Carlson Animal Hospital, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner
4.6 (68) 414 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 4:30 PM, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at Carlson Animal Hospital, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner
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 | 893 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 11,860 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 18,246 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 26,234 |
| 4.2 | Figo | 2,614 |
| 4.6 | Hartville | 169 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,159 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 809 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,377 |
| 3.9 | MetLife | 728 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,410 |
| 4.0 | Pet Assure | 13 |
| 4.5 | PetPartners | 115 |
| 4.3 | Pets Best | 12,820 |
| 4.6 | Pumpkin | 1,642 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 7,858 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 60,839 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 1,732 |
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
Carlson Animal Hospital is the best veterinary practice in the Chicago area. The vets and the staff are all kind, competent, and empathetic, no matter how crazy and frantic you, as a pet owner, get. My dog, Siggy, almost died from IBD. He was sick for months and eventually stopped eating. Dr. Lazar literally saved his life. And this was after seeing a dozen other vets who told me he was just a picky eater. Now he's healthy and thriving, even with all kinds of complicated health issues, and I wouldn't trust anyone else to take care of him. If you want the best care for your pet, go to Carlson Animal Hospital.
posted: 07/09/2023
My husband and I are first time puppy owners (aside from the family dogs we had growing up), and adopted our little 4 month old love bug Bristol in December. Our experience at Carlson Animal Hospital was nothing short of above and beyond - exceeded all of our expectations! We unfortunately had a bad experience with another local vet - we felt they were not responsive when we were concerned for our pup. The switch to Carlson was everything we needed and more for our family, and especially Bristol, to feel cared for. The staff was fabulous with her, she LOVES them, and we do too! Answered all of our questions, gave us reassurance when needed, diagnosed what’s likely going on very efficiently, and engaged with us very compassionately. We were hoping to find a vet that had more of a community / family vibe, and we feel we have found just that. So happy we found our forever vet!
posted: 01/28/2023
I can’t say enough good things about Carlson Animal Hospital. The doctors here are great and have taken care of my two dogs for years. They are always willing to take the time to explain things to us and have been helpful as my oldest has been having arthritis pain over the last couple years. As a bonus, Amy at the front desk is the best, always finds a way to make appointments fit my schedule, and so great with our dogs
posted: 08/10/2023
Everyone at Carlson Animal Hospital is so kind and excellent with animals. Everything is explained thoroughly, and questions are answered with care. I always feel very taken care of there!
posted: 08/06/2023
We started at Carlson about seven years ago, with our first dog, after a bad experience with a different veterinary practice. Everyone - from the office staff and techs to the doctors themselves are tremendous. Even during the pandemic they have been incredibly responsive, thorough and compassionate. We have a puppy now, and know that he’s in excellent hands. I think it’s fair to expect the majority of vets are good with day-to-day problems, but when something mysterious or serious comes up, Carlson is by far the best in our experience.
posted: 08/06/2021
Veterinarians in Oak Park, Illinois
Aamerican Veterinary Hospital
6042 Roosevelt Rd, Oak Park, IL 60304, USA(708) 386-6205
Carlson Animal Hospital, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner
414 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302, USA(708) 383-3606
Emergency Veterinarian Oak Park
734 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301, USA(708) 419-6596
Kate Swindell, DVM
414 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302, USA(708) 383-3606
Oak Park Animal Hospital Ltd
242 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302, USA(708) 383-5542
PetVets Animal Hospital
342 Harrison St, Oak Park, IL 60304, USA(708) 445-9988
Prairie State Animal Hospital
909 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304, USA(708) 524-9720
The Cat Practice
323 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, USA(708) 383-5997