Reviews of Dawson Street Veterinary Clinic (Veterinarian)

Christine F

This review is long overdue. I have tried a handful of vets before finding Darla. My dog had anxiety with all of the vets he had visited prior, but felt comfortable with Dr. Cabanas. Beyond that, she has been amazing with answering my MANY questions over the years, and making sure that my dog gets the best treatment. I would recommend her to everyone.

Kalvin W

Very nice and knowledgeable doctor and assistance

Shalyn L

Dr Darla is the best veterinarian I have ever met. The care, detail and heart this wonderful vet gives to each patient and family is amazing. I will always take my pets to her and completely trust her. Thank you for being so wonderful - an absolute godsend at our hardest time.

Mia

I'm very thankful for this wonderful Veterinary Clinic. Everyone is so kind, and they will treat your pets as their own. Nothing but great things to say!

Zoë Jackson

Dr. Darla is calm and composed, and so far I haven't felt like they are squeezing me for all my money. She provides her recommendations but ultimately lets me decide (without pressure) what I'd like to do. She's also great with my hyper dog. The only thing I'd recommend changing is that they use a soft cloth on the consultation table, but my dog likes to walk around a lot and gets excited, so the cloth goes everywhere which is a bit awkward and potentially unsafe (slipping around). I'd recommend a silicone mat instead, as this can still be cleaned/sanitized between visits and would keep the dog/cat from slipping around if they tend to move a lot.

Matthew Chan

Dr. Cabanas and her team are fantastic and a credit to the community. Highly recommend the community around Burnaby consider bringing their cats and dogs here. Do note that the examination room is a tad small; however, large breeds should not have any problems mosying in and around the room ^^

Carol Ferraz (Carol)

They are good and good products. If you need specific Medici action, give them a call and the vet will see your pet. I recommend

Настя Тихненко

Darla is the best veterinarian that we've met! Very professional and wouldn't charge if the dog doesn't need some of procedures

Shana Bain

Dr. Cabanas cared for our dog, Kahlua, for many years. You know it's a good sign when your dog actually pulls you to get into the clinic to see his favourite Dr. Thank you for your years of care.

Catherine Hawthorne

Nice clinic, well kept & clean. Dr Darla is amazing. She is a very thorough and caring professional. We are so glad we found this clinic.

Thomas Sowinski

Dr Darla is amazing. We've been taking our cats there for years now, never had less than a great experience. Knowledgeable, great with the animals and really cares about their well being. Can't recommend enough.

Colin Greig

I can't say enough good things about this vet. Highly recommend.

Corina F.

Organized, professional and very trustworthy vet clinic. We have been coming here for a few years and it is the only vet our cat feels comfortable at.

Leung Siu Tong

Clinic has a great attitude and are genuinely interested in the well being and health of your pet. Price was realistic and not out there to grab your money like Burnaby Vetenary Hospital. Darla was a very informative vet and was not pushy at all with anything. Highly recommended. Thanks Darla and Kelly!

David Chandler

I used to bring my dog Waldo to this veterinarian when I lived in the neighbourhood. He was always treated kindly and gently. We moved to the Sunshine Coast about 2 years ago and so we had to find a new vet in the area.... But it just wasn't the same. Waldo recently passed away of kidney failure at the age of 11. I'd like to sincerely thank the team for their care.

Gregory Low

Fast and reliable for cat food. Have been buying from this clinic for years.

Ravneet Grewal

I have had both good and bad experiences here. The good: Dr Darla and her staff are every nice and welcoming. For routine visits like shots I have no complaints and would give 5 stars. Dr Darla is patient and answered all my questions. The bad: I have brought my dog in a few times now with issues and my concerns were always dismissed as "everything looks normal". A few times now I have spent upwards of $100 per visit just to be told there is nothing wrong and have to visit another vet for diagnosis and treatment.

Tim Linklater

Amazing care and treatment. Highly recommend, best choice for your family pet. Dr. Darla had walked us through the extremely sensitive steps of handling the final days of our family dog with such grace and caring. She is very knowledgeable and did an amazing job of explaining the situation we were facing. I couldn't imagine taking my pet anywhere else. It is very clear that they love animals here. Best choice for our family. A++++

Sarah Saghah

My kittens enjoy going to this vet clinic, and all of the vets and staff are so helpful and sweet!

