They got me in last minute, were really great. They are a top notch clinic with a lot of experience. Love how they care about their furry clients. read more

Absolutely phenomenal. I found a senior stray cat, Popcorn, last year with some health problems -- I couldn't find a vet to take her on but Pets First moved everything to help her. She was 13/14 when I got her and we only had a year together. We were pretty frequent guests, and every single person we interacted with on staff was kind, knowledgable, and was enamored by the animals they worked with. My budget was limited and they were respectful of costs--they even waived the cost of some x-rays when they were concerned about her hip and knew I didn't have the means to cover the full workup. When it was time to say goodbye to Popcorn last week, the entire team at Pets First was so empathetic and compassionate. Popcorn was treated with so much love, and they gave me that same care as they helped me through the experience of letting her go. Thank you to the entire team at Pets First for making my cat's last year a great one. When I adopt another fur baby, I will be back. read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Took Seamus, my older cat, in for his dental surgery. I was given great instructions and an accurate cost estimate in advance. The surgery went well. The entire staff is very professional and thoughtful. I would recommend Pets First to all my friends. read more

I cannot explain how much I love this clinic! I have been bringing my oldest cat to the clinic since I moved to the area in 2015 and started bringing my second cat a few years after that. I have continued to be a client at Pets First even when I moved around because the staff are always so friendly and treat my cats with a lot of respect. Recently I to came into the clinic for an emergency visit because my cat kept getting sick and they were able to find me an appointment the same day within a few hours of calling. I was able to come into the room with my cat. They allow up to one owner in the room which is great because it eases the worry when you can speak with the doctor directly. Honestly I hadn't been to the clinic in a few years, due to Covid, and the doctor remembered my oldest cat. It really eased my worries. After following the directions of the doctor my cat got better within a day and I did not have to do expensive bloodwork on him. I wasn't pushed into getting the bloodwork which made an already unexpected cost not higher. I was also able to finally get my cat chipped quickly and without hassle. read more

This place is really cute and the front desk staff is very kind. We saw Dr Matt, after previously going to Blum (while they are great, I truly felt as though they were trying to get me to buy everything and their pricing was much higher than here). Dr Matt was incredibly sweet and down to earth (I got a better vibe from him than the previous vets). He got on the floor with odie and was just talking to me while I sat in the chair telling him about his overall health. He got all his vaccinations and was a good boy. I really valued the lack of upselling and comfort this place had versus making me feel like I had to buy XYZ for $$$. Will be back! read more

See all

Avoid, especially if you have an older cat. My cat had a sinus infection for six months while Dr. C provided inconsistent guidance that delayed his recovery and greatly extended the cost of care. She first told me to do nothing about the sinus infection and wait for an infected tooth to fall out and then when it got worse, she told me to get the tooth removed, and then when it turned out not to be connected to the tooth, she told me she never thought it was connected to the tooth. In the end, I spent thousands more for care than was needed, my cat got perfectly healthy teeth pulled to do an inconclusive biopsy, and all my cat needed was a basic antibiotic. We had several email exchanges where I tried to outline why I was still confused over the care trajectory and Dr. C then made me feel like I was being difficult for asking questions and made me feel unwelcome to return for a follow up, abandoning my cat for the second time during this unnecessarily prolonged sick period. Through it all, Dr. C continued to recommend expensive scans and biopsies--even after the first scan and biopsy provided no answers--saying that his symptoms didn't warrant antibiotic treatment. It took another outside vet recommending antibiotics for the issue to finally be resolved. If I listened to Dr. C, my cat would be getting more scans instead of recovering. When I asked for an apology, Pets First responded insincerely and refused to acknowledge this poor treatment. read more

This business should absolutely change their name. This is "Money First Veterinary Clinic". They don't care about pets with issues, just packing the calendar with as many clients as they can. Absolutely unbelievably terrible experience my first time in the door. My pet had an actual issue and they only want to push it off to emergency vets where you pay 4x more or put you on the books weeks later. I just moved to the city and don't have a primary vet and this was the closest place to my house where I could get care for my pet. They treated me like they couldn't give two shits about whether or not my pet was sick, and all they wanted was the repeat client on the books. I will never go back, and this vet should be ashamed of himself for running a place like this read more

