Reviews of Alta Vista Animal Hospital (Veterinarian)

Stephanie Arbuckle

I brought my pup to Alta Vista on an emergency basis. She was not a previous patient, however the staff certainly made me feel as if she was! The admin and technicians were all friendly, upbeat, and understanding, and despite the business …

Matt Grant

Super nice people. Very chill and not at all weird or pushy

Julia Kukler

They quoted me 1 price for a cut for my cat then when I went it the charge was 75$ more then they told me. After I double check with them how much it cost and what it included. They said 45mins to an hr it was 2.5 hrs. I have used them before and have learned to double check prices and what it includes to make sure I am not being charged extra.

Stephen Faust

Best Vet in Vancouver

Jayant Pandit

This was our first visit to your hospital and we have been very happy. When our cat suddenly stopped eating and drinking, we were very scared. We had seen this happen to our previous one and there was no recovery at that time. However she was 17 at the time. Our current one is only 3 and that really made it confusing and an emergency. We brought her in to your hospital and you gave our beloved four pawed family member a chance at many more happy years. Thank you so much for your work and time everyone took at each stage to explain the matter at hand. One always hopes to not have to face another health emergency, but I am glad that I know a place to go to for help in case we do.

Pampered Pauly

We took our puppy to Alta Vista on an emergency basis. He was is a bad way....the girl we spoke with on the phone was courteous, kind and caring. The Tech who came out to get our puppy was equally courteous, and kind and was really caring...and the vet who took care of him - again - amazing! We had a really good experience, even though we were stressed and worried. They did a fantastic job taking care of our Bear and then after the over night visit they send us home with his meds, and very comprehensive and easy to understand instruction list AND they followed up with us a few days later and a week later....I am hoping to never have to use the emergency service again, BUT they will be the first place we go if we ever do need it again - thanks for taking care of our puppy, and us!

Lara Deutsch

Dr. Tyre and the staff at the Alta Vista Animal Hospital are fantastic - they are extremely knowledgeable and compassionate. Dr. Tyre always takes her time with every appointment to ensure that all of my questions are answered and that I …

Julien Lavoie

Awesome staff!

Reece Mack

Super helpful, understanding and seem to genuinely love animals. Helping my little guy's tummy get less sick.

C Dyck

I’ve taken my fluffy kitty buddy to Alta Vista Animal hospital twice for emergencies. They’re very good with their diagnosis! They’ve caught many things that even my own vet (who is great too) didn’t even catch. They’re very caring and sensitive to the animal and the owner. Thank you for your terrific care!

Tina Carnochan

A tad more expensive that other hospitals not to mention long waits.but amazing and friendly employeeswho are always super friendly and smiling.They treat pet owners with empathynand respect. …

Mandy W

Gentle compassionate and knowledgable staff. My cats have been here numerous times and don't hate it!

Steven Arsenault

Always a great experience. Our 4 cats are regulars while Archie the parrot helps out. ???? Always caring staff and reasonable prices. We've been going to Dr Munjil for 10 years!

Adrenaline Vancity

The love and care offered by the doctors and staff at Alta Vista for their clients is remarkable. We've been taking our 7 month old puppy there since we got her for her shots, and more recently her spay (and some stubborn baby teeth extracted), and she is met with the most caring group of staff. Certainly the most affordable vet in the area, but more importantly, they love their jobs, their clinic and their clients and this shows in their work. Well done guys.

Steven Dean Dreger

Great vets that obviously care about all their animals.

Carol Ferraz (Carol)

Really good service!

Didi Jean

I had the worst experience. My cat had an emergency surgery after being hit by a car. They called me and he actually survived. When I arrived they just put him in a cage. I was very young at the time and didn’t know about the cost and financial stuff. They wouldn’t do anything until some money was given. I had to call my mom and she did an application for a Desjardins credit card for 5000$. His jaw needed surgery. I had this surgeon who did an amazing job the cat was fine was recovering he was amazing the only person who showed sympathy. After I was relived i was told i could go home to sleep. Because i refused to leave until he was fine. The same night well day around 1-3am they called me to rush because he had fallen from his cage in the after care after having trouble breathing due to the thin tube that they put inside his throat to help him breath. At this point that was their fault but they kept asking for more money on the spot to do other things. This doctor who was a women with grey bob hairstyle was a very vile women. They basically didn’t do a proper care for the cat post surgery, no monitoring and he suffocated to death and fell out his cage which was open for i don’t know why. All they cared about was for money. Worst place ever. Every time i passed by there i get goosebumps I can’t even look at the place.

Alexander Freedom Wyatt Krantz

Friendly staff clean and tidy. Friend takes his cat there

Louisa Farrell

I tried another vet because of a friends recommendation and because they were less expensive than some vets I had tried , but they were no where near the quality of Alta Vista. The Doctor was empathetic to my budget and my cats needs . He did the best , least, invasive treatment first and will follow up in two weeks. He was very kind and genuinely seemed to like animals , not just the money. Many vets have been tried since my own vet of 30 years passed away but this is by far the best I have experienced so will stay with them for the care of my two cats. I feel they are trustworthy . Another bonus was they got me in ASAP the other vet had a 5-8 day wait list and one vet office never returned my email or call .

Selina Lavigne

Went there when my dog was experiencing weakness (couldn't walk) and had the shakes and they took her in right away. Assessed her quick and I was out within a few hours. I was very impressed and pleased with the service!