Tanan Vancouver

Good service but a little pricey

Paul Griffin

Very helpful and very knowledgeable staff

Stephen Lerch

I have spent a lot of time in Vancouver trying to find a good, trustworthy vet and now my search has ended. Darla is caring and honest, and she will not overcharge you for anything. She takes the time to explain everything and her empathy for the animals is evident. She guided us through the end-of-life for our very much loved Lilycat, and we were more than happy to visit her again with the newest adopted member of our family. The staff are all professional and kind. Note: Call before you go to make sure they are open.

David Surlaya

Super friendly vet. Not pushy on anything. Really love the staff too.

Breanna Jackson

Great experience at the clinic. Dr Cabañas is friendly and knowledgeable. The front desk staff were friendly and welcoming!

Jamie Marmolejo

Our dog usually gets very anxious and scared around most vets, but with Dr. Darla he is more calm and willing to let her examine him. She is thoughtful, honest, and kind. She is very knowledgeable but is also willing to put more thought and research into our dog's unique issues. I highly recommend Dawson Street Clinic, it's a bit of a drive for us but is worth it.

eunsuk Park

Very kind and friendly

Liam Caswell

I've been living in Burnaby for less than a year and when I started to search for the best vet for my dog, Dawson Street was one of the first results. This is for a GOOD reason - incredibly kind, professional team. My dog and myself were supported through the entire routine check-up to ensure he was as happy as he could be. I couldn't be more satisfied with my vet choice in our new home. Thank you so much!

Gordon Cawley

Made an appointment two days prior. mentioned I had to ensure the appointment was complete by a specified time and was assured this would not be a problem. Arrived and was told it would be another hour before a get could see me. No call was made to inform me prior to.

Katherine

Dr. Darla and her team are the absolute best, and my dog LOVES coming here. Everyone is so kind, patient, and professional. They also always take the time to throughly and informatively answer any questions or concerns I have.

Ili Y.

Dr. Darla and her team at Dawson Street Vet took amazing care of my senior baby <3 He needed surgery to remove a lump and dental cleaning. I was quoted an initial fee, but the damage was greater than expected once they began the surgery. Dr. Darla and her team did an amazing job and ended up asking for an extremely fair price for both surgeries. I have no idea how to thank you for all you have done for Coco and my wallet! As a uni student, the kindness extended towards me was unbelievable and financially so very helpful. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Cooper Duffin

Vet is great she really cares about our animals.

カイテン

The Vet is very nice and caring, however it is obvious she is new to the practice. The office is small and cramped, no AC or fans (in 33 degree weather). She examined our cats for their yearly checkup in a very dirty back room (littered with dog hair all over, it flared my allergies). Table and room should be tidied after each guest or two. She wanted tests done on my healthy cat in "case something might be wrong". And after all that, my old vet would give the kitties a treat to calm them after being prodded, but didn't even get that. Also can't do any tests or procedures on their own, can only do referrals. Shame, because she is nice and caring...

Laura Antonescu

One of the few vets in the area that treat and see to my budgies. I also get my Harrison's bird food from them.

Fia B

They're so kind here! Really care about the animals. Reasonable prices, pretty average.

Laura Antonescu

One of the few vets in the area that treat and see to my budgies. I also get my Harrison's bird food from them.

Alexis Xu

Been going to Dawson Street Veterinary Clinic ever since my kitten was 4 months old, Dr Armstrong has been the most patient and sweetest vet I’ve ever met!

Scott B

Darla was very easy to talk to about dog health and is very knowledgeable regarding modern vet practices. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a vet who really cares about the health of your pet.

Gemma Nicholls

Darla is awesome and I trust her with the care of my cat completely. He's in good hands!

Liberty de Vera

Excellent service, our dogs come here and are always treated kindly

Josh Evans

Hands down the best vet.

