VCA Canada 404 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital - Newmarket, Ontario

Carol Connolly

I cant say enough about 404 Vet/team. I have had 2 pets be treated by them. One multiple times. Mr Kitty. With blocked euretha and every time we came we were treated with kindness and compassion. And this weekend we had a situation with Bloat with my senior dog Whiskey, from the moment I callerdon my way in to say we were on our way all the way to discharge, it was a overwhelming kindness and assurance he was going to be ok. " they had this". As soon as I arrived. The receptionist was amazing. Immediately called triage and the Vet Tech that came to get him acted as if Whiskey and her were best buds. Took him immediately to the back.. The Vet came out 15 minutes later. Told me what we were up against, he would need immediate surgery. We needed Financial assistance and again the receptionist helped us with the paper work and didnt make us feel ackward about it at all. We got to kiss whiskey goodnight and at 3am they called and she the surgery went perfect. The entire time he was there. They called to give updates, they asked if we wanted to come and visit and feed him. Which we did. If I could give 10 stars I would.
Thank you to the entire team. And sorry I dont remember the receptionist, vet tech or the 2 initial vets names. The night was a bit of a blur.
Whiskey and I Thank you all

Privatelife

I cannot express our gratitude enough. We brought in our baby boy Jack our one year old cat a few weeks ago for peeing blood. Even from the first phone call I felt supported. When I got there the lovely lady at the desk ( I wish I had her name she is so kind and sweet and is amazing at her job to the point I had to hug her when I saw her next because shes amazing) helped me and reassured me so much as I was so scared. The doctor I saw that night ( Dr. Kelsa Paige) was amazing and kind and helped us so much. I was so impressed with this place and beyond thankful we found an amazing place with kind caring staff 30 min away. What I didn't know was that we would have a scare just a few weeks later and have to go back. This week we had to go back because Jack was unable to pee all together. The staff at desk ( I wish I knew everyone names) were so lovely and kind and reassuring . People you'd want to see in times of distress. I felt like everyone truly cared. Dr. Emily Tsan was a sweetheart and took me into a private room and reassured my broken crying heart that everything was going to be okay and even drew out a diagram visual to help me understand what was happening to my baby as he had blocked. She was incredible. I felt like I was leaving my boy in the hands of people I trust, who know exactly what they are doing. The ladies even let me have 5 minutes with my baby Jackie to be able to cuddle him and tell him he's a brave boy before he went in for the procedure. After crying the whole way home, just shortly after Dr. Emily called me to reassure me everything had gone smooth! I asked so many questions both times I went here and never felt rushed and felt like I could ask as much as I wanted. I called to check in on Jackie and got a great update that evening. Jack was supposed to spend 2 nights there with a cathadar in. The first night was so hard and we planned on visiting the next day as you are allowed to visit during visiting hours which made me feel at peace. When the kind doctor (not sure his name) called me with what I thought was going to be an update - to my surprise my baby was able to come home a day early as he was doing so well! I was beyond happy and when picking him up they explained everything in detail everyone was amazing yet again and even when I had to call back with a few follow up questions, everyone made me feel so so supported. We will forever be thankful for this place and I would recommend it to anyone! It has only been a few days and baby Jack is already back to living his best life and feeling himself again and watching the birdies and playing with his little brother. Thank you to all from the bottom of our hearts! Jackie sends cuddles to all hands on deck who helped him! ?

Meghan Megaw

Our senior dog started refusing food. After a few days of being unable to get him to eat I brought him into the 404 Emergency Clinic for a consult. Unfortunately after consulting with the veterinarian we made the very difficult decision to say goodbye to our dog. All of the staff were so kind and lovely to work with. They made a very difficult evening a little bit easier. The technician and veterinarian (I believe it was Dr. Silverman) were so gentle with our dog and took the time to listen to our concerns, discuss our options and discuss potential outcomes. They were very patient and compassionate. I felt heard and validated and felt like they truly wanted what was best for my dog and weren’t just trying to find ways to make money off me (like I have experienced at other veterinary clinics). They gave us all the time we needed and had a quiet, comfortable space for our last moments with our dog. Thank you so much for your kindness and your wonderful care of Gizmo.

hihisha0410 cc

My dog broke a lot of his teeth at once in early april, my heart was broken when I found out. After referral and consultation. My dog did a dental surgery in vca 404 veterinary today, it was smooth and successful. Start from the telephone inquiry to finish surgery everything was perfect. All the stuffs I've met were very kind, polite, and knowledgeable. Special thanks to Dr. Pegg and her team. Heather was the assistant she explain everything patiently and clearly about before and after care to me. She put sweater and blanket to my hairless dog after surgery. They care about my dog and know what he needs, I'm grateful my dog was in a good hand. Since my dog has a few surgery before I know vet bills will never be cheap. This hospital price is reasonable and it's in the average side. I feel very lucky my family vet referred my dog to here. It's not expensive than other hospital but with excellent customer service. My dog seems tired but not terrified after surgery I know they treated him very well. Highly recommended!!

