• Home
• Veterinarians & Staff
• Services
• New Clients
• Hours & Location
• Our Special Friends
• New Photo Gallery!
• Links
• Contact Us

Arbutus West Animal Clinic

Introduction to our veterinary clinic

Arbutus West Animal Clinic provides veterinary services for the Kitsilano-Arbutus area and the west side of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We work with you to provide the best possible care for your dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil, mouse, rat, hedgehog, degu, chinchilla, or sugar glider.

We recognize that while we are veterinary care experts, you are your pet's expert. We listen to you to understand you and your pet's needs, and we help you make decisions about your pet's health care.

While tests are often valuable in assessing your pet's health condition, we don't recommend testing or other expensive procedures every time your pet has a problem. Our policy is to inform you about the various options and then respect the choice that you make.

Our conventional and holistic approach to veterinary care

Our approach is both conventional and holistic. We use the best diagnostic tools, medications, and other treatments that conventional veterinary medicine has to offer. We also work with herbal and nutritional supplements, or a combination of conventional and natural treatments.

A holistic veterinarian understands the importance of considering not just a particular ailment but an animal's health as a whole. We're committed to your pet's overall health and well-being. When we provide routine care and treat problems as they come up, we examine your pet for any other problems, and we discuss your pet's diet and any concerns you may have. As your pet grows older, we can offer specific recommendations to help your pet age more comfortably.

Our welcome to new clients

We consider it the highest compliment when you choose us to provide health care for your pet. Our New Clients page has information for people looking for a veterinarian for their animal companions.

Our promise to you

We will provide quality care so that the animals you love can live long, healthy, and happy lives.

Spring Garden Safety for Pets

Protect Pets From Budding Danger

Beautiful gardens are in popular demand, especially with the focus on enjoyment versus looks. Before you plant any seeds, however, it's important to remember that some of the plants that make our gardens and yards beautiful can make our animal companions sick or worse.

Toxic Plants

Eating poisonous plants is one of the most common ways that many pets, especially dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles and tortoises, ingest toxic substances. And since there are few effective treatments for toxic plant ingestion, a small mistake in the garden can be catastrophic to your pet and your family.

Plants That Are Reported To Be Toxic to Dogs, Cats or Rabbits

• Azalea
• Bittersweet
• Caladium
• Clematis
• Crocus
• Day Lily
• Death Camas 
• Easter Lily 
• Ferns
• Foxglove
• Hyacinth
• Iris
• Lily of the Valley
• Morning Glory
• Oleander
• Rhododendron
• Tiger Lily
• Tulip

To identify these toxic plants and more, continue reading below.

Before you decide to forego flowers and plants and instead use artificial flowers, consider that some pets might find silk flowers just as tasty.

Top Toxins Checklist

Lilies, like many plants and flowers, are toxic in small amounts. Lilies might smell fabulous but these particular blooms are incredibly lethal and can lead to heart and renal failure. (Signs of toxicity might include rapid breathing, racing or irregular pulse, cold extremities, vomiting and lethargy.)

Some plants are not that toxic unless pets have ingested a large amount — at that point in time, it could become fatal. Cardiotoxic plants* and lilies are the worst kind.

As a general rule, if you even think your pet nibbled on one of your plants, call your veterinarian because some of these toxins act very quickly.

Plant species that pet owners should exclude from flowerbeds to protect pets include:

• Autumn crocus*
• Azalea*
• Calla lily
• Day lily
• Easter lily
• Elephant's ear
• Foxglove*
• Hyacinth*
• Hydrangea*
• Japanese pieris*
• Larkspur
• Lupine
• Morning glory
• Oleander*
• Rhododendron* Tiger lily
• Yew

Plants, fruits and vegetables to omit from gardens and to avoid elsewhere:

• Avocados
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions and garlic
• Rhubarb (leaves)
• Tomato (leaves and immature fruit)
• Cycad species, including sago palm, can cause liver failure. (Signs of toxicity here might include vomiting.).
• Castor Beans and acorns are also very toxic.

Fertilizers and Pesticides

Finally, no garden would be complete without fertilizers and weed killers. Though these products can make your plants healthier, they can injure (even kill) your pets.

Choose pet-safe options for substances like snail bait and weed and feed products, or go organic and try planting flowers like Mexican marigold, which naturally repel insects without harming animals. When all else fails, check the label and ask a gardening professional. If there's a doubt about the product's safety for your pet, don't use it!

Artificial Plants

Before you decide to forego flowers and plants and instead use artificial flowers, consider that some pets might find silk flowers just as tasty. A curious puppy or kitten with a sweet tooth for silk flowers can lead to intestinal blockage. Most will at least act as an emetic, which means your pet will vomit soon after eating. Other plants can lead to kidney or liver failure, seizures, or even death.

In order to protect your pet from possible poisoning, it's important to make sure you keep known poisonous plants and toxic items out of reach, watch for plants and toxic items that have been chewed on, keep an eye on your pet for symptoms of poisoning, and take your pet — along with a sample of the plant/toxic item — with you to your veterinarian immediately if you suspect a poisonous item has been consumed.

In An Emergency

As a general rule, if you even think your pet nibbled on one of your plants, call your veterinarian because some of these toxins act very quickly and don’t forget to bring a sample of the plant to the veterinarian's office for identification, as well as an estimate as to how much the pet ate.

Our Code of Ethics

1. We will treat you with respect.
2. We will offer quality service.
3. We will listen and pay attention to what you have to say.
4. We will recommend the most up-to-date information.
5. We will be open to your suggestions, respect your opinions, and help you make your decisions.
6. We will show flexibility and innovation.
7. We will charge fair prices.
8. We will strive to surpass your expectations.
9. We will not be afraid to get a second opinion.
10. We will refer you to the best specialist if that is what your pet requires.