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8/25/20 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
If you have an exotic animal, please do not go to this clinic. I don't like to give negative reviews. I was shocked by what I experienced here, after having exotic pets cared for with such knowledgability and kindness by Dr Materi in Calgary over the years. Dr Burstyn's first priority is clearly himself and the overstuffing of his pocketbook. That would be bearable if he was qualified to care for exotic pets. This is a dangerous clinic
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7/12/19 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
After watching Dr. Burstyn's Youtube videos on cats, which I highly recommend to anyone who has cats, I decided to email the clinic to ask if he could help me with my cat's behavioral issues. I live way too far away to take my cat to see him in person, but he offered to see what he could do through a phone consultation. I am so glad I accepted! I now have a solid plan of how to deal with the behavioral issues, how to find a local vet for my cat, how to handle his weight gain, and so much more! Dr. Burstyn really understands cats and is great at listening to understand what is really going on! The Arbutus West Animal Clinic staff took great care of me, emailing me and phoning me to answer all my questions with such a friendly and professional manner. I only wish I live closer so Dr. Burstyn and Arbutus West Animal Clinic could be my regular veterinary clinic. I could not give a higher recommendation!
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9/14/17 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
They recommend unnecessary procedures, while saying this would ensure the best clinical outcome. However, I do not think the vet was suggesting the treatment option for my pet's best interest, given two other vets I saw thought the treatment this vet suggested was excessive and too stressful for my pet. I DO NOT recommend this clinic. We are fortunate that we have quite a few vet clinics in Vancouver, and this one is not worth your visit. I also find it hilarious that they respond to negative comments on Google Review. Their attitude seems to be judgmental about pet owners who do not follow the most expensive option they suggested or other vet who offers more affordable service.
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4/9/17 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
My experience with Dr Burstyn was wonderful, you can tell he truly loves and cares about all the animals he encounters. Their well being is his top priority and he is extremely knowledgeable, I have and will continue to recommend him to my friends and colleagues.
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12/16/16 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
I brought my chicken, Nigella, in for an appointment during our appointment Dr Burstyn
· ignored my initial complaint of potential bumblefoot and swollen foot pad and offered an inappropriate and vague diagnosis (broken toe, gout, unknown infection??)
· Recommended an unnecessary x-ray ($200) to check for a broken toe, and when I declined, implied that I was not caring properly for my chicken and that the only remaining options were euthanasia or medication for pain
· Told me that putting gauze on the affected foot was “traumatizing” the chicken and that I should stop
· Disregarded my insistence that there was a clear injury to the foot pad and berated me for suggesting that a course of antibiotics could help
· Told me that it would take 3 people to give oral medication to a chicken
the next day I took her to Night Owl Bird Clinic. Nigella was diagnosed with bumblefoot by their vet, given antibiotics, and gauze was put on the foot to protect the are
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5/12/15 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
The Arbutus Animal Clinic West's MISDIAGNOSIS of CANCER in my dog almost led to an UNNECESSARY AMPUTATION and thousands of dollars in expense.
Being new in town, I was referred to the Arbutus Animal Clinic West. The topline is that Dr. Uri Burnstyn MISDIAGNOSED my dog with CANCER (he said there was an 80% chance it was cancer) and through fear and bullying tried to pressure me into having my dog’s paw amputated within a week of his misdiagnosis. Oh, but if I didn’t want to pay the $2000 for the surgery, he offered to amputate the entire leg for $600. I was sickened and I refused. I got a 2nd opinion at the wonderful Granville Animal Hospital, and through a treatment of antibiotics and salt baths, Rocky was CURED. And there was no evidence of cancer.
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12/4/14 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
The vet showed up more than half an hour late to my appointment, with no apologies. Rude, unprofessional and overpriced.
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9/25/14 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
After having a poor experience with Arbutus West, I needed my dog's medical records. I requested them but Arbutus West had not or would not send them. So I went into the office. I told Dr. Burstyn that I did not want to re-hash the poor experience. However, they needed to send the records. In addition, I wanted to discuss a refund since they charged me $65 for an exam that consisted of Dr. Burstyn briefly touching my dog's abdomen. He then lectured me about how offended he was that I would dare question his diagnosis. He then said "I'm Done!" and left the exam room, slamming the door. We took our dog to another vet and found that Uri Burstyn's diagnosis was in fact wrong and that the procedures he was recommending were not even close to what our dog needed. I would have never imagined that I would be lectured and yelled at by a veterinarian.