Serina Marie

I recently faced the incredibly difficult decision to euthanize my senior dog, who had been battling cancer. The experience was one of the hardest of my life, but I am beyond grateful to the team at 404 Animal Hospital for the level of care and compassion they provided.

From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to ensure we felt comfortable and supported during this heartbreaking time. Their approach was incredibly gentle, loving, and respectful, providing not only medical expertise but also emotional care when we needed it most. They all went above and beyond in regards to being compassionate and individualized care that honours both the pet and the owner.

What really stood out to me was their balance of professionalism and humanity. They were informative and relatable, taking the time to explain everything clearly while always respecting our feelings. The team was practical and logical in their recommendations but never once overlooked the emotional weight of the situation. It was clear that providing care for pets and their families is not just a job for them.
I can’t recommend them enough and will always be thankful for the compassion they showed us during such a challenging time.

Parya Bahrampour

I had an exceptional experience at the VCA 404, especially during a recent emergency visit. My dog began showing troubling symptoms, including persistent coughing, difficulty breathing and lethargy. We rushed in on a weekend, and from the moment we arrived, the team was outstanding. They immediately took my dog in for evaluation and kept us informed every step of the way. The entire staff made sure we understood the situation and felt comfortable with the treatment plan. They patiently explained each procedure and answered all our questions, which really put us at ease during a stressful time.
We spent several hours at the clinic as they monitored my dog’s condition, and their dedication and expertise were evident. Thanks to their swift action and careful attention, they managed to stabilize my dog and ultimately saved her life. The clinic was clean and well-organized, and the compassionate care provided by the team was truly remarkable.
I am incredibly grateful for their exceptional emergency care.

Randi

I wish I could give this place ZERO stars to express my concerns regarding the treatment my dog, Louie, received at VCA Animal Hospital during her recent stay. My experience was deeply disappointing and distressing, and I feel compelled to share the details in hopes of improving future care for others. On May 21, Louie was referred to this facility for a blood transfusion after an emergency visit to a local vet, who suspected she had IMHA and potentially Evans syndrome. Given her critical condition—exhibiting a red blood cell count of only 9%, no platelets, dehydration, and severe symptoms such as large purple splotches on her belly—we were understandably anxious for her well-being. Throughout Louie's five-day stay, I encountered significant communication barriers. Most interactions with the veterinary staff occurred over the phone at 3am or 4am, which made it difficult to fully understand her condition or treatment plan. Despite requesting in-person discussions, I was often met with delays or could only speak with interns and vet students who lacked the authority to provide concrete answers. This left me feeling frustrated and anxious during an already emotional time. The financial aspect of Louie's treatment was also troubling. I was presented with multiple recommendations for additional tests and transfusions without clear guarantees of their necessity or efficacy. After her second blood transfusion, I was informed that another would be needed if she continued to lose blood, but the risks associated with a cross-match were not thoroughly explained until I pressed for details. The costs continued to escalate without a definitive diagnosis, which led me to question whether Louie's suffering was being prolonged for financial gain. On May 25, I informed Dr. Ho that I wished to discharge Louie due to the lack of progress and clarity regarding her condition. During this phone call, I was unexpectedly offered a mobile euthanasia service, which felt inappropriate given the circumstances and my emotional state after spending nearly $10,000. Upon arriving to pick Louie up, we experienced an additional delay of two hours, during which no one communicated with us about her discharge. When we finally received her, the vet tech brought her in with IV lines still connected, indicating a lack of coordination and awareness of our discharge request. During the discharge process, I encountered a front desk clerk who made inappropriate jokes about the exorbitant bill, which amounted to $9,202.41. This behavior was not only unprofessional but also deeply insensitive, considering the emotional turmoil I was experiencing. I requested all medical records and test results, but upon returning home, I discovered that only limited notes had been sent, with no lab results. This caused further complications in follow-up care with Louie's regular veterinarian. It wasn't until May 30—five days post-discharge—that I received the full diagnosis: Louie had red blood cell aplasia and primary IMHA. This diagnosis was delivered by a veterinarian whom I did not recall interacting with during her treatment, adding to my frustration. I had already made the decision to euthanize Louie based on the indications I received from my local vet, who had been proactive in seeking clarity regarding her condition. Throughout our stay, I struggled to have meaningful conversations with the veterinary staff. The reliance on phone communication, particularly during such a critical time, heightened my anxiety and left me feeling unsupported. Despite three blood transfusions, we received little to no clarity about Louie's diagnosis or prognosis. This lack of transparency is unacceptable, especially when my dog's life was at stake. I was left feeling helpless and frustrated, unsure of the next steps. I urge you to evaluate your protocols for client communication and staff training to ensure that future clients receive the compassionate and thorough care they deserve, especially for the price they pay during such critical moments.

Carmen Fitzpatrick

We can’t adequately express how impressed we were with our experience at VCA 404 and how grateful we are for the compassionate care they provided to us and our cockatiel during our emergency visit on April 2024. On top of it all, it was far more affordable than we anticipated, and we now have a certified avian vet for follow up care for our girl. Thank you from Boyfriend the cockatiel and her fam?♥️ 100% recommend