Thunder Bay Vet Prices — Anyone Else Feeling the Pinch or Turned Away?

Hey Thunder Bay friends,

I’ve noticed something that doesn’t sit right, and I wanted to see if others have run into the same thing.

It seems like most of the vet clinics here are charging almost identical prices for basic services — and several are telling people they’re “not taking new patients.” A lot of us love our pets like family, but lately, it feels impossible to get care without paying sky-high prices or being turned away.

Even worse — if you manage to get an appointment, it can take months to get in. That doesn’t work when your pet is sick or in pain. Then, when it is an emergency, clinics charge even more because they had to “squeeze you in.” I understand there’s a shortage of vets, but that shouldn’t be used to justify insane price hikes or turning people away.

What really shocks me is that it’s actually cheaper for some people to drive to Dryden, stay overnight, and get vet care there — even after paying for gas and a hotel. That shouldn’t be the case. Why is Dryden able to charge way less for the same services? I was quoted over $900 here and paid $300 in Dryden. Make that make sense.

If you’ve had a similar experience, would you mind sharing what you were quoted, which clinic it was, or if you were told they couldn’t take you? (No need to share personal info — just general details are enough.)

If enough of us speak up, maybe we can show there’s a pattern here — and push for some accountability or even a proper investigation.

We all want vets to be paid fairly for their hard work, but fairness has to go both ways.

If there’s enough response, I’m thinking of compiling our stories and submitting them to the Competition Bureau and the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.