I took my dog in for emergency care and had blood work done. I was told I'd receive a call within 24 hours but didn't. When I called to inquire about the blood test results, I was told they weren't ready. The staff said they couldn't control when the lab returned the results. Given the emergency nature of the visit, I was frustrated, especially with the $250 cost for the blood test and an additional $150 for expedited results. The poor service deterred me from returning. read more

This was a frustrating and outrageously expensive experience. Took my one year old golden retriever who had uncontrollable diarrhea. No typical remedies were working. I waited SIX hours and couldn't leave or I'd lose my spot. The "exam" took place in the waiting room. I had to insist on an X-ray to see if there was a blockage and blood work to check for giardia. They said to add Metamucil to his diet and charged me $1400. A trip to Old Town Animal Care gave him two shots to stem the diarrhea and manage his nausea. $375. read more

When our pup was acting weird, not eating and worrying us, VEG was the answer! These folks are professional, friendly, expert, attentive, communicative and genuinely animal-centered. We will never go anywhere else for emergency care for our pup. He is better now, and we are grateful!! read more

VEG ER for Pets - Wilbur, recovered and playing ball - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

DR. Tanner saved my dogs life. My big guy was undoubtably on his death bed and she pulled him through. She is, without question, an angel in human form. Bonus that i got to stay with him. They literally let me get into his kennel where we both fell asleep during his treatment-it had been a long few days. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Doggo 20 hours after release - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I took my cat here and I was very pleased and grateful for the staff! We were triaged immediately and they were so supportive. They helped work with me to get assistance with paying for the bills and also staying in the budget of what I was approved for. They took such great care of my cat and even comforted me when I worried about him. Hopefully I won't have to, but I would absolutely come back! read more

VEG ER for Pets - Cat - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

All of the people who work here are incredibly special. As a rabbit owner, our options for emergency care have recently become very limited due to our usual hospital no longer offering exotic emergency care. We were transferred from our usual vet here on a Saturday in critical condition. The staff here were amazing, from the front desk to the back clinic. We opted to stay with our girl throughout the day, and the techs were all incredibly kind. Every one of them talked to us, tried to make us smile, and let us ask any questions necessary. One of them even let me hold her puppy while I cried. Within 5 hours of us being there, our sweet girl crashed. At which point the staff took over and immediately helped her cross over the rainbow bridge. There was nothing that could have been done differently, and they truly tried the absolute best they could. The tech that had been working with her even stayed after our shift and came to sit with us while we said goodbye. The ONLY reason this is four stars and not five is because VEG is somewhat new to taking in rabbits. While they are a common pet, they are considered an exotic animal. VEG staff did an excellent job communicating with our usual exotic vet to understand medication dosing. However, I would love to see an exotic specialist on staff or know that there are internal trainings being done on exotics in the future. Because we went during an emergency, we weren't aware this was an open concept clinic until we arrived. We appreciated that we were able to stay with our girl the entire time, no matter how painful it may have been for us. Thank you to all of the techs and doctors that helped us that day. I hope you know how much your work is appreciated. read more

This clinic is different from any other veterinary emergency clinic you've been to. Read up on their philosophy! You stay with your pet during the process instead of sitting in a waiting room for hours wondering what is happening. Nobody is bugging you about payment the moment you walk in the door. I sat next to my cat in an oxygen chamber while they stabilized her and figured out a treatment plan. I saw people with their pets everywhere. Someone was lying in a cage with their seriously ill dog. Where else would you be allowed to do that? At such a scary time, it helps both pet and parent to be together. My cat had to be hospitalized for two days due to lily poisoning. The staff sent updates and photos each day. They said i could visit any time. I will also say that the prices for services here were extremely reasonable. Some reviews mention high prices, but this is an emergency clinic and you shouldn't expect things to be priced the same as your regular vet. That's kind of silly. If you have a fully staffed hospital open after hours, yes, you're going to pay a higher price for that service. Based on previous vet ER visits to MedVet and Premier, i expected a much larger bill. This clinic being located in Lincoln Park did not seem to make the prices higher than any other emergency veterinary clinic. They emailed me my receipt and a full summary of care after my visit. I will definitely be back if i need emergency care for my pets. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Text message from staff about my pet. Photo of cat in cage with comments about her labs and how sweet she is. - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Compassionate, modern, and thorough emergency care! Dr Boiskin and her staff took such good care of our good boy when he was in acute distress, and they were able to quickly get him comfortable and eventually diagnose his terminal condition. There were available the next day to help us ease our boy's passing, and we felt so safe and unrushed. The vet techs, nurses, and receptionists were kind and capable. I cannot recommend this team enough!! Also, the open floor plan was so good for our boy. He was never separated from us for even one minute, and he was never afraid. This team took care of our whole family during this head-spinning time. I am forever grateful for VEG. read more

