Riverside Animal Clinic & Holistic Center

4.4 (192)
1112 Front St, McHenry, IL 60050, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Riverside Animal Clinic & Holistic Center

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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
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 & Compare

Getting 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

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Kim Diersen

Dr. Carlson is an amazingly caring doctor who seeks to offer balanced care in both the traditional realms and the holistic realms of healing. He also understands that not all people want to spend $1000 on testing before getting a diagnosis and a treatment path. I appreciated that recently when my dog collapsed and had a major health episode. He discussed many routes of testing and treatment and reassured me in my decision while still showing respect for my decision with regards to my dog. Don’t ever retire Dr. Carlson, I don’t know what I will do without you! Thank you for staying true to yourself.

posted: 08/24/2023

Gretchen Pembrook

There is truly no higher standard for veterinarian practice than Riverside Animal Clinic! We have brought our two dogs for vaccines/standard appointments to keep UTD and emergency appointments with incredible experiences every time. Dr Carlson is professional, succinct and patient in answering questions. The vet tech Carrie (spelling?) is a sweetheart and really takes time out of her day to make you and your pets feel seen and cared for. Not to mention the fantastic reception and whoever it is that answers texts on evenings and weekends; the staff are top notch! We are so thankful to be clients here and will continue to refer family and friends. Thank you for all you do for Ryder and Sky!!

posted: 08/17/2023

Kelsey Coonce

We have taken our dogs to Riverside for many years, along with my in-laws. We had two Boston terriers that Dr Carlson and team helped us take care of until they crossed the rainbow. Last April we welcomed two french bulldog girls into our family. Riverside has been taking great care of our girls. One recently had a hive outbreak and they were able to squeeze us in same day and my baby was feeling better that night!

posted: 08/14/2023

Tanya Ernst

They helped me help my dog the way that I felt comfortable with while providing veterinary expertise and counsel. Very easy to communicate with the staff.

posted: 08/11/2023

Autumn

Words can't express how grateful we are that we found this clinic and Dr.Carlson. My 4 year old dog tore her ACL and I wanted to make sure we did everything we could to support her healing process. He answered all of our questions and was more knowledgeable than any vet I have taken my dog to. He was patient, kind, and caring. He has a great understanding of western medicine along with eastern medicine. I am truly grateful I found this clinic and highly recommend it.

posted: 06/17/2023