Chicago Veterinary Emergency Center and Specialty Care
4.2 (276) 3305 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, USAHours:
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
How to Save Money at Chicago Veterinary Emergency Center and Specialty Care
Schedule Regular Vet Visits
One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.
Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions
Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.
Pet Insurance
Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.
How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?
Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | AKC | 891 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 11,756 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 17,140 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 18,308 |
| 4.2 | Figo | 2,602 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 165 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,008 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 805 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,343 |
| 4.0 | MetLife | 652 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,407 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.5 | PetPartners | 113 |
| 4.3 | Pets Best | 12,229 |
| 4.6 | Pumpkin | 1,473 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 7,024 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 73,550 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 125 |
Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.
Thinking of insuring your pet?
Get Quotes & CompareGetting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask
Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:
Tell me about your experience with [pet type].
Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.
How do you handle emergencies?
You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.
How do you communicate with pet owners?
Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.
Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?
Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.
Do you have any questions for me about my pet?
This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.
Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?
Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.
Reviews from Google
Service was super fast. My fur baby was taken care of right away. Surgery was quick, and my baby was in safe hands.. he was able to come out the same day in a few hours. Thank you for taking good care of my Simba
posted: 07/24/2023
Took my cat here for breathing issues and I would give the facility and actual care a 10/10. The vet was one of the most supportive, kind, and warm doctors I’ve ever seen (for people or animals) and explained everything so well. She even asked about my cat’s other chronic issues and gave suggestions. The techs and front desk staff were just as pleasant-they even got me a litter box for my kitty when I asked. The facility was clean and had good restrooms, chairs, and access to water and snacks. That being said, I waited over 7 hours to be seen. I’m new to Chicago so perhaps this is normal, but it was a hard ask with a sick, grumpy animal to sit that long. Their time estimates were…close but under by about an hour both to be seen and on how long her tests would take. I wouldn’t say this negated everything else, and I know other patients were probably more emergent, but it was a tough experience. Still would recommend, just would come prepared with food, water, and my own box to sit in my car. And definitely a book! Otherwise this was a 10/10 experience here.
posted: 06/27/2023
The staff and doctors are all amazing... they treat their fur patients wonderfully; I wouldn't take my pets anyplace else!
posted: 06/19/2023
Excellent service for my Doxie Willie. It took a while for him to be seen, but was told about the wait. Totally understand the whole triage thing. He was treated and released a few hours later. I trust that my canine companions will be treated well at the Chicago Veterinary Emergency Room.
posted: 08/06/2022
Thank you all for your kindness and empathy. I wasn’t able to express it at that time, but I’m so grateful. You all made one of the hardest decisions in my life feel like the right decision, and were so warm and kind with every step. Thank you!!!
posted: 05/01/2023
Veterinarians in Chicago, Illinois
4 Paws Imaging Centers, LLC (Veterinary Ultrasound)
116 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, USA(630) 746-1382
Abbot Animal Hospital
6721 W Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638, USA(773) 788-9000
Abell Animal Hospital
6032 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60631, USA(773) 631-6727
American College of Veterinary Pathologists
8735 W Higgins Rd Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60631, USA(847) 375-6301
Animal Advocate Pet Hospital
1061 W Jackson Blvd ste a, Chicago, IL 60607, USA(312) 471-1728
Animal House of Chicago
2752 W Lawrence Ave Unit #3, Chicago, IL 60625, USA(773) 878-8002
Animal Medical Center of Chicago
1618 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, USA(773) 525-3353
Ashland Animal Hospital
9210 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60620, USA(773) 238-9098