The Veterinary Emergency Clinic and Referral Centre (VEC) is located in the heart of downtown Toronto at 920 Yonge St. The clinic provides emergency and critical care services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Specialty services in Internal Medicine, Oncology, Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Dentistry, Dermatology/Allergy, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, and Anesthesia are available by referral.
Onsite parking is available, as well the VEC is located in close proximity to the Bloor and Rosedale subway stations, offering easy access via the TTC.
The Veterinary Emergency Clinic has been in operation since 1974, working in conjunction with your veterinarian.
Relationships with Referring Veterinarians
The Veterinary Emergency Clinic is not a traditional veterinary practice. The VEC offers 24/7/365 Emergency and Critical Care and offers specialty services by referral from a primary care veterinarian. Therefore the VEC does not perform general or routine services such as vaccinations, spays or neuters, boarding or grooming.
The VEC staff maintains a high level of communication with the referring veterinarian as well as the client. Upon discharge from the hospital all medical records and recommendations associated with the case are promptly forwarded to the primary care clinician enabling effective and accurate follow-up patient care.
Client Communication
As a concerned pet owner it is understandable that clients may have questions about what is happening with their animal, and what the immediate and long range plans for treatment are. The VEC staff are available to address these concerns, as well as to provide status updates, day and night.
It is recommended that pet owners familiarize themselves with the location of the VEC hospital so that, in the event of an emergency, their pet can be delivered to the facility in a timely manner, saving precious moments that could be critical to a successful prognosis.
The Veterinary Emergency Clinic practices triage, which is the practice of prioritizing emergency cases relative to the level of severity. Upon presentation to the hospital each patient’s situation is evaluated, and the priority sequence established, in order to ensure the most timely and appropriate care.