Stephanie McDougall

Our beautiful 11 month old pup was hit by a car and we rushed him to Alta Vista praying for a miracle. We got our miracle and so much more! Beautiful Benny spent 6 days in ICU. Not only did the team of caregivers provide him with outstanding medical care, they also looked after his devastated parents! These amazing people know exactly what they are doing. They communicate perfectly with each other (no easy task given the huge staff and number of pets they care for) and also with the pet owners. I never once had to retell the horrific story of what happened and I never had to answer the same question. I barely had any questions at all since we were kept so well informed of his progress. We were treated with such compassion and patience as we tried to understand, process and make the best decisions possible. This is the place to go when you have a real pet emergency! Just a note of advice to help the real emergencies get the care they need. We spent a lot of time in this hospital during Benny’s recovery and we saw a lot of ridiculous people taking up valuable time and resources over non-emergencies. Use your regular vet if your cat threw up twice in the last 2 hours or use your regular vet when your dog seems “different”and won’t eat a treat (in this case the pet was visiting a new home for the Christmas holidays…Do you think maybe that had something to do with it???). It was unbearable listening to this total nonsense using up resources that really should have been spent on the 3 dogs hit by cars fighting for their lives in ICU. (Species changed for confidentiality … lol) Don’t be selfish. Let these amazing people help the real emergencies! Thank you with all our hearts for saving the life of our family member! Thanks to all of you, Benny celebrated his first Christmas and he will soon be celebrating his first birthday!

Emily G.

Awful experience here; showed up with a very sick puppy after being told by our vet to rush him here and was turned away at reception as he "wasn't sick enough". Showed up to another emerg 20 mins later and quickly found out my dog needs emergency surgery. Needless to say will NOT be back here ever again. I understand that they're busy, but being rude with distressed pet owners with ZERO empathy during one of the worst days of their life is awful.

Peter Sanderson

Alta Vista offers our pets a complete health care program. Everything from Dentistry (by a dentist) to Cardiology and general practice. We live 30-40 minutes away while there are many veterinarians within 5-minutes from our house. So why not use a local vet? Well, I had an emergency with my youngest when he was a pup on a Sunday afternoon. The local vet met me at her clinic but was unable to ascertain the problem and after 40 minutes sent me to Alta Vista. I was greeted immediately and my pup treated by a specialist and multiple Vet-Techs. There is no premium costs for emergencies or off hours. So my bill at Alta Vista was only $ 125.00. Two days later I received the bill from my local vet for $ 300.00 including off hour premium. After this experience I decided that a local veterinarian may not be the answer. In the case of an emergency, I would want to race to Alta Vista since they have all the specialists and equipment including an MRI!! I have no issues driving there on a scheduled appointment and the cost differences are negligible. I would rather race there than lose time somewhere else only to have to go there eventually. Now I have all files on my dogs in one hospital and the specialist work together to provide the best care at the lowest costs (in my opinion). For example, my older cavalier had his teeth cleaned three times by veterinarians. Last year I had his teeth cleaned by the dentist at Alta Vista and he found multiple dead baby teeth which he pulled. These teeth were dead since he was a year old and most likely was a significant cause of bacteria entering his heart causing mitral valve issues. So the veterinarians just polished his dead teeth and I had no idea. Since my dog was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease 1 1/2 years ago the treatment including proper dentistry has effectively stopped the disease from growing worse and he is stable and healthy. They even gave us a prescription for the medication that I could get filled for 6-months at a time at our local pharmacy for under $ 50.00 for six months rather than selling it to us at a higher rate month-by-month like my other vet did. In conclusion, I highly recommend Alta Vista and I also recommend health insurance for your pet so that you can rest assured that in a case of an emergency you can offer your pet the best treatments available without financial loss.

Sydnie Koch

Local business with skilled vets to help your furry friends. I was struggling to get my cat healed from an injury that happened almost 2 years ago. Alta Vista stuck it through with me when I moved to the area and after a few months I am happy to say my cat is doing much better. Very friendly staff too!

Richard and Pam Collins/Garton

Max has seen Dr. Munjal since puppyhood....he is now 13. The staff are always patient and treat the dogs with and care and respect. Max is totally ok with going there....he knows the staff are doing their best to help him.

Hilary H

I brought my dog here after she had been sick for a few days. After specifically asking how much the check up and x-ray would cost since I didn’t have insurance, I ended up with a bill over three times the price. They also promised to send me the X-ray results and the results from some other test multiple times and never did. They also insisted on two X-rays for an issue that was easily resolved with metronidazole and some other test which I never received the results for. I felt very taken advantage of and have not been back since.

Michel Pelletier

Staff and professionals on site are nice, polite and informative. There is a set minimum fee in these COVID days but the vet did a thorough exam of my dog for the price and spent a long moment with me on the phone reporting back, which was very reassuring. Despite the distance, Alta Vista would certainly be my location of choice if (hopefully not) I have to make another emergency visit with my dog.

Dennis Avalos-Ponce

Nicest staff, great care and support.

Nathan Wu

Dr. Munjal is so patient. He's always given simple answers and doesn't over analyze. Been seeing him for a number of years.

Will Anderson

We have been taking our cats and dogs here for 15+ years. Such great Drs and staff here. We also get our Vet approved pet food and treats here.

May Pantaleon

Excellent vets and staff! Friendly and professional. Highly recommend.

tom sabela

I loved my Beagle Rosie. Yesterday was one of the most difficult days of my life when my very best friend of 15 years passed. I'm still in shock and the grief is sometimes unbearable. For me and her mom it was an intensely personal and emotional event. Throughout the evening the staff at Alta Vista Animal hospital were nothing less than excellent in their care and compassion. Every effort was made to keep Rosie and us comfortable under the circumstances,.. I'll never forget. Thank you.