1) Parking was right there next to the clinic and free 2) My cat was triaged immediately upon arrival 3) Nurses and vets all friendly, informative and caring 4) I was able to be with my cat through everything they did with her. 5) I could call anytime and speak to the vet or nurse under whose care my cat was 6) Honesty read more

Our 12 year old cat suddenly stopped eating/drinking and was very lethargic...all super unusual for him. Going into a holiday weekend, we knew he couldn't wait to see our normal vet so we took him to VEG. They're the absolute best!!! First of all, they're triage so they check vitals and the worst pets get seen first. If you've ever been to a first come first serve hospital, you know that the triage setup is better and puts your mind at ease. Second, you never have to leave your pet's side. It's an open concept and you wait with your pet (we were able to hold our cat out of his carrier) and then you can go with them when a table is available. A Vet or Tech often comes right to you to do as much as possible, which keeps your pet from becoming distressed. Finally, the entire staff was soooo nice and it's obvious they love all animals so we felt like our baby was in good hands. We chose to leave him overnight and we're pleasantly surprised to receive friendly text updates, including photos. Full disclosure, emergency pet care is not cheap, but they accept Care Credit and we have pet insurance so we never have to turn something down based on cost alone. VEG provided a great breakdown of cost and offered a cheaper alternative so even when money could be an issue, I still highly recommend them. Great location with easy parking and red line access too! read more

VEG ER for Pets - Benjamin chilling while on IV fluids for 12 hours - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So thankful to have a clinic that is so dedicated to the care of their patients, especially considering the level of stress it requires to seek emergency care. They are quite expensive but that is expected considering the level of care and 24/7 availability. read more

I can't praise this place enough! I've taken my pets to another emergency vet in the area prior and WOW the difference blew my mind. I brought my cat in for being lethargic and completely not himself. He ended up having a urinary blockage and they quite literally saved his life. The entire experience with the staff was nothing short of amazing. While the situation was horrible as a pet owner, the staff and Dr. Chernok were so calming and compassionate and genuinely cared. As a pet owner, having a doctor and staff that know how much you care about your baby and want to help in every way is a blessing. They explained everything thoroughly and the transparency was thorough. Text and call updates - I just can't praise this place enough for saving my baby! read more

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We do not have pets but have been caring for two feral cats for a few years now. One had what we thought was a serious wound and we struggled with options to find a vet to see the cat as well as actually getting an appointment. Finally trapping the cat late at night, we didn't want to cause her more anxiety by leaving her caged. Dr Billard and the staff were all very kind to us and to our cat and made what was a very stressful event much easier than I could have even hoped for. We were able to be seen pretty quickly initially for the staff to get a look at the wound. It was kind of a busy night too but we were in and out considering since the cat had to be sedated to have the wound treated. I don't have any other experiences with a vet, but in an emergency, I would 100% trust going to this group again. Thank you Dr Billard, staff, nurses and anesthesiologist who helped us! read more

They were so kind when my cat had a stroke. We had called before leaving the house, so they knew we were coming and they saw us right away. They gave him the shot that insured he didn't suffer, and for that I am grateful. read more