The best practice for you furry friends! Dr. C is the best, her staff is friendly and helpful. I would not trust anyone else with my pets. She is genuine and kind and will offer a variety of solutions if needed. Her knowledge along with her intuitive nature is hard to find. A true animal whisperer!! read more

After transferring pet care due to a move, Pets First was recommended by my mother in law who lives in Florida and found this business via a google search of the best traditional vets and alternative medicine vets in Chicago. We have visited Dr. Mitchell a few times over the past year and we are very happy to have found our new vet! Located near Wrigley field, it's easily worth the 45 drive into the city. The staff is always kind and helpful and the care is of the best you will find. read more

We couldn't be happier with Pets First for the care of our dear cats. We've been longtime patients of Dr Mitchell and he's the best man for the hard job of dealing with our very difficult cat, Figaro. He's always very in tune with what's going on with our little crew. We have also seen Dr C in the past and she's so knowledgeable and compassionate in her practice. We recently lost our old girl, Amelia, and Dr C handled the hard process for us. Everyone at the office has been so professional and caring during this difficult time of loss. read more

After adopting a kitten, the search was on for finding a great vet that I would feel comfortable to bring Butch to. I had called about four clinics in the area and after speaking to the assistant regarding the shots, rates and care, I had a feeling this is the best place. Also the reviews had helped. From making the initial appointment to the actual appointment that Butch and I had received were very professional and relaxing. Hopefully, I won't there until next year for an annual shot. I how recommend this veterinary office. read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Butch at the reception desk. No more shots! - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dr.C is the best I've ever met. She's been looking after my pups for almost 12 years and always shows them the love and care they deserve. She provides very practical advice on multiple levels. I don't know what I would do without her read more

I've been going to Pets First for seven years, and they've always treated my two cats like royalty.

I take my Boston Terrier Zonk here last week and I've been taking him here for 4 or 5 years consistently now and they are always great. The front desk is excellent all the way to the doctors. Last week we had Dr. Erin for the 1st time and she was great. She answered all of our questions about Zonk's kennel cough and called over the past week to check up on him to see how my little fur baby is doing. They also don't try to push crap your dog doesn't really need so they can get the bill higher like many other vet offices do in chicago. read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Dr C is wonderful. Compassionate demeanor, thoughtful, accommodating, she puts people and pets at ease during difficult times. She came to our home and helped us say goodbye to our beloved dog when his time had come. A terrible thing made slightly easier by her calm, reassuring and empathetic presence. She took care of his remains for us as well, and brought us his ashes along with a beautiful paw print. read more

The veterinarian herself is wonderful but the staff is less than responsive. I gave them a pass on numerous occasions, including at my last appointment when they left my dog and I standing outside in the rain for 10 minutes after our appointment time although I had called to let them know we were there. The final offense was that I email the office almost two weeks ago to let them know my dog passed away at the emergency vet and I received no response at all. I would not recommend this office unless there is an overhaul of the staff or basic customer service training is completed. read more

If you are looking for a vet who will love your pets as much as you do, then you should go with Dr. C. We first discovered when she was on staff in a clinic in Lakeview and followed her to Pets First. Her warmth makes even our most nervous dog feel comfortable, and we place enormous trust in her and her advice. All of the other vets, vet techs and staff are just as caring, and I would recommend any of them. The point I'm trying to make, though, is that Pets First definitely understands that vets need to build a relationship with individual animals. They make every effort to ensure our pets' doctor is always available to them. We value that immensely. read more

It's really hard to find a vet office that doesn't make you feel like you're being price-gouged. I tried this place after reading many Yelp reviews and was glad I did! The front office staff were immediately really nice and welcoming when I first entered. Registration was smooth and we didn't have to wait long to go in. The vet and vet tech were both great with my cat and it was honestly the calmest I've ever seen her in a vet office (she's 11). He also didn't seem like he was in a rush to get the exam over with and on to the next thing, which I really appreciated. He took the time to answer my questions and did not try to push any additional services on me or push for buying any expensive food from them. Overall, great experience and we've definitely found our new vet! read more

