VCA Forest South Animal Hospital
3.6 (144) 24341 Western Ave, University Park, IL 60484, USAHours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at VCA Forest South Animal Hospital
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
I have never had to put a fur baby down. This was one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life. However, Dr. Ben and all the staff involved (from my desperate early morning phone calls to saying goodbye to my Coltrane), were EXTREMELY empathetic, patient, informative and gentle. I have three remaining fur babies and though I hope to NEVER have to go through this again, if I do, I know that my fur baby will be in good hands here. Update: I received a wonderful condolence card from the same day that I went to pick up Coltrane's paw prints. It was heartwarming because I feel totally unseen to the world in my grief. Some people seem to think that losing a fur baby isn't a reason to grieve and will continue to interact with you as if you haven't just suffered a loss. Thank you again, VCA. You all are truly appreciated!
posted: 06/27/2023
Just wanted to take a moment to show some praise for the entire VCA Forest South staff and Doctors. Taji at the front desk is always warm, welcoming and accommodating and a pleasure. Dr. Daggett was a pleasure to meet and really helped me form an understanding on the health of my elderly dog. Dr. Trudeau is so professional and knowledgeable and kind. As someone with anxiety and who worries about the well being of all three of my dogs immensely, they work wonders on easing this feeling and assuring me they are in good health and care.
posted: 06/24/2023
Love this place way better than the one that is by me. Everyone working there is very nice and friendly especially the Dr and his team. Plus they are very cheap compared to a lot of other places I went to. I took my Oreo today. Sept 2 follow up Oreo kitten Dough was having breathing problems took him here a wonderful doctor seen us with out a appointment. And took his time examining him. Tell them thanks for caring and he din't charge me for the exam. because I let him know I been going to different emergency rooms and vets and only being charged very high fees and given so many different dx. Wonderful staff. Highly recommend. Thanks to the Tall African American Front staff for talking to the Dr to see if they could see Dough he does not have to. and much thanks to the Dr for agreeing to see him
posted: 09/05/2023
Due to neglect and misdiagnosis these poor excuses of doctors caused my 5 year old to die to soon. If I wanted to do a full autopsy I couldn’t because they only have one doctor on duty supposedly. Then the first desk lady made me feel as if I was bothering her. This process was completely new to me and they sure did not make me feel as if I was in comfort. Then the clay I received for his paws is NOT the same that u checked on the paper. This is just a cheap poor clinic. ALL of this could have been prevented. Trash people and Trash Doctors. Will never return here.
posted: 08/05/2023
My fur Baby Teddy was a new patient, and everyone in the office was so professional. Dr.Velkov was knowledgeable and very informative and was great with Teddy's Surgery! The office Manager Kelly went above and beyond to get us in as my fur baby was in pain. As well as the entire front staff and all employees! Thank you VCA!
posted: 04/27/2023