I came in this morning because my pup was experiencing an alarming sounding cough. As a first time dog mom I was panicking on where to take him. I called around and decided to take him to VEG and I'm so glad I did. Not only did he receive the type of care & treatment I was looking for, but all of the staff was so friendly to me and my pup. Hopefully I won't have to make too many returns for emergency care, but if I do I'll definitely take him back here. read more

I have nothing but great things to say about VEG. Extremely professional and compassionate. Unfortunately my Chloe needed end of life care. The staff were amazing. Dona Barton read more

Kind, caring, transparent, open, passionate. These are just some of the adjectives I would use to describe this amazing place. I have been to many vets over the last 28 years and nothing was close to how amazing this place was. I was able to stay with my baby, the entire time, and they went step-by-step with me to make sure I knew what they were doing, and why. I never felt uncomfortable I loved being able to part of the treatment and the way they expressed their compassion for all the fur babies is second to none. I will be coming here Everytime I have an emergency. This place is innovative and just so fantastic. read more

I Just want to recognize the amazing staff here and share our experience. We found VEG in the middle of the night via a phone call, and I really like how they let us speak with the doctor initially before even coming in. Most places don't do this and say just come in, but this is an amazing step that really can help you determine what to do when in distress. When we arrived we were taking back right away due to our dog's current state and symptoms. Our Shiba ended up being hospitalized and for almost 24 hours we were scared and stressed, but I have to say the staff really took care of her and didn't perform or recommend anything unnecessary. During those 24 hours we dealt with two different doctors who were both great and kept us updated about our pet the entire time. Also I truly like the open concept, I felt like I was in an ER for humans and we could stay with our pet the entire time and watch her. This really makes a difference and calmed our anxiety because we saw everything that was being done to her. I actually am wondering why more vets don't have this type of concept. Thank you for being there for our family member during a scary time and getting her healthy again. We hope to never be back, but it's good to know about this amazing ER for pets. One other thing is yes it's super expensive, but at no time were there ever any surprises on the bill that they didn't inform us about. Also it's worth it based on the way they treated our dog as some other ER's are definitely not as good and cost the same. read more

My two dogs (A Jack Russell and Brittany) made their first vist to the VEG location in Cos Cob, CT, yesterday. I was HUGELY impressed by the professionalism, kindness, cleanliness and animal friendly atmosphere that is evident throughout this office. Dr Mikes and her staff were outstanding. read more

Amazing staff and professional service. We were blown away by how supportive, kind and professional Dr. Kruzova, Ana and the whole team (wish we got everyone's name). They took care of our dog after he ran off and was hit by a car. It was a stressful moment for us, but they handled our situation with care and competence. Would highly recommend them! Thank you VEG team. We're so grateful for you all. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