VOML TRAVEL我行我素-素食旅遊

friendly staff and warm atmosphere

Ava H

They are great and they fixed my dumb cat.

itreynsinvancouver

Although I write this review with a heavy heart, I mean to be as candid as possible and to bring enough evidence for you to make a correct decision in choosing a vet. I brought my newly adopted 1 year old cat to an animal hospital as he was having issues walking. Being a new owner, I assumed only something small and I brought him in to the nearest animal hospital where I was advised he was reacting to being touched around the liver. The doctor advised services that costed an arm and a limb without explanation. And, with my poor experience at the animal hospital, I was hoping Alta Vista would treat me and my cat differently. I came immediately the next day told them about the liver, my assumption and asked what may be wrong with my cat. No diagnostics, no professional opinion, only comments to ruin moral. "Your cat looks old", "he looks seriously sick" was the only things the doctor could utter. I continuously asked what we could do and would only get the same 2 comments. After 10 minutes of panicking and no straight answer from the doctor, we finally came to a conclusion of getting a blood test on my cat. It took 2 days to come in and to my pleasant surprise, the doctor noted there was nothing wrong on the blood test other than a high amount of white blood cells, leading to an assumption of an infection. I was given the option of an X-Ray for more diagnostic or to give my cat antibiotics. In hindsight, this decision was a mistake. On the side of Alta Vista's opinion, I tried to find ways to get my cat to take the antibiotics for 2-3 weeks. Bed ridden on the 3rd week from the wrong antibiotics, I attempted to get a second opinion. I called a new vet and asked to see them immediately. The new vet advised that they wouldn't be able to see my cat until they get the blood works from Alta Vista. It took 2 days to send that email. 2 days of watching my cat bed ridden. When the blood works finally arrived at the new vet, I was given terrible news. Alta Vista's doctor had read the blood works incorrect and prescribed the wrong antibiotics. It was the liver. Not the kidneys as they presumed. 10 minutes at the new vet and I had to make the choice to put my cat down. I share my story with the intention of sharing my experience, and not to put down the institution. Alta Vista's doctor was not only unprofessional in diagnostics, but also incorrectly read the blood works leading them to prescribing my cat with the wrong antibiotics. It took 2 days for them to send an email even after explaining my cat being bed-ridden. 2 days, for an email. I was punished for my lack of experience, and ingenuously listened to their "professional" opinion because it was what I wanted to hear. I hope anyone who chooses to go take their furry one here, listens to my review and understands that Alta Vista makes mistakes. Yes, everyone makes mistakes but when it is a situation of life or death for your furry one, mistakes matter. Please give your due diligence going to any vet.

Derek

Great staff and service

Pierre Geinoz

The people are very helpful when you call to ensure that you can either bring your animal or if you even need to bring it. The wait time is a little bit longer since covid but what can you do, reduction of staff happens. Overall, always had a good experience with them.

Jenna Matsalla

Nice, friendly place to take your pets. They are very understanding and do their best to accommodate your needs

megan lavallee

I have just had 600 dollars stolen from me for what should have been around a hundred dollar treatment. I was told my dog needed surgery when she really just needed some antibiotics! This place will rob you

Olive Kosheluk

Some doctors are knowledgeable and loving; they treat pets with care. Others, like Dr. Munjal, are not loving. Our experiences with him have been consistently negative. He is impatient and rude, and reacts to concerned pet owners' questions with annoyance.

Char

I cannot say enough good things about this place. They took us in same day and were so incredibly caring for our kitty. They walked me through every step of the process and went over every single result. I honestly just can't thank the staff enough. These people clearly genuinely care about your animal. Thank-you guys, from the bottom of my heart!

Melody

Very friendly, knowledgeable, great with the animals.

Sharon Lee

On December 9, 2019. I brought my dog in for a Bordetella vaccination. I hadn’t been with this vet clinic for a little over a year now. The front desk staff only asked for my dog’s name and didn’t even ask me what I brought her in for tonight. When the doctor came in he did his usual routine check up then proceeds to give her a shot. I noticed that there were 3 shots placed on the paper when he walked in, but didn’t think much of it. I asked what shot is this? He said rabies vaccine. I asked why is she getting a rabies vaccine when she already got it this summer!? The doctor and the vet tech (front desk lady) asked me if I was sure and acted surprised and like I was lying to them... I said yes I have been going to another veterinarian clinic for a while... Like I said no one asked me what I brought my dog in for and they just ASSUMED she needed the routine shots without asking me... Then they finally gave me the right shot she needed and luckily they didn’t charge me for the EXTRA Rabies shot my dog already got this summer... I remember last year another vet did the same thing of just giving the shots without asking if the owner wanted it for their dogs or not... I had to ask what they were exactly and of course I had to pay for them... THAT IS WHY I CHANGED TO A NEW VET CLINIC!!!! I had to come here tonight because the vet clinic I go to now doesn’t work with my schedule or else I wouldn’t have gone here... All I did was pay and left they didn’t say anything about keeping watch of my dog after getting the vaccines or side effects... I had to call the other vet clinic I bring my dog to now and ask what to watch out for and how to care for her... I am hoping nothing happens to my dog. I am very disappointed and furious. I will not be coming back here or recommending this place to anyone I know...

Brigette Fraser

Extremely dissatisfied! This emergency pet hospital will forever be on my mind! ???? I know they have helped many animals...that's wonderful BUT, the day I went with my daughter and "Anna" our 10 year old dog, I didn't know it would be an unforgettable nightmare!! Anna went in because she had a hard time walking, vomiting, and basically it was a life situation that happened within 2 days!! They brought her in by stretcher and we were beside ourselves crying, afraid we would loose her! We waited in the parking lot till we heard her diagnose . She needed to have her uterus removed! This is where it all started! They told us the surgery would be over $4000 ???? we didn't have all that on hand! They told us two options...she lives by surrendering or she dies!! We knew she had many more years ahead of her and dying was not an option in our hearts or mind!! I wanted to take her home, so we could bring her to the vet hospital, we went to a month pryer to this happening, for our cat who needed surgery $2100 paid and she's doing excellent! The vet here would NOT let her out, as I asked her twice to bring her out...she said if we didn't surrender now...Anna was not going to make it!!! Of course we wanted her to live...so in panic we signed a paper to surrender her!! ???????? The hospital wouldn't tell us if she had surgery or not...saying Anna was no longer ours!! We called the next day AND my daughters dad went there to ask, could we get her back, as we have the money...and asked if Anna was OK, did she have the surgery? They told him they couldn't give any answers or info on Anna, as he was not the owner, to have the owner call Ottawa Dog Rescue, because she was surrendered to them! Alta Vista had NO COMPASSION or understanding for us..the vet was cold with us through the entire process!! We left that day without our family member Anna, ???? and we walked out the door giving them $450 for the tests. We were rushed and treated terrible!! Forever in our hearts Anna! ????????

