45
36%
Market Overview
Surrey has 45 veterinary practices serving a metro population of roughly 570,000 people — meaning pet owners here have real choice, and new or existing clinics face meaningful competition. The saturation is moderate: not as dense as some inner-city markets, but far from an open field.
The bigger story is the digital gap. Only 16 of those 45 clinics — 36 percent — have a website. That leaves nearly two-thirds of Surrey's vet market essentially invisible to anyone searching online. For a city with over 1,800 food and drink establishments nearby (827 restaurants, 340 cafés, 591 fast food spots), foot traffic and local visibility are clearly strong. But in a service business where pet owners research before committing, a missing website is a serious disadvantage.
Established names like the Mainland Animal Emergency Clinic and several hospital-format practices have staked out territory across the broader Surrey-Burnaby corridor. That means standalone clinics and newer entrants need to compete not just on service quality, but on discoverability.
For anyone running or considering a vet practice in Surrey, the competitive picture is this: moderate density on the ground, but surprisingly weak competition online. The gap between having a presence and having a digital presence is where opportunity sits.
What Customers in Surrey Care About
After-hours emergency access
With the Mainland Animal Emergency Clinic operating in the area, Surrey pet owners expect to know which clinics handle urgent care and which don't — and they'll choose a regular vet partly based on after-hours options.
Proximity to their neighbourhood
Surrey is a sprawling city with distinct neighbourhoods, and most pet owners won't drive across town for a routine visit — being located near where they live or work matters more here than in compact urban cores.
Transparent online information
With only 36 percent of local vets having a website, the ones that do — like Burnaby New Westminster Animal Hospital and Pacific Animal Hospital — immediately stand out to pet owners searching for hours, services, and pricing.
Range of species treated
Surrey's growth has brought diverse households, including families with exotic pets or small animals, and owners actively look for clinics that go beyond cats and dogs.
Familiarity with local pet bylaws
Dog licensing requirements and municipal pet regulations vary across Metro Vancouver, and Surrey pet owners trust vets who can speak to local rules on licensing, leash areas, and vaccination requirements.
Vets operating in Surrey
A sample of real vets in this area. Want ratings, reviews, and exactly where you rank against them? Run a free report on your business.
| Business | Type |
|---|---|
| Alpine Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| Central City Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital | Veterinary |
| Burnaby New Westminster Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| Metrotown Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| North Road Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| Hume Park Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| North Delta Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| Burquitlam Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| Central Park Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| South Burnaby Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
| Edmonds St. Animal Hospital | Veterinary |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Vets Owners in Surrey
Build a basic website — you're already ahead
Only 16 out of 45 vet practices in Surrey have a website. Simply putting up a site with your hours, location, services, and online booking puts you ahead of nearly two-thirds of your competitors. You don't need a complex site — you need one that exists and answers the five questions every pet owner asks before calling.
Target your specific neighbourhood, not all of Surrey
With 45 clinics spread across a city of 570,000, the real competition is localised. Build your Google Business Profile, local SEO, and advertising around your immediate neighbourhood rather than competing city-wide. A clinic in Newton doesn't need to outrank one in Cloverdale — it needs to own its corner.
Differentiate from emergency-only competitors
Hospital-format practices like the Mainland Animal Emergency Clinic handle high-acuity cases. If you're a general practice, lean into what hospitals can't offer: consistent relationships with the same vet, preventive care packages, and neighbourhood convenience. Make your value proposition clear compared to the larger operations.
Competition Snapshot
Surrey's vet market sits at moderate saturation — 45 clinics for a city of 570,000 means enough demand to support new entrants, but not so few that anyone can coast. The real split is between the majority of clinics operating without any web presence and the handful of established, digitally visible practices that capture most online searches. Hospital-format competitors and emergency clinics dominate high-visibility search terms. Standing out here requires less about differentiation on paper and more about showing up where pet owners actually look: online, with clear information, a Google-friendly profile, and neighbourhood-level targeting.
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