Katrina Ly

Dr Kelly Armstrong is the sweetest and most friendly vet ever! My dog absolutely adores her and she is so informative and knows what she’s doing! So grateful to have a vet like her! The prices are also very reasonable and do the best care for your pets!

Kim Grady

Amazing, i came to this vet during an emergency, due to misinformation/misdiagnoses/negligence of my past vet, i decided to bring my loved one to this veterinarian. Darla has been nothing but thoughtful, resourceful and helpful during an extremely hard time. I couldnt recommend her enough, the vet techs alone have been beyond amazing and understanding. Darla has helped make a plan for my loved one, something my previous vet was unwilling to do. I hope to continue the services with this vet. Edit: unfortunately my childlove has passed... i am very honored to have been supported by darla and maddy, i couldnt recommend them enough now, for information, understanding and care. I am very happy my loves final vet consultation was with such a gentle woman.

Jenny

Now that my puppy is finally better, I can post this review. I went to this clinic as we recently moved to the area and it was within walking distance. First couple visits were fine for check-up and keeping up for shots for my older dog even though the interiors were extremely rudimentary with ikea bath mats sliding around. When our new puppy needed vaccinations and had a cherry eye problem, that's when the professionalism truly showed. I got quoted prices for the shots earlier through a call and email and then when we arrived and had the shots done, the fees we paid were much higher and with examination fee on top for both my dogs. My husband immediately took my puppy to check his eye when his cherry eye popped out during a walk, and instead of trying to massage the dogs eye (like another vet I went to and numerous online dog owners suggest), we were told to buy an eyedrop and see if it helped for the next few days. It didn't. We went back for another examination and the vet barely handled our dog. She told us to go see an eye specialist which she couldn't ballpark any pricing for us, but told us the initial examination fee with the specialist will be a couple hundred. The surgery will cost more. She also asked me if I googled about cherry eye. Why would I pay for a professional examination if I can just trust whatever google says?? Before the eye specialist, she recommended us to use an eye libricant that she will "give us" and promptly charged us for it after. She also gave our puppy a USED, oversized cone and said she didn't have any new ones at the moment. Second time we went back she said the same thing. Either they have extremely unorganized inventory or few medium sized dogs come see her. All in all, we spent over $300 for nothing! Worried and frustrated, we contacted our breeder who referred us to her longstanding vet who doesn't take new clients but took us in. I was told that Darla called my new vet and warned him that he may not want to take me on as I can be difficult. How is this professional? My breeder assured the new vet as she knows me for many years and both my dogs were from her. We drove 2 hours one way just to go to this new vet who is 1. Extremely knowledgeable and even showed us information in his books. He handled both our dogs super well. Explained pros and cons of the methods and told us general vets can do this surgery but he can also get an eye specialist as well. Gave us the choice. His examination also told us our puppy had 2 teeth with baby teeth still attached, we had no idea and we weren't told this previously. 2. All charges explained, detailed, nothing more and free checkup the second time. 3. Much cleaner, nicer facility with many demonstrable tools. 4. Called us to let us know progress. All in all, I would drive 4 hours to go to this new vet and not walk 5 minutes to see the Dawson Street vet. I am horrified about my experience and would not entrust my fur children with this clinic.

Wilson Luong

THE BEST! I had the good luck of seeing Dr. Caroline Tan and she was not only the most helpful and caring vet I have ever seen, she was also the most clear in what to expect and the best course of action. Dr. Tan and her team have my highest recommendation, don't hesitate to visit them for all your needs and you will be treated by the most approachable veterinary team!

Andrey Brotzky

Attentive and understanding people.

Trudy Pal

Friendly and understanding

Jeff Kim

Always having a great experience whenever I visit.