Alex Harrison

Saw our pet at very short notice and were very thorough and personable

Steve F

Been going here for years. Just a great pet hospital with great staff. Even better since they stopped charging extra for the emergency care side as many visits are after hrs or weekends. Always comforting knowing there is a place you can go 24/7 for our pets care. They're covid protocol process works flawlessly and just a fantastic caring place.

Mike Ricca

When my dog developed some pretty nasty sores during a trip through Vancouver, Alta Vista was the only animal hospital that was able to fit him in that very day and see him without requiring me to wait a few days. They gave him the best of care and sent us off with the right meds. It's a week later and the area is fully healed and he hasn't scratched at it once. This is definitely a place I'd make my regular if I lived in the area. Thanks again!

Amy Shannon Leclair

My veterinarian, Dr. Tyre, was amazing and thorough! However do note there was no parking available. The parking lot was full. I waited a while with no luck before I had to find alternate parking.

A Beaudoin

Called to have our small dog 6-8 lbs. seen for vomiting foam and blood. Told not to bother as they are completely full and trying to catch up, tomorrow would not be good either. Why say 24 hours if you are not accepting emergencies?

Cindy Rowan

They took excellent care of my kitty, Kevin. This was my 1st experience with Alta Vista Animal Hospital. I wouldn't hesitate to go back if I ever needed to!

Petite Gatita

The worse vet I have been in my life! I brought my cat last Friday because he was colapsing. The vet did not care to ask for his health history or if my cat was taking medication. I explained that he had thyroid tumor and was treating his …

Meg Stevenson

They are way too concerned about determining if you've ever been a patient of theirs and not concerned at all about the suffering of animals in need. We called them 2-3 times over the course of a week or so when my beloved 14 year old hound dog was suddenly ill. Each time they spent many minutes (when they are crazy busy) searching through their database to see if we had a file in their system from over a decade ago, with a different pet. We decided to chance waiting a few days for an appointment at a regular vet when they told us the wait would probably be 10 hours in the heat. Ultimately (after seeing that other vet) we had to call Alta Vista around 5 AM on a weekday because she was suddenly suffering and dying and needed to be euthanized immediately. We made it through them wasting time searching for us in the system and providing registration details and they told us to come right in. As we were getting ready to carry her to the car 5 minutes later, they called back and said they had a procedure coming in and they'd be busy for a few hours and couldn't take us anymore. I know they are swamped, especially with covid, but I don't find that to be an acceptable excuse. I don't think a dying animal should ever be turned away from an emergency vet clinic. There are only 3 in the area as far as I'm aware, and one of the others didn't even answer the phone or return our call. If we hadn't gotten ahold of the Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital she would have suffered needlessly until she passed away, or until someone could get out to the house or we could talk a regular clinic into taking us. All those years ago I took my dying cat to AVAH in the middle of the night and I didn't have to call in advance or worry that they couldn't fit in 15 minutes for a euthanasia. I don't know if I have the luxury of never using their services again, since this city has too many pets and not enough vets, but given the choice I will never bring another pet to them. They made some of the hardest moments of my life so much more panicked and horrible. I can't describe the despair I felt when they called back to tell us they won't help us.

Ray Syed

We needed a place to come from Gatineau in an emergency, and they were very nice to my wife. They sent a stretcher to help with our large dog, she had passed away in our van on the way. They were very consoling to her, explained her all the services offered. Price was very reasonable! We hope to keep using them for our other animals in the future.

Henry Xie

Dr Parham was great, friendly, and professional

Sharon Liu

Dr is very nice and patient, really can handle my cats

Tara Nicole

I have 2 cats and have been taking them to Alta Vista Animal Hospital since they were kittens. Dr Munjal and all of the staff have always wanted what is best for my cats as if they were theirs. Friendly and helpful with lengthy hours. Highly recommended.

Gnomze

Came in for a urinary issue in a male cat, wasn't the first time so the usual drill. This time, had to go for an operation. Was in and out of the clinic every day for about three weeks, always coming in through emergency. Not only did they save my cat, but they did all they could to be fair with pricing given the repeated visits. Thank you for everything, cat is now good and back at home!

Dr. Julie Nelson

This is a local vet for our new puppy. First visit today and despite the cats - 2 resident in the waiting room, all went well. Diagnosed an ear infection we didn't know he had, did the check up and gave him the shots - in and out in 45 minutes. The rates seemed reasonable for services. Front office staff very friendly and helpful. Will def. be back but wished there was less cat hair around - allergic to the felines.

Claire Cassidy

Very helpful for an emergency stop-in for out-of-towners. Thanks!

Carol Gardner

Great, compassionate vets. They are the provider of services to VOKRA and that raises my estimation of them a lot!

Seeing the world In a different way

The Alta Vista animal hospital has been at this location for decades providing excellent care for pets. The veterinarians and staff are friendly and seem to love their jobs and the animals they care for. What I find special is that they …

Nate Kew

Very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful staff! Reasonably priced too.

Rangin karim

Don’t take your pet there, I took my baby cat (Peanut) there to get treated. They took their money and lost her. Unfortunately, I didn’t find my cat, and we are very sad and depressed. They don’t even take the responsibility and never admitted its their fault. I spent weeks looking for my cat around their hospital. We are suing them !

Shilan Harper

Have been going here for over 16 years with all my dogs. The staff are very friendly, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. I have heard people complain about the prices being high, but honestly you get what you pay for. I don't trust anyone else with my fur babies... Highly recommended!

