog would go back any time.

PA Head

The Vet Shane was excellent and so is Lisa and the other staff

Danielle Redwood

I now live far from this vet but still go because of the service and staff

Lyndsay Brennan

We are very happy here! This has been our pets Vet for 5 years.

trickett7

The staff were very caring and helpful. While other pet hospitals couldnt give me a ball park price on the minor surgery needed, Shawnessy South did. The final bill was right in the middle of the over the phone quote. Our dog Parker had a deep puncture wound that wouldnt stop bleeding from being at the river which we have done many, many times before. So after several hours of bleeding we decided to bite the bullet and take him. Everything was explained perfectly well to us. Parker was comfortable since we walked in the door. The day after the surgery we received a call from the clinic following up on his minor surgery. I will always recommend this hospital for any well loved four legged friend! Great work ladies! Parker sure appreciated the love and knowledge received!

Luis Azucena

Very friendly staff. The online booking and records system is great. Was better prior to being bought out. Now seems to be all about pushing insurance and extra procedures.

Tamara Bykovets

Shawnessy Pet Hospital was amazing. I had to make a very hard decision on putting my beloved shih Tzu down, the vet was great and very informative. Dr Karen Lodge is fantastic. Thank you very much for everything.

Gregory Chabassol

It's a place I go to pick up my dog food and cat food. They treat me nice they are friendly,

Nicole vandermel

Great experience. The staff were friendly and the Vet was very patient with my questions and concerns. I will definately be going back.

Lori Nolan

I took my chocolate lab here for treatment. He was was displaying pain in his stomach, vomitting and no longer eating or drinking water. They ran a few test and told me he has an obstruction in his intestines. To have them run these test they charged me $929.15. I was informed that there was two routes I could take we could go a head with the surgery I won't get into the details of what the vet said since she is denying giving me this advise but the just of it is the surgery would cost me around a couple thousand dollars more or we could put the dog down. Heart broken because I could not afford to pay a couple thousand to have the surgery especially after just droping almost $1000.00 on their diagnosis I decided we would have him put down. I took him home that evening intending to bring him back in the morning. When the morning came I decided to get a second opinion. Thank god I did this because this vet located in Okotoks re ran the test that were performed by Shawnessy South Pet hospital and then decided to to ahead with the surgery. With the same tests being re done and the surgery and after care and all meds my bill came to 1237.03. It blows my mind that they can charge the rates that they do and still have clients. Beware their prices are outragous and I found their sympothy was even worst.

Cara Filiou

Dr Shane Blighe and Dr Colleen Chan have exceeded our expectations in treating our two French Bulldogs. The level of care and compassion in how they practice veterinarian medicine is to be commended. We are extremely thankful to both of them and the clinic staff. I would highly recommend either of them for your veterinary needs. Cara/Chad/Duke /Bella

Savannah Pearce

Always a great experience and I really appreciate the follow-up via text from the vet. Progressive and attentive. Thank you!

Marilyn McCulloch

I have been taking my rescue cat to this location for over 10 years.The service is excellent & the staff efficient & courteous. I highly recommend the VCA Shawnessy South Animal Hospital. Dr. Fiona Goulding has been my vet for these years & has consistently provided thorough & compassionate care for my KoKo.

Trudy Melnychuk

I thought this was a 24 hour clinic? Disappointed I wasn't able to pick up my pets paw print! Hopefully I will be able to get there tomorrow before you close!

Worldwide Gamer

The staff here at VCA take amazing care of not only the animals but also the people during such hard times. Would definetly recommend anyone I know to come here. The technician that helped me was Alicia and she was so sympathetic to my concerns with my animals she made the process so much easier. Thank you!!

Sheri L

This is a great facility, I've never had an issue with them. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and professional. I take my older dog to see Dr. Blighe and it's always a good experience. He's gentle with the dogs, patient and gives you options on what to do next. He doesn't try to just grab your money like a lot of vets. Every time I have gone, he has given me the cheapest options to try first and if they don't work, then we move on to the next option which is a bit pricier. I've always had the first options he recommended to work for me and never had to do any procedures or xrays most vets would've told me to do first. I travel from Chestermere to come here and will continue to do so. I will be bringing my younger dog here as well if she needs help.

Rob Gardener

I didn't realize I was supposed to call in a prescription refill the day before, but when I walked in they were polite and friendly and rushed the approval for me.

J B

Been bringing my cats here for 14 years. Won't take them anywhere else except in emergency!

Bethany Maluorno-Gilles

My dogs have been coming here for 11 yrs. Dr Fiona Goulding is fantastic. She takes extra special care of our dogs. Highly reccomend this vet.

Robert Mullaney

Excellent people, and they can always make time for us! And they like our dog!

Chris Dubois

Excellent care for our kitty. Would highly recommend for all conditions of care. Our kitty is like our child.

Ash Lepard

Vet Shane was super compassionate and cares more about the animal than the money. I highly recommend this vet.

Jonathan Burgart

Great service!!!

ray ridders

amazing, care giving team have always taken care of our four legged family members as if they were their own. They are a trusted part of our family.