VEG is a lifesaver. My dog had to be admitted this past weekend for 2 nights after a sudden illness. I had never been to an ER vet and I was truly terrified. They triage based on severity of your pet's illness. My dog was able to wait 2-3ish hours, but after that time began to show some signs of decline. We alerted staff, were taken back, and quickly re-assessed before being admitted. Or maybe it was because she vomitted all over the waitroom. Either way, I appreciated knowing that the pets who needed it most were seen, and that when my pup's need changed, she was also seen. Staff were more than apologetic about the wait time, they should not be! Anyone who loves animals totally understands why! The first thing my boyfriend noticed actually was that they are very-staffed. Again, I had never been to a pet ER, so I didn't even know the open concept was unique. Comparing it to my regular vet: I think this should be done everywhere. You can stay with your pet, and the open plan makes a place that I expected to be terrifying feel warm. There is life and love in the space. Staff are happy, caring, jovial people and its nice to hear/see them "hang out." It helps patient parents' relax and allows them to see that "taking them into the back," is not all that scary. I also loved that I could stay with my pet as long as I wanted and return if I wanted. Especially for multi-day stays, that is really comforting. I was a mess in my Phoebe Bridgers sweatpants and staff was more than patient. It feels like you're at a high quality teaching hospital with all the staff present for your pet. Dr. Kubala is fantastic, and quickly but patiently explained what may be going on in terms that made it sound less terrifying. Holly was also great, she immediately took to Iris and Iris took to her. Everyone (pup included) but me was calm and confident my pup would be okay. I called at least 3 times to check on my dog that night, even at like 2am and every time I was assured she was happy and "people watching." That is SO classic Iris. The reception staff is great and patient especially when your mind is all out of whack. Genevieve, Fiona, Genesis, and Josh are all lovely! The next day I saw why everyone was so calm! My dog was surrounded by love. I could tell she saw everyone as part of her pack. They all knew her name! Her nurse Liam even recognized my boyfriend and I when we came back the 2nd day and took us straight back to see her. That is crazy to me and really shows they care because I am sure in his job there was a ton of other things he had to do/remember, and he only met us briefly. He also joked about Iris not liking her bed, and even sent a cute pic & joke once she finally sat in it. As I was leaving I heard one member of staff (not sure who) call her "Little I." That's my nickname for her, so it really warmed my heart. Liam even "booped" her nose after a bath. Basically, I can tell her care team as well as everyone around her surrounded her with love, and she loved them. Their job is so hard, and they really invest in making sure the pets feel loved. I was weirdly sad taking her home because now she won't get to see her new friends! Originally, she was only supposed to stay for one night, but then right before I came to pick her up she took a turn. I could tell my pup was definitely still not herself. Dr. Cox and Liam were more than apologetic and even offered to still let me take her despite the risks. Again, she really wasn't herself so I completely deferred to their judgment. Dr. Cox also--I cannot say enough. Amazing at explaining things while remaining patient and attentive when I was spacey. I was sad to leave her, but she hopped into her kennel on command. That made me feel so happy she felt safe there. Now onto costs. I only received an estimate for one night, so when they said she needed two, I was worried about the costs. Liam informed me we actually were ~1k below the estimate and would probably end up at budget or a little over. Ended up only about $100 over budget. Amazing. This entire experience would not have happened at a less well-staffed, crammed, profit-hungry hospital. They could've sent her home to make space and more profit, while charging me more--but they did not. Nor would they have the time to send cute pics! All for me and my pups' benefit. VEG cares. Similar, they still are readily and quickly available to answer questions after discharge. And this all happened while I'm studying for the bar exam. I never had to worry my dog was not in the best hands. It is not just her incredible team--you can tell there are so many smart management decisions at every step that I don't have space to describe designed to make everyone's experience better. Cannot say enough good things. Literally out of characters. Blown away by your care for Little I in what was the scariest 3 consecutive days of my life. Thank you. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Texts from VEG. Also her ears look so massive here lol - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I truly am so thankful for this place! I arrived not knowing what to expect as it is heavily focused on triage care, but the staff and their amazing hospitality changed all of that for me. I brought in my kitty Ludo to get checked out as he was having some GI issues that had left him throwing up, loss of appetite and having diarrhea. Because he is still so tiny, I wanted to make sure he was able to get checked out. The waiting room can get quite busy, but they had some very thoughtful amenities. They were stocked with snacks, (who doesn't like a good capri-sun and rice Kristie treats!) as well as a TV to get your mind off of things for a bit. I ended up having to go alone to this visit and without having had any dinner, so this was a lifesaver considering the wait time. I truly and deeply want to thank Dr. Jacob Schanks for all of his devotion and care that he provided to us. He really took the time to hear me out and validated all of my feelings and was very empathetic with financial costs, showing me the different types of treatment plans/costs. I think one of the things that stood out to me the most was how everyone talked WITH you and not at you like you are just some other client. They really see you and your pet as individuals. I also wanted to thank Sara and Richie for just being extremely sweet throughout the process. Ludo is doing MUCH better now after his treatment. The only thing I am kicking myself in the butt for is not remembering everyone's name! To the staff that helped Ludo that day (took his vitals and assisted with his x-rays) thank you SO much!! read more