Brendan Roy

I had to take Willow, our tabby cat to VCA late at night for what turned out to be bladder stones. She had been not herself for several days and VCA offered a variety of services to finally find the problem. They certainly helped to give me piece of mind. The medications provided as well as her prescription diet are helping Willow return to her former self. My only suggestion for improvement is simply re: the wait. I realize Covid is making it hard for services to allow waits to be comfortable. However, the building seemed to be big enough for a couple of patients to be able to wait inside with social distancing rules. Willow was fortunately only third on the list when we arrived (there was a delay in her getting seen due to an emergency surgery - bad circumstances for everyone involved, but could not be helped). Waiting in the car is not the most comfortable option for a sick animal if the wait is not short - especially if they get stir crazy in their carrier and it's winter. Is it really impossible for at least the next 1-2 patients inline to wait in the building. However, I was thrilled with the service once Willow was able to be seen, so overall it was a positive experience.

Simon Lam

Great staff and the vet is awesome! Resident cat is adorable too.

Andrew Bird

Amazing vets here! Care is top notch. Front line staff is very rigid at times and prescription fills take a long time when assigned at a regular visit.

Gabby Zitikyte

Every time we have tried going to another vet we always end up back at Alta Vista. They give their full attention to our pets whenever we bring them and make sure to take their time with assessments. Always highest quality care, and they give you all the options to make the best decision based on costs and results. Can’t recommend them enough. Truly the best!!!

Marc Dsh

Excellent service with a caring vet. Was seen with no appointment very promply. A bit expensive but what can you do when you have a sick pet.

Jean-Francois Quesnel

Very friendly and understanding, honest and offer full gamet or veterinarian service including ICU. However it gets expensive very quickly, so set a budget before you decide on going here. They also broker grief related services.

kim lacelle

My cat Charlie, has not been to the vet in about three years. I went back to the Alta Vista hospital, because of the amazing service, I have received in the past. Wonderful vet tec, and amazing veterinarian. Thanks so much for taking the time to listen and take good care of my cat Charlie.

Kathryn Erickson

Never somewhere that you want to have to take your pet, but I’m so grateful for the quick care that my dog received when she got into some porcupine quills in a forest. Dr. Begin and RVT Jackie were so kind and thorough, I could tell that our puppy was in great hands. The procedure was quick and she is recovering well. Thank you so much to Dr. Begin, Jackie and all other AVAH staff who helped out.

Samantha Young

Excellent animal care that's reasonably priced. After bad experiences with previous vets I've nothing but good things to say about Alta Vista. The vet and staff are great with animals and obviously care about making sure your pet gets the treatment they need without unnecessary upsells. Frankly, I prefer the money I'm paying for my kitty is going toward her care, not maintaining a flashy veteranary office.

Caroline Soule

My dog saw Dr Jamieson. Brought my dog cause he had removed part of his fur off his tail and kept going at it. She only shaved a small portion and prescribed medication. The situation got worst and when it was out of hand I called the place and asked to speak to her she was not in and her schedule was fully booked. I asked to leave a message (at 11:00am) only got a call back at 7:50pm. Then I explained to her what happened and by the end of the conversation she was blaming me. She noted on file that he had scabs on his butt but did nothing about it. After seeing the second vet he mentioned that thank god i had brought him in cause he should have been shaved a lot more the first time and that the situation would have gotten even worst if I waited longer. I will NEVER bring my dog there again!! I have attached pictures of my dog. The first one is what he looked like when I brought him in to the Alta vista vet, then what Dr Jamieson did to him. The other pictures are what the second vet did and what SHOULD have been done first time he came in.

Ident Guy

After having our closest "child" 2-pound Chihuahua pass away suddenly last week, the experience of Alta Vista's policies and procedures were amazing and comforting. The young blond lady handled things just as I would have hoped and expected based on mine & my wife's griefl. Although there was no Health Care intervention needed, the visit did not feel transactional even though that's essentially what it was. They showed a sincere amount of empathy. And on top of this amazing young Vet Tech, I thought it was an important and amazing touch for them to bring you the payment machine in the comfort room instead of having to stop at the front counter/cash. I have probably been to the Alta Vista Animal Hospital with four different pets over a 20-year period, and the care and professionalism has always been top notch. Every client is a VIP at the Alta Vista Animal Hospital. THANK YOU, as we still feel like we haven't even scratched the surface in grieving this amazing young boy with such a huge personality in the tiniest full grown body I have ever seen.

Rosanne Dornan

Adopted a very sick male kitten. Took him to Alta Vista Animal Hospital emergency and they admitted the little guy right away. Eyes infected, upper respiratory infection, diarrhea, neglected, under weight, and intestinal infestation. We didn't know if he was going to live. Only a few days later with lots of medicine and love, he is thriving! Thank you to the staff and doctors for saving this little guy!

Mara Kay

If you're an unexperienced pet owner, I would not recommend this place because you will 100% get scammed by their bs. They will force every treatment/tests possible for your pet because they're "unsure" of what's wrong with them. I understand it's "better safe than sorry"; but an experienced vet should be able to come up with a correct diagnosis without going through EVERY POSSIBLE PROCEDURE ever. Also, they handled my three month old kitten *very* roughly. And yes, it's Alta Vista Animal Hospital I'm talking about.

Brianna MacAulay

I had an emergency with my cat and Dr. Barnes was excellent! He was very thorough and was very transparent. The whole process at Alta Vista emergency was great.

sarah daniels

Great vet. Friendly front staff and technicians. No up sell, great pet care.

Phillip Hwang

I took my cat in for check up and Rabie shot. Staff members were professional and Dr. O' byrne was very courteous. I go there all the time.

Tea

They saved my cats life when she had pyrometria, this entire team is outstanding. They provided emotional support when things were the roughest, we were told my times that we could call any time, and we did and even at 3am they answered and were such a relief, they are very well trained and Informative. They are hands down the best vet in not only Ottawa but all of Canada, my cat survived the surgery and is healthier then ever, We will continue to be lifelong clients here! When it was time to have my puppy's shots guess where we went back to! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the team here!

