The best animal hospital or clinic in Toronto is usually defined by one main characteristic. That is, they don't make you feel as though they're selling your pet's health. Until this backward country of ours expands universal health care to include the odd tick treatment and rabies vaccination (who's with me?! no one? ..okay), we'll have to keep shelling out to keep our puppies, kitties, and pocket pets healthy. And that means we all want a vet we can trust.
The animal hospitals on this list generally satisfy that desire, offering additional services in most cases such as grooming, boarding, and preventative medicine.
Here is the list of the best animal hospitals in Toronto.
Queen West Animal Hospital (923 Queen Street West)
No nervous yawning here! (OK, maybe a bit. This is a vet, after all.) Pets and people alike seem to love Queen West Animal Hospital, in large part because of the expertise of doctors Scott Mathison and Paula Fisher. The environment is as stress-free as possible with a reputation for compassionate attention, and you can count on having your pet back on four feet in no time.
Bloor West Village Animal Hospital (2100 Bloor Street West #8a)
West end pets are treated to careful attention by doctors Christopher O'Toole and Eva Chung here at Bloor West. This clinic is said to be a little better priced than some others in the area, with service that human clients say is definitely bar-none (dogs and cats have remained mum on the issue, alas). Patients also receive birthday cards sent to their home each year, though evidence shows that not a single one can actually read them.
Downtown Animal Hospital on Church (579 Church Street)
Downtown Animal Hospital on Church might be a pricier option for your shots and spays, but Village residents are especially loyal to this Church Street clinic when it comes to the treatment of their beloved furbabies. This clinic is a one-stop shop with veterinary services, grooming, food, and supplies all available from one location, with late-night hours throughout the week for added flexibility.
Bay Cat-Dog Hospital (525 King Street East)
These are basically two animal clinics in one. The Bay Cat Hospital, obviously, specializes in our feline friends, whereas the adjacent Dog Hospital is exclusively for canine companions. A good choice for those in Corktown with a dog or cat who won't stand to see a beast of another species in his or her waiting room. Both clinics are full-service with a pharmacy and lab on site, and the cat clinic also runs its own cat adoption program.
Davisville Park Animal Hospital (518 Mount Pleasant Road)
Just north of the off-leash dog park (for a little rough play after a teeth-clean)! Davisville Park Animal Hospital is operated by Dr. Steve Avery and his team, a group that clearly has your pets' best interests in mind. Dr. Avery's bedside manner (or should that be "metal-table-side-manner"?) is especially great for nervous pet parents, and there's usually a treat or two to be had for those who don't have an accident on the table. And sometimes, even those who do.
The Animal Clinic (106 Mutual Street)
Right off of the Ryerson University campus, The Animal Clinic has been helping Toronto's furry friends for decades (albeit, in this location for just one). Dr. John Reeve-Newson is definitely a favourite among four- and two-legged clients, with the facility offering everything from laser surgeries to digital radiography, plus a live video feed so you can check up on your pet during a day of boarding.
Dundas West Animal Hospital (2160 Dundas Street West)
Obedience school, pet products, a cat adoption centre and a veterinary clinic all under one roof. The Dundas West Animal Hospital is a "no-pressure" place with a reputation for accommodating students. Dr. Scott Bainbridge is the main man at this west-end clinic (and on local TV, coincidentally), though the entire Dundas West Animal Hospital team is said to deliver excellent service and behind-the-ear scratches.
Rosedale Animal Hospital (1284 Yonge St.)
Full disclosure: I have a four-legged family member who is a patient at Rosedale Animal Hospital (though, of course, these rankings are determined by reader votes, not by persuasive pets). While my dog hasn't fully articulated her affinity for Dr. Ian Sandler, she does usually greet him with enthused tail wagging, licks, and the occasional semi-roll to invite a belly rub. That's an endorsement, right?
East York Animal Clinic (805 O'Connor Dr)
East York Animal Clinic isn't your typical drop-in vet. Rather, this clinic at O'Connor and St. Clair takes a holistic approach to the treatment of your pet, with unique services and therapies including Bach flower therapy, ozone therapy, colour therapy, and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. What? You get acupuncture, don't you? A little pricey to some, but the holistic process often can be.
Blue Cross Animal Hospital (132 Danforth Avenue)
Recently renovated for a more paws-itive clinic experience (groan, I know) Blue Cross Animal Hospital is a full-service facility at Broadview and Danforth. Among its services is laser therapy pet pain management (good for older dogs and cats), along with regular classes for clients on basic pet first aid. Blue Cross also has its own online store for customers to shop for pet products from home.
Greenwood Park Animal Hospital (1041 Gerrard E)
Faithful clients rave about Dr. Sam Munn, in particular, as well as the rest of the staff at Greenwood Park Animal Hospital. This clinic is not one of those strict cat and dog facilities, but is known to offer superb treatment for rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, and other smaller household pets. That includes birds and reptiles! So yeah, a bit of a zoo. But in the good way, I assure you.
Annex Animal Hospital (716 Bathurst Street)
Now, this one is more of a cat and dog operation, and one that has been treating pets for over three decades. Annex Animal Hospital does everything — including ultrasounds and lab tests — at its location on Bathurst, with grooming and boarding also available onsite. The hospital also runs a "VIP" online store, allowing pet parents to purchase specialty food and supplements from home.
Front Street Animal Hospital (548 Front Street West)
Perfectly located for the top dogs, if you will, to swing by for a quick rabies shot before taking over the Financial District. Despite its big business locale, Front Street Animal Hospital is known as one that really doesn't push unnecessary treatments, with dentistry, endoscopy, and grooming all available on location. Staff also speak Spanish and Portuguese as well as English, though they still have trouble discerning the inevitable "mrraaw."
St. Clair Veterinary Facilities (779 Saint Clair Avenue West)
Though ownership has changed hands over the years, this address at St. Clair and Oakwood has played host to a veterinary facility since 1940. Now under the ownership of Dr. Heather Hannah, St. Clair Veterinary Facility treats neighbourhood cats, dogs, rabbits and more, offering boarding for pets whose parents are away and all the latest technology in pet health care.
Kingston Road Animal Hospital (1025 Kingston Road)
There for the occasional 3 a.m. pet hiccups including the ingestion of a bag of bath beads or split paw on some gravel. Not that good pet parents let that happen, right? Kingston Road Animal Hospital offers regular treatment along with 24/7 emergency care, with grooming available at the clinic, as well as boarding and the odd behavioural tweak. As long as midnight bath-bead-grazing isn't a recurring event, prices here are pretty reasonable.
Lead photo by Jennifwr in the blogTO Flickr pool