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12/13/13 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I am a small animal veterinarian who visited Dr.Burstyn few times. I found him very knowledgeable, caring and professional.He spends as much time and energy as necessary to provide the best possible care for his patients.His technicians,assistants and other team members are experienced and compassionate about their job.I highly recommend him to anyone who is seeking very high standard medicine for their beloved pet.
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SYSTEM: 2 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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11/19/13 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
so incredibly obvious what was being bundled into my "Health Care Plan" in order to make a profitable sale. Very insulting but very clever money making schema presented, with a major sense of urgency created. Staff were excellent, but vet Burstyn was far too rehearsed and intentionally technical for a concerned practitioner. He was all about the money…how can I really tell? four inexpensive prescriptions with four different $14 dispensing fees at the same time, PLUS a whole bunch of tests that were not really necessary but considered a "good read for future, in the event the animal became ill". He plays on emotion far too much and upsells everything. It is far far too obvious. My pets were just in for a check up yet I left with a $1,992 bill!!! Dr. Burstyn just lost his best colleague, Dr Gordon, and it is not surprising why . She has integrity and he does not
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11/18/13 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
I have been taking my guinea pigs to Arbutus West for several years now, and have always been very happy with the care they have received. Whenever my piglets have had health problems, I've always felt like I was given the information that I needed to make an informed decision, rather than being pushed into a particular course of action. Recently my guinea pig Chloe needed a couple of surgeries, and Dr. Burstyn did an excellent job both of treating Chloe and explaining to me what was going on and what my options were. It's been great to have access to a vet clinic with lots of experience with guinea pigs.
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SYSTEM: 2 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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8/1/12 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
After many years at this clinic we gradually lost faith when it was taken over by a new vet. This is an establishment for very wealthy people, pure and simple. Their idea is that if there is any possibility of a problem developing their job is to pressure you into doing everything possible to avert it, regardless of cost. Their prices are also among the highest in the city. There has been a lot of staff and doctor turnover, perhaps because like us, many customers have become fed up and show it. The last straw was today, when I called up about one of my dogs, who was supposed to have surgery tomorrow, and they had no record of this: the doctor, with whom I'd had a frank but friendly talk about money, had forgotten to tell the staff! He's a fine surgeon and he sure knows his stuff, but his attitude is way out of synch with most pet owners, even conscientious and caring ones who simply cannot spend many thousands a year on each pet.
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7/29/12 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
I have been going here for 2+ year and have been taken care of effectively in the past. The front desk staff have ALWAYS been extremely kind and attentive and the usual vet is quite nice. But I just took my dog in for surgery and, during the procedure, they called me twice. Once asking if I wanted to get two other lumps removed, which had already been deemed unnecessary by TWO vets (including the vet in the consult for the surgery) for $400. I asked if it was necessary, as I was under the impression it was not. The woman answered "Well, A LUMP IS A LUMP IS A LUMP". I was furious! What does that even mean? I feel loyal to this establishment as they have been so great in the past, but this felt like a money grab. I said no. Next call: turns out we would have to pay an extra $2000 THAT day to get more teeth removed. We were NEVER informed we would have to pay anywhere near that during our estimate. Vet said he had to be paid for his services, which I respect, but let me know beforehand!
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3/29/12 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Came here because it was a recommended location for rats due to their service to Little Mischief Rescue. Paid $105 for a 10 minute, rushed and awkward appointment for my old rat. The vet wasn't very knowledgeable and was rude to me when I mentioned the possibility of myco and made me feel stupid. The other staff were nice, however they were very busy, running around like mad. We waited over an hour to get our antibiotics that they charged several weird fees for and the outside of the bottle was a sticky smelly mess. Impossible to wipe off had to put it in a plastic bag to keep it from getting everywhere. The receptionist/intern knew NOTHING and was very frustrating to work with. Nobody at this clinic could answer any of our questions. We are going elsewhere for a second opinion. Will not return.
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10/14/11 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
The new owner of this clinic has been capable, compassionate and very rescue friendly. I’ve noticed that Dr. Burstyn, whose website lists him as a vet school honors graduate, attends numerous seminars, conferences and lectures and his enthusiasm about learning new techniques and procedures is evident. He’s a bit of a nerd and doesn’t always explain things in layperson’s terms, but he is very skilled. He just treated one of our rescue rabbits requiring extensive surgeries and after seven weeks of constant in-clinic care, she is totally healed, something none of us thought we’d see. Dr. Gordon has also proved to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable and really sweet, and after years of ‘not so much’, the current staff is organized, efficient and friendly.