Gheorghe Stanciu

I have lived in Texas and Ontario and doctor Popa is the best doctor of veterinary medicine my pets ever had! She is a top notch doctor. The nurses and customer service reps are out-of-this-world as well. Included here are Trish (Tricia?), Bonny, Rosa, etc. I raise my hat to all of them. Anca Stanciu, MBA, BEng, BEcon

Sandra Rodriguez

Really friendly vet clinic. We did need to wait a bit to get seen

Cynthia Lauriault

It wasn’t my first experience with an emergency hospital for my pet, but it was my first experience with Alta Vista and definitely the first time I’ve felt this level of professionalism and quality of care. I was very impressed with the …

Tammy P

APRIL 01, 2020 Alta Vista Animal Hospital is a remarkable Emergency Care Centre, On April 01, 2020, My Little Andy was taken into Emergency Care for respiratory distress due a recent diagnosis of Severe Chronic Asthma. On arrival, Andy was immediately taken into the Critical Care Unit, assessed & provided treatment within the oxygen chamber. Upon further assessment by Dr. Dara Gottlieb Criticalist, Dr. Gayla Schwartz, Emergency Veterinarian and their Team, Andy's was found to have a respiratory rate of over 100 bpm with depleted oxygen saturation on room air, blood analysis unremarkable. After treatment within the CCU / Emergency Care Andy is doing remarkably well, he required a change in his Asthma Medications & Treatment. Upon discharge, on April 03, 2020, Andy returned home with a more aggressive Asthma Care plan. On April 16, 2020, a reassessment was performed by Dr. Erica Tyre, DVM, and Dr. Dara Gottlieb Criticalist, on exam Andy showed remarkable improvement, with no further respiratory distress, his energy has improved and he's much more content. On April 23, 2020 My Son & I took Andy Hiking, he absolutely Loved being outdoors with Us Purring the entire way, Enjoying the warm Sunshine. I would Sincerely like to Thank Alta Vista Animal Hospital for being there for My Little Andy, for Caring for him in a time of need ... My Son & I would like to send a Warm & Special Thank You to ... Dr. Dara Gottlieb, Criticalist, Dr. Gayla Schwartz, Emergency Veterinarian, Dr. Megan Jones, Emergency Veterinarian, Dr. D Dobbins, Emergency Veterinarian, Dr. Heinbockel, Emergency Veterinarian, and Dr. Erica Tyre, DVM ... Thank You Once Again for All the Care & Love You provided Our Little Andy during his Critical Moments. FEBRUARY 27, 2020 This Hospital is Exceptional in an emergency situation. Andy was taken into acute care immediately upon arrival and provided emergency care & treatment in the ICU Department and placed in an oxygen chamber. He was met by a team of Specialists who performed an assessment and a series of tests (Physical exam, blood analysis, x-rays) to provide an accurate diagnosis of his severe respiratory distress. After 3 days in hospital while being monitored and treated with medications, he was stabilized and released with the appropriate medical treatment. Andy is doing very well, he is responding effectively to the medications and continues to improve everyday. Throughout this experience we were able to visit and call with updates anytime, every morning we received a call from the DVM regarding his progress and upon release the hospital followed-up on his care, treatment and progress. Thanks to Alta Vista Animal Hospital Andy is Happy & Healthy again.

Pam SKIPPEN

The staff at Alta Vista are wonderful. They are compassionate and willing to go above and beyond to make both the animal and owner comfortable and feeling well taken care of, keep up the great work!

Marie-Josee

Thank you so much to the incredible staff at this hospital. I was an emotional wreck and my dog was not in good shape and I was sure he had been poisons and dying. you guys were so professional, calming and reassuring, gave immediate updates on your assessments and suggestions, monitored him and kept me up to date every step of the way. You guys are absolute heros . Thank you again!! Love scooby and his entire family

karin håll

This is the vet that we use for our dog and we couldn’t be more happy! We always get the best service from energetic and positive employees and veterinarians. I love hearing the employees talk calmly and sweetly to the pets that are in the back while I’m waiting for my turn at the front desk.

SJ Kee

Super nice and helpful vets and nurses. It's always so great to see people living their job and being 100% engaged. They were so informative and patient with us. They were so good with our kittens especially during our visit to get them shots. Our two kittens didn't even know that they got needles in them because the vet was so great at distracting them and making them comfortable. I'd recommend Alta Vista to anyone that's looking for a fantastic vet.

Earl Green

Our pup recently had to have emergency surgery for a leg injury. The staff at Alta Vista were very compassionate and communicative and kept us informed at every step. Their follow-up care and communications have also been excellent and informative. The staff are all very friendly and approachable.

Jane Stratton

After 4 nights of waking up to liquid dog poo covering the floors, I phoned this clinic this morning and discussed the merits of bringing in a sample to be analyzed. I was advised to do it. I was told that the fact that I would be in was noted on the file. I called back and was given the price. Having a disabled child, I had to make special arrangements to make the trip there. When I arrived, a very curt receptionist looked up the file and told me she was refusing to do the sample as Alta Vista is not our regular vet. The fact that the dog has been seen there already several times was discussed on the phone before I drove in. The receptionist told me that since our dog has only been seen in emergency there, and is not assigned to a doctor, she would not accept the sample for processing. I explained that I had had to leave my son to come there and had been assured I could bring it in advance. She said that was too bad but she wouldn't help me or the dog. I used to use this vet for previous pets. However, I no longer use Alta Vista Animal Hospital as my main vet since I read in the paper that they refused service to a man who had become agitated after waiting a long time with his critically ill dog. They sent the dog away and the dog then died. The vet I use is in Manotick. As I now have no one too look after my child and I will not leave my son that long, and since rain is driving down so hard and the visibility was poor so I can not risk taking him that far. I now have no way to get my dog's health attended to today. I found this a very unprofessional and inhumane way to treat a dog and its owner.

jerry leonard

We brought our Scottish Deerhound into emergency for signs of bloat. Called ahead to say we were on route. Staff were excellent upon arrival, and Archer was promptly admitted. Many test & treatments & phone calls later a treatment plan was devised. It was determined that pneumonia was the primary concern. 2 days after treatments we brought him home. If it was not for the immediate treatment of Archer, we don’t think he would have survived the night. Our heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at Alta Vista Emergency. Highly recommend this service.❤️Archer????

