Banks Animal Hospital

We have a nervous puppy who’s a fuzzy eater and prone to have ear problems related to food allergies. We found Dr. Pusong, Dr. Featherstone and staff at Banks highly skilled, professional and friendly. They have been caring for Teddy for 5 years now. We highly recommend this clinic.

my puppy came here for his 2^nd set of shots, perfectly healthy, they decided to redo his first shots instead… some bullshit about they were done too early… within a week he got sick… so we went back… he had localized demodex… so he gave us meds and sent us on our way… back a week later because it got worse and spread. now its generalized demodex meaning it spread everywhere, also told us he couldnt have his 2^nd shots because he was sick… ok fine… also said he needed to see a dermatologist which could take a month to get an appointment. gave us more meds then sent us on our way again. he calls me back 2 days later saying he can actually give the 2^nd shots… and to come back for more meds… wait didnt you say you cant vaccinate a sick dog??? we decided to go to a different vet… apparently the «meds» arent for demodex and giving him his first shots twice lowered his immune system. thank you you incompetent fool. were now looking at 6 months of treating our puppy and weekly vet visits. do not EVER go to this vet.

My cat came to me as a foster in 2008.
In Spring 2009, he was starting to go outside his box and had trouble urinating.
He clearly had a UTI and it was dire.
You can’t mess around with male cats and UTIs.
So, Annex Cat Rescue sent me to this clinic and I got the horrendous experience of dealing with Dr. Ron Pousong.
He had to be coaxed into doing blood/​urine testing.
He told me the (fixed) cat «probably saw another cat outside and got excited» and wasn’t actually sick. Yes, he was twitterpated — OK sure!
When the results came back, he was very wishy-​washy about the medication that would be required. He started yelling at me on the phone when I questioned his approach and insisted he get the meds ready for same day pick up. There were many ways to treat this condition and his solution was to give me 21 teeny tiny pills to shove down the cat’s throat daily for 3 weeks.
The meds didn’t work. He needed stronger ones on a shorter course.
Eventually, he got the care he needed elsewhere.
My cat also got fleas while there, but they’ll deny it til they’re blue in the face.
Don’t. Ever. Go. Here.

They lost my friends dog, then neglected to tell them for HOURS. Still no explanation.
Thankfully Winni was found.

We brought our geriatric dog here when our regular vet wasn’t able to see her due to a temporary staff shortage. Our old girl had a large abscess that had started to drain, and needed to be looked after. The staff seemed very compassionate and knowledgeable, even though we were squeezed in last minute and ended up staying past closing hours. They took very good care of our 15 year old pup, and, although not pretty to look at, her abscess has been drained, shaved, and she’s been put on antibiotics for 2 weeks. The vet was caring, *definitely* knowledgeable, and very patient with us and with Dixie… even with our 4 year old, who wouldn’t sit still for love nor money! If we ever need a «back-​up» vet (they’re a bit far for us to travel to on a regular basis), they’re the ones we’ll be calling on!

We have two cats — one of which we adopted from Banks. We’ve always had great experiences with them, and find all of the staff and vets helpful and friendly. Dr. Featherstone always has great tips for keeping our kitties happy and healthy.
We had our cat spayed there, and she had some complications with the stitches. Turns out she was allergic to the stitches themselves. The staff were so great about keeping us calm and our cat comfortable through the ordeal. She healed up fine after re-​stitching with a different type of suture.
We live pretty far from them now, but still trek out 30+ minutes to take our kitties there.

First of all, all vet clinics care about making money — it’s a business after all. Secondly, I’ve had some negative experiences with vets before (Rosedale and Annex hospitals being the WORST), but I’ve never had a bad interaction with anyone at Banks. They have always been understanding of my dog’s needs and sensitive to my neuroses. They never push on medications or services, but will make recommenations and suggestions. We would often go for their grooming services and Mr. Scamper would come running out excited, all clean and fresh, with a fancy bandana tied around his neck. I don’t even live in the east end anymore, but we still drive all the way out there because that is Scamper’s vet. I also find their pricing reasonable and on par, or below, with those in other areas of the city.

Had such a horrible experience with the female Veterinarian on staff, that I am thisclose to lodging a complaint against her with the OVMA. Never, in almost 20 years of caring for my dogs, have I ever been treated in this manner. Never again.
Banks Animal Hospital has lost a family of customers. 3 homes with a menagerie of dogs and cats. Shame on you.

If you want to take your pet to a vet office that doesnt give a crap about your pet take them here. I have had many bad experiences with this office with my mom’s dogs and I am pretty sure this place is more expensive than other vets.
The older doctor is a real douche. My mom’s older dog became quite sick with artheritis and he was prescribed meta cam. The vet scared me into thinking it was a spinal tumor (because he knew I work in a human neurosurgery unit in a hospital) and said that the dog needed all sorts of expensive tests (X-​ray under sedation, blood work etc) and it would all cost like $ 700+. I left crying because my moms dog was so sick and in pain he was shaking from the pain. Later he was prescribed METACAM for his pain and my mother sent me down there from her home to pick it up for her while she stayed with the dog who was in really bad shape.
My mom though because her credit card was on file and her dogs had been patients at Banks for 10+ years that it wouldnt be a huge issue to give the $ 79 metacam to me. But it was. They refused to issue the medication to me without payment on the spot and wouldnt run the credit card even by talking to her on the phone. So I had to drive back to her house pick her up and bring her down all while the dog is in agony at home. The receptionist said «i’ll check with the doctor» and the older gentleman refused to give the medication without payment, something which had been done before with a different vet at the same place. It’s not even like it wouldnt have been paid for my mother was willing to drive down right after to give them the money we were more concerned with not leaving the dog alone in agony which this vet didnt care about.
I’ve heard other bad things about this office so I’d take my pet elsewhere. I take my cat to Queen West Animal Hospital. If thats out of area for you (which it is for my mom) then I’d maybe go to the Leslieville Animal Hospital or anywhere but here. These people don’t care about your pet. They care about money.