Karen Kohfeld

Dr Darla is wonderful, kind, compassionate vet. She is very knowledgeable and has always provided me with detailed answers to my questions. She makes recommendations of tests and medications but does not pressure or persuade. She has helped me to care for my two senior cats for several years. She always calls with follow-up information following tests. She's even helped carry my cats back to the car after appointments. My cats have both been very comfortable around her, too. Darla takes her time and provides sufficient snacks. Both girls hate the car ride but purr in the examination room (they LOVE the IKEA rugs that she uses). About six months ago, we had to say goodbye to one of our beloved senior kitties. Darla stayed late on a Friday night before a holiday long weekend, past 9pm, to help us. She waited for my family to come to say goodbye, and then she explained everything clearly and carefully so that we (including my 11 year old daughter) would understand what was happening. She was gentle and caring. My only suggestion for potential clients is to be prepared to set aside enough time. Darla is efficient, but she does have a small clinic and things take time (processing payments, picking up food, etc). Just be sure to call ahead and let them know your time constraints of you have them. They will work with you. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

Katie

Have been there since they opened and Doctor Darla has been very helpful. My pup has a whole host of issues and I never felt she prescribed more than what was needed, unlike my previous vet that wanted to do anything possible to increase the bill.

LC DogMom

Dr. Darla is amazing and we wouldn't bring our boy to any other vet now! Our dog Dude is very nervous of people especially vets, any other vet we've brought him to have been good but have just got us to restrain him so they can get the job done as quickly as possible but Dr. Darla had so much patience with him, she gave him treats and a squeaky toy to play with/distract him, she spent a long time trying to get him to relax so it would be a positive experience for him. In the end I still had to hold him while she gave the shot but he was definitely easier to handle and we really appreciated all the effort she went to and hopefully as he gets to know her he'll be more at ease. He was just there for his yearly shots and a check up, they didn't try to sell us all kinds of extras and it actually ended up being cheaper than expected because there was one shot he didn't need! Also love the fact that it's just a small room and he was treated on the floor, was nice not to have to lift him on to a big cold table! Highly recommend this vet clinic, good opening hours, reasonable prices, free parking out the back and a vet who obviously loves animals and takes her time to do what's best for your baby. Thank you Dr. Darla and Dawson Street Vet Clinic!

Amanda Wong

Absolutely phenomenal service. I switched to Dawson street clinic from another vet and I was blown away by how nice the receptionist and vet were. The vet took LOTS of time to go over everything with me as a first time dog owner during my puppy’s shots and health check up. She answered all my questions, gave me recommendations, and was very transparent about the costs of different options. The vet did not push me to get unnecessary testing done

Caecelia Sugandy

The receptionists need learn to reply the customers' phone calls or to let the customers know about the diagnostic appointment

Valverde Steglich

Pepe, the cat, is very friendly

Swyft Wing

The office was a bit cramped, but the veterinarian was great! She took the time to explain everything in detail.

Jose D. Aparicio

Competent and friendly staff. Dr. Cabañas has a gift for empathising with her patients.

Jae Oh

The Best Veterinary experience I ever had.

Belinda Paularose

First time I went the brown lady at the front desk was extremely rude. I understand if someone's having a bad day but deal with it on your own time , do not take it out on the clients. The nail trim was $25. I've been to other places where they charge $19 max for both cats and dogs. when is asked her how much it is for a dogs nail trim she said the same amount $25. The next time I went in I got my dogs nail trimmed and it came to $36. I was shocked and mentioned that last time she said it was $25. She didn't seem to care nor do anything to fix the problem. Wont be coming back. Way too over priced and unprofessional.

Fanny Lo

Very clean and professional.

zORBY G

1st time there & it was a great experience. They absolutely loved Archie!

zORBY G

1st time there & it was a great experience. They absolutely loved Archie!

thunderverna

I love this vet and so does my cat. They are so nice and really show their love for animals ???? in every thing they do. There is also a boarding facility here for cats ( and dogs, on a different floor) and my Pooh feels so comfortable that she doesn't want to leave when I come home! I just feel like she is so safe and happy while she is with them... which for a pet parent is HUGE. Highly recommended.

Alex P

I take my two pet rabbits to see Dr. Darla and our experience with her at every appointment has been nothing but great! She is very kind and informative. It’s always a great experience with her taking care of our little family. I recommend going here for your pet needs! Well kept clinic and friendly staff.