VEG ER for Pets - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

VEG is a fantastic ER vet. My puppy swallowed a button today and they immediately provided treatment and the button was expelled. my puppy was so much more relaxed during the treatment because I was right next to her the entire time. The staff is friendly and very professional. read more

Absolutely the best care we could have received. The staff went above and beyond for my dying pet. Highly recommend if your fur baby is ill. read more

Brought my 2 year old Cavapoo in around 1 am Sept 3 - he had bloody vomit and I was really scared and upset. The team was more than understanding, compassionate, we were able to sit in a private exam room while we waited to see the Dr. A nice staff member offered me a Diet Coke, snacks, etc. as we were there for about 4 hours for labs, X-rays, etc. Thank you so much. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Waiting for the doctor to see us. - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The whole care team was so thoughtful and caring. I had spoken with a helpful young woman by phone before we came in. They were ready to see our cat as soon as we arrived. They were thorough in explaining what they were doing and talking us through our options. Someone even gave our daughter some coloring pages and colored pencils. They helped us get to the bottom of what was happening with our cat. Ultimately, unfortunately, the prognosis was bad and we decided that we couldn't put her through any more stress and pain. Throughout the whole process, they were unfailingly kind, patient, and professional. I cannot recommend them highly enough. read more

The emergency vet is the last place anyone wants to be, and I cannot thank the incredible staff enough for the incredible care my sick kitty received. The staff was comprehensive and compassionate, and watching how attentive they were not only to me but also to their overnight admitted patients with severe cases was really incredible. The facilities were clean, the paperwork was easy to navigate and I was glad to see that Affirm was a payment option for those who don't wish to open a care credit credit card and/or prefer to pay with a payment plan. If your fur baby is in an emergency, 5 stars 10/10 recommend this VEG location. They even managed to make me laugh through my tears as my kitty was getting a puff of an inhaler read more

We've been lucky to have never had to visit an ER Vet during our golden's 14+ years, but a yucky skin infection broke that streak. Thankfully, I quickly checked Yelp and read some amazing reviews of VEG. I immediately felt comfortable with how they interacted with both of us - very attentive, caring and ready to get going. All the techs were polite and professional. The open room and ability to sit on the floor with him while they worked was so calming for both of us. And his vet took the time to thoroughly go over instructions and answer my endless questions. We were done in 60 - 90 minutes and the checkout process was a breeze with the friendly and compassionate staff. Seriously, if you leave the ER Vet thinking 'wow, that went really well' then they're definitely doing something right! Obviously, I hope we don't end up back there, but I know we'll be in good hands if we do. read more

Wonderful care, excellent vets and staff, and everyone was kind and caring to our dog. There was great communication, and we were allowed to stay with our dog during treatment. A vet even answered our call in the middle of the night with a thorough update. read more

Last week my mischievous three year old cat, Pudley, ate a resistance band and it got stuck in his small intestine. I brought him to Veterinary Emergency Group and first they gave him fluids and took an x-ray. They waited another six hours to see if the fluids would help him pass it on his own, but when it didn't the next day they performed an exploratory surgery to remove the foreign object. The staff here was so wonderful. Throughout the two days Pudley was in their care, everyone I talked to on the phone was very transparent about everything- what to expect, timing, cost, etc. Because of their COVID protocols, I couldn't go in and had to hand off Pudley to a staff member at the door, which was nerve wracking. But they were great about following up, and even texted me a picture of him post surgery so I knew how he was doing. I hope I never need to use VEG's services again, but if I do I'll definitely bring any of my three pets back here. Thank you for treating your patients (and their stressed humans) so well! read more