Arlene Massey

What can you say about a surgeon who specialises in Oncology surgery, taught at OVC, is both highly skilled and empathetic and calls himself by his first name. Who emails during weekends to see how the patient is doing and intervenes with a …

Guy Laflamme

Excellent service, grateful for both the professional and human approach by all the staff and the veterinarians. We brought our dog Maximus late on a Sunday night and were fully satisfied.

Susan Cook

Our little furry guy Harley (4 yrs old) was really sick and not doing well on Saturday. I called the VCA Alta Vista Animal hospital and was treated with the upmost respect during each phone call, email or in person when we dropped him off and picked him up. Harley was hospitalized for 2 days. (We were relieved when we learned he would be staying and not transferred to another vet hospital, which was the possibility when I first phoned. They were at capacity at the time.) Every question was answered clearly, every treatment or diagnosis explained thoroughly from each vet tech, doctor and specialist. The Covid-19 protocols are top notch. We are so glad to have Harley home (as you can see from daddy's hand caressing him). We still have instructions to follow (giving meds and special food) and we are now awaiting a final result which could be in 2 weeks time. Saying prayers the results come back as we hope. Thank you team... these furry baby parents are happy.????

haluk can suzer

If you care about your pet, DO NOT take your pet here. Ottawa Animal Hospital is 100 times better than this place. We brought our pet with paw infections and lack of appetite. She was immediately hospitalized, and they kept her there for about 5 hours. The doctor gave us a call and painted a very grim picture, and outright saying it doesn't look good and we can lose her tonight. I was extremely worried, and the doctor said we needed many procedures and tests right away, and had to start out with blood work, and said he would call me in an hour. 2 hours passed, no calls, and I could not reach anyone by phone, so I drove there. After waiting for half an hour, doctor came out and said he took Xrays which revealed nothing, something I never said OK to. Then proceeded to show me numbers on a piece of paper saying that we have to get her to ultrasound, and then have more tests done from the lab. We were shocked as she apparently got worse in the 5 hours. We said we wanted to take her home and get a second opinion the next day. The doctor had the audacity to laugh at our faces while saying "If you take her home, she will die tonight". During the 5 hours, they DID NOT feed her, give her water, or even put up an IV fluid or catheter. I have no idea what they did, and the worst part is, the first hour in, they sent me an email on a 5-day schedule of procedures with an estimate of $6000, asking for a $2000 deposit immediately. After seeing the bill, we saw the other bad reviews, took her home anyway, and objected/eliminated some of the costs from the $2000 bill such as the Xray. We took our dog to Ottawa Animal Hospital, and they took good care of her, while we paid a fraction, and she is back to being healthy (did not die that night, and did not have the problems they claimed she had). They only care about money, they see your pets as objects they can do tests and procedures so they can milk you to the fullest, and are completely unprofessional people. AVOID AT ALL COST.

Catopia

Doctors are super kind and professional, assistants are very nice too, they even came to my house for emergency help! I really wanna thank them for all the help. By the way, their pricing is very acceptable and reasonable too!

Amanda Lamarche

I've unfortunately had several visits over the years with my 3 dogs but each and every time I was left satisfied. Yes, it can take a long time, it's an emergency clinic with complicated cases and perhaps some more urgent than yours, but the wait was worth it everytime and in the instances where my dog needed medical attention first, he got it. The veterinarians, the veterinarians techs and the patient care staff were all very informative and understanding. I hope you don't ever have to use their services but in the event that you do, you're in good hands. I can't thank their team enough!

Julie Dupuis

The Veterinarian Technicians as well as Doctor Gayla Schwartz at the Alta Vista Animal Hospital were extremely professional and empathetic during a stressful period for my family. Dr. Schwartz took the time to explain her diagnosis and give us options for treatment for our dog, Bella. We appreciate the time and effort everyone exhibited throughout the process. Bella has made a full recovery and we couldn't be more appreciative of the facilities that are so close to home!

Emily P

The team at Altavista took very good care of my 12year old Beagle Binks. She needed some tooth extractions and a cleaning, but with a bad heart murmur, I was very nervous about the Anesthetic. The vets at Altavista explained everything to me and even kept me updated during the procedure. We had an excellent outcome. The prices were reasonable and I wasn’t up sold. I would recommend this clinic.

My Review

HE KILLED A DOG with NO REMORSE or APOLOGIES!!! DO NOT TAKE YOUR precious furry family members to this monster!!! Dr Munjal used to be my dog's vet, but I found out today that he treated family member's dog for a routine procedure and the dog died. Dr Munjal knew there was a complication, but let the owner take the dog home where she passed away within hours. To add insult to injury, when presented with an opportunity to issue a refund for the procedure that killed the dog, he turned his back unapologetically. I will no longer take my dog here and I hope this serves as a warning to anyone who might be considering him as a vet. This would be a zero star rating if that was an option.

Shirl Mitchell

The people at Alta Vista are incredible. Empathetic and there to help! I have had two major emergencies with two of my dogs in the past 8 months and they were able to get them in, and get them fixed up. People say how expensive they are, …

Eros Knight

I'm very satisfied with the care we received today. Not only is it a beautiful facility, but the vet and tech were kind and friendly. I didn't feel forced into any treatment. We even had a last minute concern that we were able to address in our GPE/consult. The prices all seemed very fair to me as well. Highly recommend this animal hospital.