Kristine Acab

Dr. Darla and the receptionists were very kind right when my boyfriend and I came in with our puppy. We were searching for a good vet, and I’m happy I listened to the reviews as Dr. Darla was very patient with our pet and answered all the questions we had. We walked out feeling informed and happy with the appointment! They were also quick to send our pups updated medical record through email afterwards too. Thanks Dr. Darla and the team!

lucia lozada

I had issues with the administrative staff, they were not clear about the claim submission process with the insurance company, and in spite of several requests to sign the format for the insurance and submit it, they always took more than a month to do the process. This situation happened more than once. At the end, the veterinary response was it was “out of courtesy” that they submitted the claim to the insurance company and that I was not paying for that service, which I consider a rude and unprofessional. This is the first time I have had a frustrating customer service experience in Canada.

Kerry Jones

I am a sceptic in general about vets and people doctors. Prefer a holistic approach but she talked me thru and was pretty good but certainly room for improvement. Having said that she was better than any other Burnaby vet I've been to in the last 15 years and 4 dogs

Tyler Cooper

Caring person. Gentle on animals

judy zhong

Best vet I’ve ever been to. Took my cat Melo there and I was 10 minutes late, but they still treated me with great kindness. The tall receptionist was so polite and asked if I had any other concerns beside an annual check up. Which no one had asked me before. What made this place so wonderful was the doctor does not push what wasn’t needed to be done and answered all my questions in detail. She gave her honest opinions and isn’t there just to grab your money. She base your pet’s lifestyle and living conditions to determine what is needed for them. Not like another vet I’ve been to despite my cat drinks a fare amount of water they still say he will have urinary track infection. Highly recommend this place. Another great part about this clinic is they have a clinic cat! So cute and friendly. Looking forward to seeing them again next year.

Turgut Akmete

They made mistakes in the paperwork we requested, waited and paid for. When the government agency veterinary called them and pointed out their mistakes, I and my wife were blamed. We were rudely turned down when we demanded prompt action on their part, having to wait 2 more days. Instead of any apology, we were denied service for having called them out. We had paid almost 300$ for the paperwork. We had to change flights and our family was forced to be separated as we move to another country, while we complete and correct the work at another vet. Not mentioning additional costs of changing itinerary and having to hold our rent longer. In more than 20 years of pet ownership and 3 moves across countries and continents we have never encountered such an experience with a vet. Avoid them if you can.

Diana T

I am so glad to have brought my 2 kittens to Dr.Cabanas. She really cares for my two pets, Bentley and Tobi and they were always so excited and curious in her clinic. She was very gentle with them and observed little things, like how their personalties are different! She is very fair with her prices and very great at giving advice when asking questions (no matter how small or silly they may be). Kelly, the veterinarian assistant, is also super friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this vet clinic as they really know how to treat animals properly! Thanks Dawson Street! :)

Dean V

Fantastic first impressions! We tried this vet for our Daisy, instead of going back to the SPCA vet clinic, and we got blown away by their outstanding service!

Marlene J.S

This was going to be my go to clinic for my two cats but I have decided against. 1. I had experienced a mild concussion during early summer. I had made an appointment for my two cats just to get them started within the clinic and have their annual health exam. I had asked if I could get a reminder call as i was dealing with my concussion. I did not receive a reminder especially since I made the appt two week prior. I ended up missing the appointment. 2. I had called to hopefully get my one cat looked at as I've been meaning to get her spayed and during one of her heats she was actually rather strange and not eating. When I had called to hopefully get her in the next couple of days just to make sure everything was normal and hopefully just a general health check. The girl who answered the phone had mentioned they are booked up. I asked if there was a waitlist. She did not ask the reason for wanting an appointment. I had mentioned I was concerned over my one cat yet still no questions about what was happening with my pet. I'm sure general knowledge for a vet appointment is needed or at least I thought. The girl who i was speaking to on the phone mentioned multiple times that I probably wouldn't be called off the waitlist. Low and behold I get a call early next morning for a spot but because of this initial call - I had sought help elsewhere. Thank goodness i did. I would like to thank Diego who had helped me on my first call when setting up my file and booking the appointment. He was very thorough and polite.