VEG ER for Pets - Pudley is recovering very nicely now thanks to Dr. Figger! - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We've visited VEG at this location 4 times to date and every experience has been amazing. This review is months late but as I was recommending them to someone I thought I should leave a review. Getting to stay with your pet to keep them calm is an amazing concept but the vets at this specific location have gone above and beyond for us every time. Most recently my dog Bandit who has a rare lung disorder had to stay for 48 hours and I got more information here than from our diagnosing vet they really provided me with SO much information instead of the bare minimum. Previously my dog Luna broke her radius and ulna and after splinting her one of the techs was able to recommend the best vet to go to to get care from a very talented traveling vet surgeon when multiple other locations had quoted me weeks of waiting. They really do care here. I honestly wish we could come here for routine vet services too. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Dog with broken radius and ulna - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While the wait can be pretty long - it's what to be expected when you need urgent care. MedVet is where you may want to go for very severe emergencies, but VEG is fantastic for taking care of our pet when you can't get a vet appointment. Just be patient with the staff. . . they are have a lot of fur babies they need to take care of! read more

I'd yet to experience an open-space clinic, and I am very grateful for VEG and the way their ER was run. I can understand how this setting is not for everyone, but for those that don't want to leave their pets side during exams etc it was perfect. Very friendly staff and an environment catered toward pets and their humans. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I took my dog here because I suspected he got into something he wasn't supposed to, I was an emotional wreck. But I'm a physician myself so kinda know the ropes. They basically did nothing for him and still don't know what happened. They took an X-ray and thought MAYBE there was a foreign body in his stomach but it didn't seem related. All labs normal. Ultrasound normal. So they just gave him some fluids and that was it, for a grand total of $1300. That was a total rip off. I expected to pay about 700-900. But 1300 for no diagnosis, no surgery, and a bag of saline that cost $1....Just wow. I still don't understand why they didn't try to induce vomiting after I told them I'm pretty sure he ate something. Today my dog is fine and I will be taking him to my regular vet tomorrow I did find the nurses very comforting in such a stressful situation however. read more

The vet here gave a devastating prognosis-that my cat had "a few months" to live- without even doing an exam. I brought in my cat when he had trouble breathing at his regular vet's office. They didn't have oxygen available and said to go to VEG - their affiliated ER vet. The VEG vets immediately took my cat for a heart ultrasound, and did an emergency chest tap. *During* this procedure, the vet said that even if I did everything I could, my cat would only last a few months. After the chest tap, she said I still needed thousands of dollars of testing there and to see a heart specialist for a treatment plan. Believing he had only a couple months left, I decided it would be better for him to just be home and comfortable rather than stay in a cage at the hospital around unfamiliar animals and people - things that had always caused him intense stress. I wish I had taken him to a specialist right away to get the correct prognosis. Instead, I was so devastated, I took him back to his regular vet for the recommended post-ER check-up where they recommended euthanasia since he would need another stressful chest tap and more testing to get any more time. This was problematic because they were using the VEG prognosis. VEG's "prognosis" stole the time I could have had left with my pet. It's only now that I can look back rationally that I realize she couldn't have known enough about his condition to say anything. She didn't have a diagnosis, hadn't looked at his history, and didn't even finish the chest tap before delivering a prognosis. read more

We met a lovely vet who was so pleasant & very knowledgeable. Took lots of time with my 2 dogs. We were very happy

My Sons 10 mos old Frenchie puppy was very sick and lethargic with gastrointestinal issues. He was taken great care of and all Drs and professional staff warm and caring. Updates to us were timely and professional, they called and updated as they promised during the overnight. It's very pricey to have a sick animal and need ER care they're upfront about charges and estimates. read more

VEG ER for Pets - Feeling better thx to the Drs ! - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

BAD EXPERIENCE!!!! Brought my dog in on 9/3 he has a hematoma on his left ear got here at 7pm and left about 1:30am the next. They did there check ups and vitals. And they email me the price for the procedure and of course had to get the ok with my husband and he did so they were prepping the room for him. A vet came to my dog and gave him a light sedation but wasn't completely out. When they would start cleaning the ear and started cutting it for he would start shaking. She must of cut him about 3-4 times in his ear and when she took the mussle off he bit her and she didn't complete it. She made another person wrapped him up and put a cone on there. And wasn't done in a sanitary room, done in a waiting room. Never again. read more

