Granville Island Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Thatcher is a caring, compassionate vet and just a really kind person. She handled our 4 month old puppy with great care and patience. I’d rate her higher, but this 2 star rating is for the clinic overall.
Their prices can go up to 200% more than what we’ve paid at another vet. Specifically, we had a box of 6 Sentinel tablets for $ 80, whereas this clinic only administers 1 at a time at $ 23 a piece.
With our original box, we were administering half of 1 tablet until he reaches 10 lbs, so the overall cost at Granville Island amounts to more than double the cost. The reasoning for administering this way was because the requirements change with weight. We have a scale at home and are fully able and responsible enough to weigh our dog and administer the tablets.
Seems like a cash grab to me.

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!
TERRIBLE VET!
My dog had an ear infection and was given a medication that was a topical solution to put in the ears. We had been doing this for a week and my dog suddenly went deaf. When I inquired about it on my next visit the vet told me «You’re dog is older, this is natural.» even though she knew this medication could be harmful. I insisted this was strange and what about the medication, could that be it? «oh no, it’s safe. your dog is 11 and this happens all the time at that age.»
I did some research online and found that the drug (Otomax) can cause deafness in dogs and to flush ears immediately if this occurs. I am outraged that this vet did not tell me to do so upon hearing that my dog had gone deaf when they would have had full knowledge of this side effect! This is very unprofessional work and almost grounds for a lawsuit! I hope this vet gets shut down and no ones pet has to suffer again!

My dog Bazi is a patient here. Every single vet (and other staff members) he has seen over the past few years has been AMAZING. Seriously, they are all so nice and kind, and are extremely warm and understanding. I’ve never been made to feel stupid or overbearing when I ask them a million questions — like when he was a puppy and I asked if it was normal for him to hiccup often :)
Bazi got very sick over New Years last year and I was beside myself because he had to stay at the vet for overnight care. They let us visit him, and the little room in the back where dogs are boarded is much, much nicer than what I was imagining. The nurse was so sweet and kind to Bazi. AND Dr. Cynthia Rose came in on her day off, New Years Day (!!) to discharge Bazi because otherwise he would have had to stay overnight again. This was so amazingly giving of her and was such a relief to us. I am still so thankful to her for that.
I highly recommend this practice!

I recently got my first pet as an adult and would never pick another vet than Dr. Janet Adam (who looked after my childhood cat and my parents’ cats). She is so wonderful with animals and their human counterparts — a great listener and so empathetic. When my mom’s cat was killed by coyotes, Dr. Janet and the clinic sent a sympathy letter and a donation to Pet Trust — such a sweet and appreciated gesture. I was also very happy with the animal technicians and other staff I met at the clinic — everyone is so friendly. This is the best place to bring your pet!

I was referred here by a friend & am really happy with the care taken for my furry friend.
We saw Dr Ignacio, Dr Berkshire & Dr Clark on our many visits. They were honest & had
compassion which is more than I can say for other vets I’ve seen. I recommend these guys
for all the furry family members!

Worst cats vet ever, when i brought my cat to there, and only thing she wanted to do let my cat do test, my cat is pregnant, and i wasnt 100%sure about tht, thats why i brought her to check, and she told me tht she is not sure tht my cat is pregnant or not, u r a doctor, how could u just say tht u dont know! Only thing she wanted me to do is for every testing, like xray and blood test and another one, i dont really remember the name. N my cat did xray, she said she couldn’t see anything… N then she wanted me to do another test… I rejected. I paid money, and got nothing! And after few days, i brought my cat to see a doctor in rmd, when he just saw my cat, he told me tht my cat is pregnant rightaway! And he touched cats belly and told me, at least 2babes inside! … But cats only They just want to get more money!

Definitely one of the best vet clinics I’ve ever dealt with. I’ve referred many of my doggie clients to them and will continue to do so. They are fair, caring and really know their stuff.

