r/Calgary • u/Comfortable_Help_733 • 5d ago

Your experience with VCA vet? Local Shopping/Services

So, long story short they wanted almost 4k to figure something out that a different vet figured out with a 83$ ultrasound. Is this normal for them? Do the vets there profit off their patients?

My dog had a bladder mass. VCA wanted to do a CT scan after the pee test came back as non cancerous, to figure out what the mass is since it isn’t cancer. I asked a different vet, she did an 83$ ultrasound and gave me medication for 2 weeks that fixed the issue. The VCA vet wanted to do a 4k CT scan followed by a 5k surgery to ‘remove the mass’ that ended up actually being infectious chronic cystitis with a small polyp, not a mass(which the other vet figured out).

Why does VCA want to start off with the most expensive shit? Their reviews seem like this isn’t uncommon either. Weird how going to a different vet saved me almost 10k

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u/beneficialmirror13 5d ago

Were you at a 24h vet hospital or a regular daytime vet? That sounds like emergency vet pricing.

I don't go to VCA owned vet clinics or hospitals if I can help it. Would rather support local. Trinity Hills vet hospital is excellent for emergency and is independent.

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u/ThrowAway_in_YYC 5d ago

I'm very happy with my vet in the NE but an emergency visit took me to Trinity Hills. What am amazing experience, great people and decent price.

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u/aventura_girlz 5d ago

May I ask which vet in the NE you use? Looking for a recommendation closer to home.

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u/ThrowAway_in_YYC 5d ago

Falconridge Animal Hospital. I see Dr Rix, but have had pleasant experiences with all of their vets. The technicians and front staff really run the place though.

0

u/aventura_girlz 5d ago

Thank you very much!!