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7/7/11 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
If you're looking for a veterinary clinic where the bottom line is the top priority, this is the place for you. If you think that there's nothing wrong with your pet that an expensive course of unnecessary treatments can't prolong, I can recommend this place without reservation. Two weeks of poking and prodding and causing my cat unnecessary stress, to the tune of $600, and no effective meds. I finally lost my patience when they INSISTED on charging me $14 for a SINGLE $0.69 PILL. They were willing to lose me as a client because they weren't willing to write off $0.69. I don't see any kind of ethical philosophy in that. To me it was the principle, I was fed up shelling out, but all they were concerned about was the money.
And if you want a prescription for transdermal prednisolone, be prepared to wait 2-4 business days while they send it off to TORONTO to be formulated, then couriered back to the clinic.
I won't be back, and I will certainly tell my friends about my experienc
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SYSTEM: 2 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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4/30/11 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
The entire staff was so loving when I went there for the first time with my sick kitten. It was obvious how much they love animals. The vet was gentle and kept stroking and cuddling my kitten. I was so impressed and I felt like I could trust any of them with my kitten.
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4/18/11 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
the best vet to go to or rats! all the staff are super sweet and genuinely care about the animals they treat. I brought my rat in awhile ago to check on a lump she had and Dr. Burnstyn was very kind and knowledgable he answered all of my questions evan a couple days later when i called in with more questions. he also gave me several different options that worked with my budget. they aren't the cheapest vet out there but it's deffinatly worth the the extra cost to have a vet that knows what they're doing and cares about the animals. i brought my rat in today for surgery and they were all great at helping ease my stress even when talking about compications that could happen and the doctor took time befor i left to go over everything again. my ratty is out of surgery and doing great so far. this should be the only vet you go to for rats!
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4/13/11 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I had a great experience at this vet. It is so hard to find a veterinarian who will see ferrets and is competent with them. The doctor we saw seemed very knowledgeable and was comfortable examining and handling both my ferrets. The staff are friendly, and they give you a call the day after your visit to see how things are going. I'm definitely coming back here.
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2/9/11 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Brought in our rat, Harnie for a straightforward lumpectomy. After the procedure, we noticed his eye was injured. This was explained away by the tech saying sometimes the vet "slips" with an instrument. Afterwards, Harnie's weight plummeted from a rubust 670 grams to a meager 403, he is jaundiced due to liver failure from incorectly administered anaesthesia, has lesions which appeared on his back legs and can barely feed himself or drink. The vet offered to run tests at extra cost to determine exactly what was wrong. Arbutus West has taken an otherwise healthy animal and ruined his remaining days.They charged us for every cionsult, tacked on absurd dispensation fees and were unable to answer basic questions. They made errors with the prescriptions, lost our contact info and the assistants are generally rude. We must now have Harnie euthanized to end his suffering. Don't bring your small animal here.
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1/26/11 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
I have been taking my dog to Arbutus West for the past 3 years are had received decent service until he got a gum infection. It became clear the teeth cleaning they had performed the previous year was substandard and the advice they were giving me was inaccurate at best. As well, they have no trained veterinary dentist on staff so the vets performing dental cleanings and surgery have little to no formal training. So I subsequently took my dog to West Coast Veterinary Services who have two highly-qualified veterinary dentists on staff. This decision saved my dog a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering.
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12/4/10 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
Lost my file and radiographs. File turned up a year later. Spent over $400. with no improvement. They said they are under new management this year so hopefully more organized.
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SYSTEM: 3 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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11/11/10 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Just wanted more money. Billed us 70$ for literally 3 minutes of attention. Unreasonable.. and they allow Veterinary Technicians to perform spaying/neutering.... They're asking for a lawsuit.
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10/21/10 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
This clinic acts like they are building ford motor cars on an assembly line but with animals. They recommended surgery to me without giving me an explanation of the process, risks etc and then ended up amputating two of my cats digits completely instead of removing just 1 claw as asked. The days after going to this hospital have been a nightmare for me and my cat.
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10/8/10 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
They are very unorganized. I was booked to see a vet who I was strongly recommended for my dog with allergies. The day before the appointment I received a phone call telling me the vet was not available and I was book with another vet. I told them I did not want to see any other vet and they told me they would call me back with a confirmed rescheduled appointment but they never did. I called back a few times and they would tell me they needed to tell the vet about my case and call me to confirm the appointment, but never did. Also my dog was misdiagnosed by 2 vets there and went under surgery for nothing!