Over many years my cats have been patients of over 5 major vet clinics in Vancouver. I left them all because of terrible awful care. Until now! We have been with Granville Island for a few years now and I have NEVER been happier. I am a VERY picky cat mom and it takes a lot for me to actually feel comfortable and truly trust anyone taking care of our cats. We mainly see Dr. Ignacio (super star!) but anytime we have had to come when he isn’t there we have been extremely happy with the other vets. Dr. Wallace made a house call when it was Rumple’s time to go and she lives in a special place in my heart. Dr. Ignacio ‘s care for Rumple in her last year lives there too.
I always feel 100% that any decision is truly about best care and not about upselling or trying to make money.
It’s certainly not the closest location for us, or the cheapest but I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

I’ve seen different veterinarians in my life as my dog is older and I have never seen such wonderful care for animals.
This pet clinic hides nothing. You are allowed to go in the back to sit with your pet if they’re sick and the surgery area is fully enclosed with glass so you can see the surgery as it’s happening. Not sure if they will actually let you watch your own pet having surgery but I know I’ve been back there when my dog is sick and it’s spotless.
Their prices can be a smidge more for medications so I still do go to another vet clinic for my monthly refills.
Dr. Rose is amazing.

We have been going here since we brought home our 8 week old puppy, now a year and a half old.
Dr. Clark is excellent. He speaks with an economy of words but is very relatable. He will answer any question you have not make you feel like an idiot for asking, which is rare trait in health care related fields. He also gives you options for less expensive treatment, and with his extensive experience you aren’t relying on exploratory procedures to get to the heart of the problem. He didn’t hesitate to write my dog a prescription for a generic version of the veterinary branded formula, saving me a lot.
Dr. Clark is also very good with my dog who tends to get nervous at the clinic, as well as the staff. The staff here genuinely love working with animals, and it shows with how they relate to them.
The another benefit of working with Granville Island is that they have deep roots in the community. From that they can make recommendations and referrals to vet specialists, boarding, dog walkers, and daycares in the area that are genuinely good services. This is helpful if you are new to the area like we were.
Talking to my other dog friends, I believe Gandville might be priced higher than other vets in the area, but then again you get what you pay for. I trust Granville with my fur child 100%.

Have been recently bringing my 10yr old Lab here for issues with his eye. I’ve found Dr. Ignacio and Dr. Rose to be friendly and informative. They both answered all my questions and have excellent bedside manner. In fact, my boy Champ actually gets excited to visit with his vets. We will continue to use Granville Island Vets for Champ’s needs.

Excellent vets here! I have seen several, DR Ignacio, DR Clark, DR Rose all fabulous. You can’t go wrong with this vet. We never have to wait long before seeing the vet and reception staff are great too. Free parking is a perk in Vancouver. The only downfall is the prices… yes it is expensive here, but you can feel confident in the vet care you are getting for your animal.

Several years ago I was referred to this vet by a friend who recommended Dr. Bill (Ignacio).
He’s fantastic, but really though I’ve not ever had a bad experience here with any of the vets. I do believe the entire staff are fully competant and absolute animal lovers.
Recently, one of my cats was diagnosed with a serious tumour by Dr Rose.
She referred me to a specialist, but she also went above and beyond, by checking in regularly with me, making me feel supported and providing me with a lot of helpful advise that in the end helped me to make my decison to pursue treatment.
I’m happy to say that my little guy is recovering well from his surgery. I’m very grateful for the compassion shown by Dr. Rose and the staff at Granville Island Vet Hospital.

Oh my goodness, there are 7 vets at Granville Island. When writing these negative reports in fairness to the rest of the staff, single out the individual with whom you are not pleased.
I have been going to Granville Island Veterinary Hospital since they opened. Over the years the staff, both at the front desk and the lab technicians have been exceptionally professional in their dealings with me, my cats and dogs over the years.
At one time their medical equipment for giving inter venous liquids was superior to what we humans were receiving in our local hospitals!
The primary vet that I have chosen to work with never orders multiple tests. He is pro-​active and will recommend supplements that correct the issue. Surgery is our last option. Even the food he suggested was one you could buy at a pet store. I have found him to be impeccable in both honesty and billing.
My animals over the years have always recovered promptly from G.V.I.H.‘s courses of treatments.
There is one exception however. I have only one issue with a male vet at G.V.I.H. from whom I am still awaiting a written apology and it is now over a year ago. I was away on holidays. One puppy had an ear infection, and my very beautiful and statuesque dog sitter took my dog in to have the dog’s ear examined.
Clearly the vet’s mind was clouded. He overlooked the fact that the puppy had been vaccinated fully the year before as he had to enter Canada from the U.S.A. Nor do you administer a vaccination when a dog is suffering from an ear infection either! Nor had I on my authorization release form consented to any procedure other than an emergency issue. Lastly, I was going to be back home in two weeks. There are many of us out there that are from the snit-​vaccination mindset. I recently learned that the vaccines now work for up to 7 years. The belief is that the immune system is compromised. My male continues to suffer from sensitive ears.