Ashley Cochrane

I could not be more thankful to find this place. They got us in very last minute on a Sunday for our cat and were so caring and informative. We'll be bringing all of our babies here from now on!

Ilima Loomis

We had a great experience at Alta Vista Animal Clinic. Dr. Pazdezh was very knowledgeable and took time to answer my questions and even did some additional research on a medication for me. He had a kind and gentle manner with Ivy. The vet techs were great as well and Ivy enjoyed lots of petting and attention. We would definitely recommend Alta Vista Animal Clinic!

heather scholefield

Dr. Munjal and the team are exceptionally competent, compassionate and accommodating. Over the years they have cared for 3 of our cats and our dog. They were able to take on complex issues, the animals loved them (only pets I've had that loved going to the vet) and they gave valuable advice on our options. I also appreciated that they are very open; when our dog was sick and had to be brought in for rehydration each day they had no problem with me going to the back to fetch her, nothing to hide. The staff is warm, the doctors also met us after hours in exceptional cases. Highly recommend this vet to anyone with any animal. So glad they are in the Dunbar area to serve the pets around here.

Melissa Towns

Very happy with the service I receive for my dog. We were very worried but we were reassured when we spoke to the vet. I would recommend this place to anyone who needs immediate care for their pet. It’s a 10/10 for me. Will definitely be back with my dog.

Tim Sutton

Great to have places like this when your regular vet is too booked up to see you! Our golden doodle had an war infection and our regular vet could not get us in until late November. Called Alta Vista and got in same morning. They get a premium for urgent care but it's alot better than wiring two weeks or more for an appointment when he us not we'll. Great service from the vet along with correct meds and advice for the future. Thank you!

Mangal Singh

Good doctor and very helpful and friendly people and very affordable too

Jenny Preswick

I feel really good taking my cat here. The vets are friendly and spend time to explain everything carefully and thoroughly, and offer lots of options. They don't try and hustle us or do any unnecessary procedures or tests. Also more affordable than many other vets. They're also sweet to my cat and seem to genuinely like the pets they see.

Tracy Watts

Came here for an emergency, all the staff and vets were amazing. Friendly, kind, patient. My dog received wonderful care. I got multiple updates every day and the vets took their time to make sure I understood everything. My dog is now happily at home and I cannot thank them enough!

Mantej Jassal

The staff at Alta Vista Animal hospital are genuinely caring people who truly seem to love their jobs. I have been taking my dog, Champ, to Alta Vista for over a year and I am very pleased with the way Dr. Munjal and the staff at the clinic have treated my dog. I recommend Alta Vista Animal Hospital to anyone who needs a vet for their pet!

Michelle Petrusevich

My cats are patients, the staff and doctors are amazing.

Kirsten McCormick

Choosing a vet is always seems like a bit of a minefield. Many vets seem to rely on very expensive diagnostics and advice is dispensed without any empathy that would make the choice obvious. Plus, many vets are dog focussed, and align their ethics in this direction, not the case with Alta Vista. My 3 year old cat had a UTI which I used to think was not a huge concern, almost an inevitability for male cats, but when my 3 year old cat started yowling in pain, unable to pee- I found out that UTI's can lead to potentially deadly blockages. He had already been to another vet and not responded to the prescribed antibiotics (which were expertly tweaked by Dr. Munjal..) Alta Vista was recommended by a friend who works with a local shelter. (My own vet had retired and I trusted this referral as I knew that my friend had inside information on many vets with all of her work with rescues..) They accepted my cat for treatment on a Sunday without an emergency fee, and were able to diagnose and remove a blockage quickly that might have had serious consequences. I was so nervous about leaving my sweet (and very nervous!) boy in the hospital at night without anyone there, but they assured me that he would be sleeping and his pain would be lessened by the surgery- after explaining the differences between leaving him there and the ER in considerate detail. Jodie -the office manager- actually came in to check on him in the night, during his three night stay, which is really above and beyond, I am eternally grateful! I never felt like I was a PIA even though I called throughout the day to check on him, and when we visited him, we were made to feel very welcome. Another thing that blew me away was Dr. Munjal's holistic care. He made sure to let us know that UTI's are often persistent and that we should be sure to use feliway (pheromones) at home to reduce stress. The feliway diffuser worked like a charm, and even stopped his sister from hissing at him! He also supported our choice of raw food (he wouldn't eat the urinary food..) and emphasized that the shift would help our boy lose some weight, which would aid his recovery. Dr. Pazdezh was incredibly helpful as well, with our initial diagnosis, laying out our options with care. Serene was also very pleasant and engaged , and Monica was just wonderful with our 'scaredy cat' feeding him by hand! I am so grateful to the entire team for their patience and expertise, as well as their compassion- I recommend them wholeheartedly.

Fallon Peever

I have been going to AVAH for some time now and the quality of care is unbelievable! I have had all kinds of animals all my life and been to many a vets all over Ottawa/Gatineau and I have had people tell me that they are so expensive and they would never take their animal there....Well I am going to be honest, after two miss diagnosis of cancer at Carp Rd Animal hospital they are they same rates! Yet AVAH has more equipment and the bedside manner is amazing....Carp Rd. Does have some great Vets however...I feel as though they have lost their way and are more focused on the dollar then the animals....I have never felt that way at Alta Vista....the Vets themselves have been calling to check up on my kitten...I am so happy that we have good news this time and that our new kitten will not only be keeping his eye but will be able to see out of it as well!!! Thank you Dr. Dana Clarke for such incredible care and amazing support!

Cass Troy

Everyone at Alta Vista is terrific, from our wonderful vet, Dr. Zurita, to super-helpful technical and other staff. Front desk staff are knowledgeable, patient, and kind.

Jamie O'Conniff

They help out with multiple animal rescues and are open on Sundays. This is a great vet clinic and they have always been very good about fitting us in for urgent issues.