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In 21 years of pet ownership, this was--BY FAR--the worst emergency vet I've ever experienced. We had to take our cat twice in six days for a urinary struvite crystal exacerbation while we were waiting on an appointment with his regular vet. The first overnight visit last week was hours long, but the vet techs and vet on duty (Dr. Farren Billand) were wonderful, cared for our cat and us, and gave us a definite plan of care with low-cost meds (gaba for pain and prazosin for muscle spasms--probably the most common meds given to cats with chronic urinary issues) to get our little guy through the 10 days until his regular vet visit. But they didn't us enough of his prazosin and before it was time for his vet appointment, last night he was in pain and visiting his litterbox a dozen times an hour again, and spotting on the floor. I called VEG and let them know. Instead of getting us more prazosin, they made us come back in. When we got there, the vet techs and one of the vets said the problem was just that he had run out of his med, that he wasn't blocked, he wasn't critical, and just wait to speak with a vet. It should have ended happily there. Instead, after being ignored for more than two hours, the shift changed and a new vet finally came to talk to us (Dr. Aracely Cordes). She was rude, unaware of the information on our little guy's chart, ignored us about what was going on with him, about what the original treatment plan was from literally 5 and a half days previous from VEG itself, and about what the vet techs and first vet had to say about his condition. Instead, she treated our cat like he had never been seen by them, as if we had just fallen down from the moon. She told us she "needed" to do a battery of tests, including expensive tests that VEG had already done days before--even though his triage didn't identify any need for them and even though we told her our regular vet said he would perform them on Friday anyway. She refused to give him more prazosin, wanted to switch him to a very expensive, very heavy-duty med, and charge us for a "contingency" in case she wanted to go further. All in all, it would have been a nearly $900 bill--$400 more than even our previous VEG bill days before. And she wanted us to pay immediately in advance. It was a really slimy really hard sell. We weren't having any of it. I told her absolutely not and demanded she provide the care that the previous vet on duty had been ready to provide. Clearly, he needed more of the med they had shorted us, and an exam (which the previous vet did two hours before) to make sure he wasn't blocked. She agreed, but was rude, terse, and completely obnoxious--partially because she had ALREADY DIRECTED a vet tech to dispense syringes with the expensive new meds before receiving our permission or payment. Our final bill was around $300, with all the meds our cat needed to be pain free and able to urinate until seeing his regular vet on Friday. This should have been the immediate outcome when we got there, instead of making us wait hours to try to scare us into a giant bill for duplicative and unnecessary "care". When we got home this morning, we looked at VEG Lincoln Park's online reviews. They're either 5 stars or 1 star with no in-between. That's a big red flag. The many 1 star reviews talk about hours-long waits followed by high-pressure, alarmingly high "proposed" fees with inadequate justification. Yep. Last night, we felt like we were being pressured by a really bad car salesperson. That might work on someone with a first-time cat. It doesn't on a middle-aged pet owner who has had cats for two decades and spent many overnight hours in emergency vet clinics. I don't know about you, but I expect an emergency vet to advocate for my pet's health, not their company's profits. The behavior of the vet last night was so disgusting we will never take any of our pets to VEG again. You shouldn't either. If you do go, expect to wait for hours in a filthy clinic that smells like pee, and high-pressure sales tactics aimed at scaring and confusing you. This place is truly the bottom of the barrel. read more

We had a great experience at VEG. My dog had an adverse reaction after hours from his annual vaccinations from his regular vet. When I called MedVet to ask if his symptoms required an emergency visit, they told me of their (very long) wait times and recommended VEG. We'd never been, but grabbed the car and off we went. My dog had been lethargic with pale gums, one and off periods of panting. VEG saw him right away, assessed him symptoms and gave a couple of injections. We were in and out in less than an hour on a weeknight. Such a godsend. Pupper was fine the next day. I wouldn't hesitate to use VEG again if we had an emergency. read more