I really wanted to like this place, I really really did, and I really dislike giving not hot reviews.... But unfortunately for the sake of fur babies, I cannot recommend it. The pros: -The doctor was very nice, friendly, and nonjudgemental, which is awesome. - They were honest with their recommendations and their pricing was fair. - Our pets seemed relaxed when they came home, which I'll assume means they were sweet to them. The cons: - It took a really long time to get an appointment, more than a month, and the receptionist didn't seem to care that our pets were having issues in the meantime. - I honestly felt a little brushed off by them, and like we were a burden. - The tech and one of the receptionists (mentioned above) could have had a warmer attitude. - Most importantly, they missed a HUGE issue for our pet, which was a RAGING internal infection; the next vet we took our pet to (Animal Medical Center of Chicago) tested for and caught it immediately (perhaps based upon her very enlarged lymph nodes that I swear I mentioned to Pets First?). That is scary scary scary. I'm glad they don't over test/charge, but also our pet was super sick with an infection and they completely missed it; had we not been proactive to find another vet the night we got home, she would have continued to have a raging infection. That is no joke, my friends. - When I asked about probiotics or anything else, they basically said they didn't specialize in that and to contact a different vet for more help. I can completely understand this whole Covid experience can be stressful and overwhelming and give them a lot of wiggle room and gratitude, but yikes. I am not saying any of this to be spiteful, but rather to give loving pet owners a heads up in selecting a doctor for their beloved babies. I sincerely wish them the best and that they ensure adequate attention and care for each new patient they see. read more

When our two dogs became ill on two separate occasions, we brought them to Dr. C and her team. I tell all my friends and clients about Pet's First because we couldn't be happier to have found such a compassionate veterinary practice. Everything from reception to the clinical visit is handled with care and I appreciate that Dr. C provides us with various treatments options after diagnosis. Her approach to treatment is also very effective without going overboard like some of the other vets that I've been to in the past. I feel immensely confident having Pets First in our corner when it comes to our pets' wellbeing and care. Truly the best vet that we have ever been to. Thank you! read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Thanks for helping me feel better - Ricky - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's 3:05am as I write this. This afternoon I called pets first about my puppy who was vomiting, peeing while laying down because he wouldn't get up, and when he got up he soaked through two bath towels when he peed all over our hallway. He was having bloody stool and when I called they got me in the same day at 5pm. When he was getting significantly worse I took him in 30 minutes early and they took us back right away. Dr. Matthew Shanbl came right in and did an exam. Since I was worried about the amount he was peeing I thought he was going into kidney failure so he did a blood test and urine analysis right away. I got the results in 20 minutes. My pup had a high white blood cell count meaning he was trying to fight off an infection. He quickly administrated some fluids and an anti nausea injection. He gave us antibiotics to bring home. When we took him back home he wanted to eat again. He wanted to play with toys. The fluids and injection seemed to work wonders. I am now up with my puppy while he chews on one of his toys I deemed harmless for his recovery. Needless to say I would recommend this place in a heart beat to anyone looking for quality pet care. The office staff is wonderful and the vet techs rock. I've attached two photos, one when he was feeling miserable that I took at the vet and one now where he is happy as can be. So thank you all so much for caring about Whisky as if he were your own. I am forever grateful. read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

10/10 do NOT recommend!!! In fact stay very far away! I brought my dog in for her required vaccinations. They recommended some additional tests, and I asked explicitly for the breakdown of all costs (because as I'm sure you know, the vet gets pricey!). The tech had to go back and forth three times to get the answers to my questions, and she was not very nice or flexible about it. Anyway, the vet comes in and without any warning, injects my dog with SIX vaccinations, only 3 of which I knew about or consented to!!!! The worst part is that when I very politely and privately informed them of this and requested a refund for the extra $200 they charged me, they gave me a hard time about it and then BANNED me from ever coming back. And then to top it all off, in the medical record note for that visit, they went out of their way to deliberately lie and say that they informed me of all vaccines and got my consent before treatment (they never put that kind of statement in any other visit note... SO shady). Do yourself a favor and pick one of the other hundred vets in the Chicago area. read more

The people at the front desk were rude and not accommodating. Spoke to two different people to take my dog to a scheduled appt my wife made. My wife has been taking our dog there for two years. They won't let anyone in at all, which is insane to me, and leads me to believe they have no clue what they are doing. After reading other reviews about the poor/missed care for their pets, my judgement seems correct. Will not be going back. read more

