Complete Guide: Finding an Avian Vet in Toronto & the GTA

I've been keeping birds in Toronto for over 8 years and finding a good avian vet was one of the hardest things I had to do. Here's everything I've learned:

Why you need an AVIAN vet specifically: Regular vets aren't trained in bird medicine. Birds hide illness — by the time you notice something's wrong, it could be serious. An avian vet knows what to look for.

What to look for in a Toronto avian vet:

• Board certified in avian medicine (or at minimum, extensive avian experience)
• Emergency availability or after-hours referral network
• Comfortable handling your specific species
• Good reviews from other bird owners in the GTA

Questions to ask on your first visit:

1. How many birds do you see per week?
2. Do you have experience with [your species]?
3. What diagnostic equipment do you have on-site?
4. Do you offer wellness plans or annual checkups?

Cost expectations in Toronto (2026):

• Initial exam: $80-150
• Blood panel: $150-300
• X-rays: $150-250
• Annual wellness check: $100-200

Hope this helps other Toronto bird owners! Feel free to share your experiences below.

This is super helpful, thanks for putting this together! Saving this thread. We need more posts like this on the forum.

My Sunny went through a phase like this around 4 years. I was terrified but it passed. Birds are weird sometimes lol.

Totally agree with this! My African Grey is exactly the same way.

Did this start suddenly or was it gradual? When my canary did this it turned out to be a dietary deficiency, especially calcium or vitamin A.

hi everyone! I've been looking for an avian vet for a while now. Do you guys have any suggestions? I feel like I've researched a lot but reading one bad review really scares me.

Hey Jiya, welcome! Totally understand the anxiety around picking a vet � one bad review can be scary but try to look at the overall pattern rather than a single experience. Here are a few well-regarded avian vets in the Toronto/GTA area:

� Links Road Animal Clinic (North York) � Dr. Desmarchelier is fantastic with birds and exotics. � Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital (Markham) � One of the best in the GTA, very specialized. � Bird and Exotic Pet Wellness Centre (Mississauga) � Great reputation for all kinds of birds.

The key thing is to call ahead and ask if the vet is specifically trained in avian medicine (not just "sees birds on the side"). A good sign is if they ask detailed questions about diet, housing, and behaviour before even seeing your bird. Hope that helps!

Hi Jiya! I totally get you � choosing a vet for your bird is stressful. Bird Sitting Toronto actually has a great list of Ontario avian vets on their site. Here are some options depending on where you are:

GTA / Toronto: � The Links Road Animal & Bird Clinic � 41 The Links Rd, North York � (416) 223-1165 � Amherst Veterinary Hospital � 3206 Eglinton Ave E, Scarborough � (416) 261-3322 � High Park Animal Hospital � 325 Weston Rd Unit 3A, Toronto � (416) 763-4200 � Greenwood Park Animal Hospital � 1041 Gerrard St E, Toronto � (416) 778-6666 � Britannia Animal Hospital � 3755 Britannia Rd W, Mississauga � (905) 824-7387

Outside Toronto: � Campus Estates Animal Hospital � 1460 Gordon St, Guelph � (519) 837-1212 � University of Guelph Small Animal Clinic � 28 College Ave W, Guelph � 519-823-8830 � Bowmanville Veterinary Hospital � 2826 Durham Hwy 2, Bowmanville � (905) 623-4431 � College Manor Veterinary Hospital � 869 Mulock Dr, Newmarket � (905) 853-4706

You can also check out the full list here: birdsittingtoronto.ca/ontarios-avian-veterinarians � and the AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians) has a search tool too. Don't let one bad review scare you � call ahead, ask questions, and trust your gut. Good luck!