Sandra Z

I went in with no appointment worried sick for my puppy. They welcomed me with open arms and explained to me what was going on. They took very good care of Louis and even texted me at night to make see how he is doing. Fish creek hospital was very rude on the phone and clearly showed me they absolutely didn’t care about me or my fur baby This pet clinic is the best and will be visiting them again for regular check ups

Chris Clow

They are great with our cat here

Tristan Quinn

Amazing place. Shane is our personal vet and its always a great experience. I have zero complaints.

marc hunter

The most kind people ive ever met. Had to take my life time friend to them to say goodbye boxing day. They gave him so much respect and kindness.

Tyler T

Very easy to deal with even in the midst of a pandemic. Great attitude and customer care

Arlene Shadbolt

Great

sandra goulding

Best clinic in Calgary

Nadine

Having read most of the reviews, I am assuming the positive ones have come from people who have been lucky enough to have seen a vet at this clinic on the weekday when the more senior, experienced vets work. I had the mis-fortune of seeing a inexperienced vet, with very little practical experience. This unfortunately happened to my kitty this weekend. Without going into great detail, a mis-diagnosis, a cat that went home with pain meds that were dosed so low that my cat suffered in pain until the next day where I could take her to my regular amazing vet Dr Ruelle at Wildrose Clinic, and a $350 vet bill. So so very disappointed. I will add that I have requested that I receive a refund for the un-necessary lab tests on the mis diagnosis the vet thought I should get. The Manager did take my card to refund, but I have not checked my card yet to see if it was processed. Take your cat to Dr. Ruelle

Kathy Kirby

We can always count on the Dr.s and staff to care for our fur babies!

Marius Marin

I like this place because they have done my dog grooming as a walk in, where other places in my area of the City , are doing this based only on appointment, which is hard for me as a Long Haul Truck Driver. It was a big help for my Long Haul Driving companion. Thank you !

Ben Brown

Great little facility, prompt and professional service.

Cara Woods

I recently went to Shawnessy South Pet Hospital to deal with a very sad and difficult decision. Our dog of 14 years had suddenly become very sick. It was an emotional and hard moment for my family and I, and we had many many questions. The staff and vet at Shawnessy South did not hesitate to answer any questions we had, and sat on the floor of the vet room with us as we sobbed and wondered if there were any other options. The vet went over everything with us, in detail, and really helped us to understand the situation so we knew what the right decision would be, and were able to come to the decision on our own. At one point, as the vet was answering our questions, she became emotional and started to cry. This made me really see that she cares deeply about the pets that she deals with, and truly loves animals. They gave us so many options on different things we could do, and it ended up that we had to put our poor sweet girl to sleep. My family and I just could not bear the thought of the cold, stuffy vet room being the last place our dog saw, so the vet offered a different option, to go and sit outside in the grass, in the sun and they would do it there. We sat out in the sun and had the best last moment with our girl that we ever could've asked for. I can't thank Shawnessy South enough, it made a traumatic moment somewhat positive, and I will absolutely be going back there again. It's so nice to feel like someone truly cares in such a difficult moment. Please, if you love your pet, go here!

A Q

I have taken my 2 dogs to 17th Ave clinic for many years, and each visit I was provided with different doctor, I don't know it is because of staff turn over or they rotate their staffs within their organization. I was fortunate to meet with Dr. Blighe during my dogs annual checkup last November, then I realized not all doctors are the same. Dr. Blighe has shown to me he does his job with passion, and he really care about his patients. Two weeks ago, one of my dogs, Missy, had some blood coming out from her mouth, I called 17th Ave clinic and tried to make an appointment for Missy with Dr. Blighe, realized he only happened to work at 17th Ave clinic temporary. He stations at Shawnessy clinic full time and permanently. From my home to 17th Ave clinic only take me 5 minutes, to drive to Shawnessy clinic will take me half an hour at least. But to me, to be able to have the best doctor for my dogs, even an hour drive is worth it. I wasn't disappointed, Dr. Blighe treated Missy according to the best for her and also he explained every detail to me, this is so rare of the experience I had with all the doctors I met with during the years. Although Missy is almost 14 years old, I am sure with the good care provider by Dr. Blighe, she will be comfortable and happy for the remaining of her life. Thanks Dr. Blighe ????

Jenna Maetche

Took my cat in to be examined as he started to pee on my things. Vet said it was most likely behavioural because she examined him and couldn't feel anything. HOWEVER when she examined him, he tried to bite her when she felt his stomach. To me that's a sign hes sensitive. A month later we had to take him to emergency where we almost had to put him down due to his bladder being completely blocked

Donna Jones

Real nice people

Kathleen Dockery Brouwer

I have been going to this veterinarian clinic for almost 20 years.they have provided my fur babies care in good health and bad, and when the time came, helped them over the rainbow Bridge. I have found the staff to be knowledgeable and compassionate, and am grateful for their support in caring for beloved furry family members.

luke k

Friendly and great staff, but WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. Had my cat taken for its kitty shots, each time she went, its $42 for the shots and $98 for a check up, weight, heart beat, a once over that takes less than 10 minutes. The 3rd round was less than month a part between visits but they said its required by law to give the $98 check up everytime. First I’ve ever heard of this. My quote for the spay was between $500-$900 which is RIDICULOUS. Just because your owned by an american company and in the city does not mean you should be taking unsuspecting pet owners to the cleaners every time they go. I found a good vet in Cochrane that would do the spay for $275 all in, with a tattoo.