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9/10/10 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
I don't know why this clinic is always poorly organized.It took way too long for the blood result or the refill to be done. I do like the technician who work in there. The Asian guy with the spiky hair. He always be nice and very kind to my pet and me. The new doctor in that clinic is very inexperience. All he needs to do is XRAYS, doing the blood test, and ultrasound. I was there because i needed to get the vaccine for my cat. She is just 2 years old cat with no problem when i was there for the first visit with Dr. Brodwin.
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7/26/10 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
I find Arbutus West to be extremely disorganized. They have sent email reminders for check ups AFTER my pets have died!! They have so many technicians at the desk that nobody knows what the other is doing!
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5/19/10 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
Great staff especially the techs. I sometime go in the treatment area with my dog, and you can tell these people love what they're doing.
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5/18/10 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
lovely staff - a bit of a wait but you could tell it is because they spen time with every patient. i really felt good after leaving i know lyla is in the right hands:)
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4/16/10 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
The staff here truly care about my pets, they handle them gently and with the utmost respect. In addition they have saved my cat from the brink of death due to infection - in fact I have moved out to New West and still travel into Vancouver to take my pets here. While they may run a bit late at times, it is because they take as much time as you need to discuss all the options available for care, and thoroughly answer any questions you have. I do not hesitate to recommend them to everyone.
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8/15/09 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
While I agree that Dr. Brondwyn's bedside manner is somewhat lacking, I trust him with my rats. Instead of keeping my rat with myco on meds, he suggested some alternate bedding (newspaper and polar fleece) that has kept Simon symptom free for over a year now. He could have made money from meds for this entire time but he did what was best for the animal. He just did a neuter on another rat of mine and it went well, it was reasonably priced, stitches are clean and well done and the only meds he went home with were some pain meds. While this vet may not be to everyone's liking, I know that he is involved with quite a few rescues so while he doesn't "coochie-coo" your pet, he obviously care a great deal for animals.
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7/16/09 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
It took me three call-in on different days for Arbutus West to be able to give me an appointment!! First time, they got the wrong date, the second time, they "forgot" to schedule me in. Fortuanly, I was able to get an appointment.When I went to to them, it took them at least 30 minutes for the vet to come and check up on my cat. I was sitting in the examination room for so long, wondering if they forgot about me. I had such a horrible experience with this clinic, I'm definitely not coming back! My appointment was free but even if it was, I don't think I deserved this treatment!
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2/24/09 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Dr.Brondwin has always helped me. He diagnosed one of my rattys and gave medication that brought her back from basically the grave. Its true he comes across a bit distant but he really does care and i think he doesn't let the emotional side rule his judegment. He will always give u a straight answer. He seems to know rats well. I don't know anything about the other vets at this location.
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2/24/09 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
It has been 4yrs since I was there but I found Dr. B to be very kind and knowledgeable. I don't know what it is like now as I don't live in the area anymore.
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2/1/09 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
arb west is a friend and supporter to several rescues.They have had a lot of change of staff this past year but are back on track..there are two new vets one of whom is well versed in holistic care including homeopathics and accupunture. raw diet is understood and sold through this office as well.
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12/5/08 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
The doctor was not competent at all. He was a drug pusher, and did not seem to care for the well being of our cats. The office is disorganized, and did a very poor job of keeping records. They kept phoning us at an old phone number, dispite of our attempt to update them 2 times. They also 'forgot' to update the cat's vaccine records, and were trying to convince us that the cats needed a 4th and 5th booster shot (for a set of 3 shots that was already done a few months prior). also the office is dirty and messy.
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10/29/08 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
The doctors and staff are great, very knowledgable and friendly. There was a point where the doctors were not constant but the new doctors there are great and compassionate. they seem to love what they do. They provide different options for my cat and my dog when I don't or can't do what they recommend which is what I need.
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6/20/08 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
My precious little fur-baby died due to a mistake made with her medication, so I would not recommend them to anyone.
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4/12/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Dr. Brondwin is simply excellent. While his bedside manner might not be to everyones liking, he is obviously an expert in his field -- and his field includes small animals (including ferrets!) which is so rare to find in your average vet. They're also great at finding ways to save me money, like only charging me for a follow up despite the fact that the original visit was at the emergency vet and not with them at all. Cannot recommend them highly enough.
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5/26/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
The clinic is reasonably priced, they give breaks to rescues, it's clean, well equipped, they use the latest drugs and procedures and the vets are very knowledgeable, especially about RABBITS which is hard to find. (I might have given the staff a 4.5 because they forgot to put meds in my bag once, but they're so nice and helpful, they deserve more than a 4).
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