A C

Dr. Darla is amazing!! I stopped going to her for a couple years and I'm not sure why. She's seen all 3 of my cats and has been pleasant and professional every time. At my last visit, my cat actually enjoyed being at the vet. As soon as I took him out of the kennel he laid down on the soft carpet on the counter and even rolled onto his back. I've never seen him warm up to someone so quickly. He was okay with the physical checkup and even sat right next to her computer watching her look something up. Dr. Darla made him feel at ease and in turn I felt so reassured and any anxiety went away. Don't hesitate to bring your pet here!

Izzy Sato

We used the vet for a few years but changed our vet recently. One of our dogs had a spot removal there, but the spot came back straight away. The other vet said Dawson vet didn't remove the spot properly. The other dog had a stone inside her tummy, but they didn't tell us when we took her to a checkup. Also, they always mess up bills.

Fereshteh Ayoubzadeh

Dr Darla is so sweet and gentle with my dogs. She actually cares about making sure he is comfortable and likes his vet visits. I really recommend this vet clinic because they will not charge you or try to push for unnecessary tests. The girls at the front are also the sweetest! 100% recommended

Michael Chao

Dawson Street Vet Clinic is just down the road from where we live, and when we brought home our puppy Niu Niu we decided to just go to the nearest location since we had recently moved. We sure are glad we did, because I've had pets all throughout my life, and Dr. Cabanas is by far the most dedicated and caring Vet I've ever met. She was very thorough when we brought our dog in for her annual checkups, suggested all things necessary, didn't push us for anything that wasn't, and whenever our dog Niu Niu gets sick, after a day or two Dr. Cabanas would call to check up. Even though we are moving again soon, I'm dead sure we'll still be bringing Niu Niu back to Dawson St. Vet...

David Pham

I have had several pets and experiences with other veterinarians and no one else comes close to the experience, care, and professionalism as Darla. I highly recommend her clinic for your pets. She has set the bar at a high level for other veterinarians. I highly recommend her.

Mae

Darla told me my previously healthy pet had a possible life threatening condition and advised me to spend hundreds of dollars for tests. Went to 2 different vets who told me my pet was indeed healthy and that she was way too young to have such conditions. Beware of this vet. Crams you into a small room and attempts to badger you into buying expensive things. Barely handled my pet and didn't give her treats or anything to calm her down. Never coming here again.

Amber Riaz

The vet is friendly and professional. She handled my kitten gently and answered all of my son's questions in detail.

Veronica Stockton-Kushner

Dr. Darla is fabulous. She is caring, patient, thorough, and so gentle. She takes the time to explain everything and she treats my skittish, timid cat with love and care. I would recommend her to anyone.

Kelly H

Great vet clinic In North Burnaby! It says a lot when the dogs are excited to arrive at the vet clinic! Even though my dogs Moose and Boss would prefer just having a visit and some snacks, they have had a variety of tests and procedures at this clinic over the years, and have always been eager to jump out of the car to enter Dawson Street Vet. For a couple of rather reserved (bordering on snobby, even) chihuahua mixes, I would have never expected that. Dr. Darla is smart, experienced and very kind. She takes the time to explain what she's seeing with your pet, gives you options, and never makes you feel rushed. Also, her assistants (Kelly and Brit) are wonderful and you can trust them to take great care of your pets. When I would call to make an appointment one of my dogs ears would perk up when he heard Kelly's voice - he was ready to sit through his nail trim to get that treat. When my dog Boss (RIP Boss Bumblebutt) developed a rare autoimmune disease and spent a few nights at the Canada West Specialist Hospital, I was relieved to notice that he was not distressed and seemed quite comfortable despite his illness. I know this is in very large part because of his many good experiences at Dawson Street Vet - he knew and just expected that he would be well taken care of in a veterinary setting. Peace of mind for Boss and the whole family. Dawson Street Vet Clinic has truly improved the quality of my pet's lives and for that I am so thankful! If you're looking for a compassionate vet with a great bed-side manner in Burnaby, this is the one.

Valerie Chung

Dr. Darla and her assistant are super friendly. They give you honest facts and let you decide. They take great Care of our dogs and they love going there. They do dog boarding and our dogs are always well taken care of.