So if you are anti-​vaccination, please do have G.I.V.H. put a big sticker on your file.
I might add that my own vet and the front desk all apologized profusely. So one vet’s actions does not invalidate a great practice.

I will never go back. Most of the positive reviews on here are because they are nice people (which they are until you disagree with them on something). The bad reviews are when your animal gets into serious health problems and it looks like they do a crappy job of managing those health issues.
I feel like they go to the extreme end of things to resolve the issue without looking at the root cause.
Too bad, was nice and close.

The best staff, vets, and service. Everyone is very friendly and of course the results are always first rate.
Definitely deserving of their many Georgia Straight Best of Vancouver awards (which is why we chose them in the first place, as first time pet owners).

Wonderful vet clinic. as far as i am concerned they are the best in vancouver. I have lived here for a 13 years and have taken both of my cat to the vet more times than i would have liked to. i wish i would have discovered this place sooner. They accommodated my last minute appointment, were super friendly, and ended up being very very reasonable with their pricing. I no doubt will be making this place my regular vet for both my kitties.

After a few experiences with other vets in Vancouver, I have been a bit disappointed compared to the care my cat got in Toronto, so when she started limping a bit, I wasn’t sure where to go, so I fired up the Unilocal-​machine to see what I could learn. After reading several reviews here, I decided to go to Granville Island Vet Hospital and boy am I glad.
The receptionists were very helpful and professional. I was able to get an appointment the same day at no additional charge and by the time I arrived, my cat’s medical history from other vets was already on file. They made sure to get her name correct as well as my contact information and add my partner to the file, so either of us could bring her in for a follow up as needed.
Wait time in the examination room was short and Dr Ignacio was prompt. I was immediately struck by how gentle the doc was with my cat. She’s very sweet, but can be a bit skittish and she was just putty in his hands. Not once did she show signs of distress (like hissing or struggling to get away).
Doctor Ignacio was extremely courteous and professional. He explained his logic and reasoning every step of the way and clearly indicated his recommendations and the costs associated with each of our options and then allowed ME to decide what was best for my pet.
I am completely impressed with the level of courtesy and professionalism I enjoyed during my visit. Prices were reasonable and not once did anyone try to sell me unnecessary products or services. I will definitely be going to Granville Island Veterinary Hospital for my future needs.

Just now able to write this update after four months. At the end of September we had to say goodbye to our dog and our world at only 8 ½. Within a week of nothing being wrong she had cluster seziure and after scans it was confirmed that she had cancer throughout. It was the hardest thing we have ever done. Whilst nothing was going to make this easier Dr Rose was amazing, caring and compassionate. It is so much more than a job for Dr Rose and as there was no choice but to go through this I feel very grateful that Dr Rose was there with us at the time.

I’ve been dealing with Granville Island Vet Hospital since 2004. My old Bichon gal, Casey, lived to be a few months past her 16^th birthday and I know that a large part of her long life was due to the extraordinary level of care we received at GIVH.
Dr.‘s John Clark and Janet Adam knew my gal inside out, and offered a level of care, second to none. They cared for my gal as if she were their own — I never doubted their recommendations, however I also researched her health conditions and educated myself before I went in. I knew when blood panels and x-​rays were necessary and when they were not, so never ran into a situation when I felt I was being oversold on treatment options.
Both vets always supported my belief in traditional and homeopathic medicine. They even taught me to administer I.V. fluids when her kidneys were failing to keep her comfortable in the last months of her life.
I have 2 senior Bichons now and always book an annual checkup and geriatric blood panel so I know exactly what’s happening inside my dog. Many people will argue this is unnecessary, but I will argue that this is preventative. Once your dog shows internal organ failure, or illness, it can often be too late to treat their condition. Liver, pancreas & kidneys are all healthy in my two pooches who are 10 and 15 now…
All the vets here are great. My dogs love to go and jump onto the scale to be weighed the second we walk in the door. they know they will get a treat!
I have no hesitation in recommending GIVH to ALL dog owners. I have had several unhappy experiences with other vet clinics over the years, but never with these guys.
From front end staff, to the vet techs, to the vets themselves, everyone here has treated me and my pets with dignity and respect and love. I cannot say enough good things about them.