Since Dr. Mitchell relocated here, this is more an update from a previous post. Pet owners, those who have a cat or dog who is a member of the family, understand the need to trust your vet and to know you can depend on them. Dr. Mitchell excels in every way at this. Having lost my soul sister, Fredricke, a gray tabby, to cancer a few years back, I became an avid convert to this vet. He did everything he could, took my repeated calls and inquiries, and was as comforting as could be. I've referred every single person I know who talks about vets. All have loved him. Of course, they're all ladies and I mention he looks like Christian Bale. But they immediately realize, all jest aside, that he's the best around. His approach is not stoic and distant, as some medical professionals can be. Rather, he's clearly well versed in both Western medicine and old school, holistic, care. In other words, your pet falls in love with his bedside manner. If you don't have a pet, get one so you can go too. read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - 5 rescued kittens Dr. Mitchell helped during the holidays. - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best vet, EVER. We originally came here a little over a year ago to get our 2 kitties a checkup and vaccines. Everyone was so friendly - from the girls at the front desk to the vet techs and doctors. They got is into a room right away which is always nice when you have a cat in a waiting room full of dogs. The doctors were so friendly and informative when it came to the check up. We also had to call for an emergency illness visit and they got us in within 2 days. The only downside is parking, but it's Chicago so it's to be expected. The prices are also very reasonable. 10/10 we love it here! read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We first took our cat Hawk (who was about 1+ at the time) to see Dr. Mitchell about a year ago, and the great doctor was able to perform a neuter surgical procedure on our cat at his clinic and also get him up to date with all his vaccinations. I think it's hilarious that Dr. Mitchell refers to/greets our cat with: "Hey it's Hawk Man!" and our cat just looks up towards Dr. Mitchell unamused, so hilarious, and Dr. Mitchell has always been extremely professional and very easy to talk to. We recently took our cat back to see Dr. Mitchell for an annual checkout to make sure Hawk is healthy and gets updated on his vaccinations. The visit went very well. I actually had to work on the day of our cats Annual Exam, but Dr. Mitchell let me drop off my cat in the morning and I was able to pick up Hawk during my lunch break, and that alone shows how accommodating Dr. Mitchell is, he actually took the time to call my cell phone and give me an overview of how Hawk is doing and recommend a natural treatment for our cats minor dandruff. So overall, Mirna my fiancé and I are very happy with the quality and care of service Dr. Mitchell and his staff have provided us and our cat Hawk. Thank you everyone at the clinic, we'll definitely be back next year! Take care! read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Our cat Hawk exclusively goes to Pet's First Veterinary Clinic on Broadway Street with Dr. Mitchell. - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can't say enough for this place! I literally have not taken my cat to a vet for 4 years as our last experience was so traumatic. My cat, Noel, is a cat that likes me and everyone else she doesn't want much to do with. When I had last taken her to a vet, they had little patient for her and didn't make me feel that they cared at all so missing that bedside manner that I need. Pets First is completely different! The staff was so good with Noel even when she was being her difficult self. They listened to everything I had to say and made me feel that Noel's wellness was of the most importance to them. So glad to have a great vet now! read more

Kimble has been coming to Pets First since his very first vet appointment. He has been here for a hurt paw, Giardia, normal check ups, nail trimmings, seperation anxiety, honestly really anything we could've encountered in the first year. It would be the understatement of the year to say that Kimble loves the vets office. If we walk by on a non appointment day, he's still pawing and trying to get inside to see his buddies and get treats. The vets and techs are all so loving and kind, they treat and handle him as if he was their own. They're truly so gentle and amazing that to this day, Kimble has never realized that he's had a shot or his temperature taken because he so focused on the treats. The facility is also so clean and they are very quick to get you and your animal in and out. They're amazing. read more

See all

Like everyone says, this is the very best vet in town. Shrimpo the chihuahua can be a little nervous, but always gets snuggles from everyone, and loves all the staff. The techs are very knowledgeable, fun, and friendly, and Dr. C treats pets like they're her own with an amazing sense of love and warmth. She performed Shrimpo's difficult neuter wonderfully, and he's loved all his puppy visits and checkups. Prices are great, and they submit your insurance claim for you. I've never spent more than a few short minutes in the waiting room, and it's just generally one of those rare, perfect places that everything feels like it's going right. read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Shrimpo with his preventative medicines at Pets First. - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We love Pet's First so much! Our dog and now cat go there. Everyone so attentive, knowledgeable, compassionate and sweet! Prices are reasonable too! read more

Can't say enough good things about Pets First. Veterinarians and their staff have been under unprecedented stress and demand during the pandemic, with people either bringing in pets for overdue checkups, or the many adoptions that have occurred. Pets First has a strict Covid protocol in place yet operated with efficiency and compassion during my recent visit. read more

This has been The staff and the drs are great. Prices are ok when you compare it to the service you get. I am always confident my dog is getting the best treatment when I bring her to pets first. read more

There is only one reason I am not going to Pets First: because I no longer live near Dr. C! :( She was my primary vet with my two Chihuahuas and English Mastiff, and they adored her. I also work in the dog/cat services industry and have worked with several vets - after 13 years in the field I can say there is simply no one like Dr. C. She is compassionate, knowledgeable, has an excellent memory and is by far one of the best vets I have ever known. If you're debating, don't waste your time - she's the best of the best. read more

I love this vet clinic. I've had two dogs while living here in Chicago, and brought them both here. The first experience was great. Dr. Natarajan was so gentle with my puppy and very informative. My second dog is a service dog, and when I took him in, we saw Dr. Mitchell. He was so sweet with Bentley, and very thorough when he looked him over. Both vets are very pleasant to talk to, and they were great with my dogs. They answered all my questions and concerns, and helped me decide what vaccinations and tests to get. This practice is great, because they're reasonably priced for the Chicago area, all of the staff really adore your animals, and they don't push you to pay for things that you can't afford and aren't necessary. I don't need to go anywhere else for my fur babies. I'll keep coming here. read more

We love pets first vet so much! We've been bringing our German Shepherd, Kimble, since he was 8 weeks old and have always had a wonderful experience. He absolutely adores all the vet techs and looks forward to getting pets and love from them. He's the only dog I know who gets excited to go to the vet and it's because of how awesome the staff all are here. We so appreciate all of our friends at pets first. read more

Pets First Veterinary Clinic - Kimble getting ready to have his nails trimmed with his favorite people - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Of the vets we've seen, Dr. Matt and Dr. Mitchell are the best of the best; first and foremost, wonderful with my dog, and also kind, patient, and take the time to not only answer my questions but also ask if I have any others. Wonderful! The Clinic itself has been great over the years the few times I have had to call with a quick question that helped me to not need to bring my dog in for an appointment. Heather at the front desk is so rude that I really have hesitated to even come to the front desk the times that I have been there and she was going to be the person to check me in or out. If you have to ask her a question, for example, to explain a charge or to make a follow up appointment, her response is so cold it makes me feel like going somewhere else. But the techs are great and Drs. Matt and Mitchell have been wonderful, and other front desk staff (who I unfortunately didn't get instead at our last visit) are excellent. So we keep coming there. read more

My 21 y/o cat, a seal-point Ragdoll, Mr. Fritz, had stopped eating and was loosing weight fast. I selected this vet because they were in the neighborhood and didn't want to return to my previous vet for reasons I will not go into here. I cannot say enough great things about them, particularly Dr. Matt. He took the time to write me a hand-written note telling me how Mr. Fritz purred during the procedure. I couldn't stay and watch because my eyes were too wet. If you've ever said good by to a long-time friend, you'll know what I'm saying. My highest recommendations go out to Dr. Matt at Pets First on Broadway. Jim Denkmann read more

We have been taking our golden retriever here for almost a year to Dr. Mitchell. The staff is attentive and friendly and I always feel like our dog is being taken care of and getting the attention he needs for any issues that come up. So far our experience has been wonderful. read more

I started bringing my dachshund here roughly 3 years ago. They always take such great care of her, are fantastic about checking up on her after care, and are so receptive to my concerns. They have some incredible vet techs that I appreciate so much! All of their doctors are amazing, we love Dr. C and Dr. Mitchell. Amy has been incredible as well! I know my dog is safe in their care and can't say enough good things about this place. read more

We just visited, so this may be premature, but DANG do i have amazing hopes for this place and I already LOVE Dr. Mitchell. He's the one! We brought in Calypso after getting a recommendation from TreeHouse for a good FeLV+ doc in the area and after doing my research on a few options, settled on this place with Dr. Mitchell. Nailed it. He was so patient, kind, thorough, answered all our questions (incl. me on speaker phone since I couldn't be there in person), and helped Calypso feel at ease. He's incredibly knowledgeable and reaches out to specialists for second opinions / confirmations. So excited to make Dr. Mitchell Calypso's PCP! read more