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    Veterinary Specialty Center

    3.1 (503 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    Services - Veterinary Specialty Center

    Emergency pet hospital

    Chiropractic care

    Euthanasia

    4 More Services

    Mass or tumor removal

    Pet physical or wellness exam

    Rehabilitation therapy

    Pet vaccinations

    Veterinary Specialty Center Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Veterinary Specialty Center

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    Reviews With Photos

    Wonderful Staff but Lacking Safety Protocols. On 11/1/24 we brought our dog Tyson to VSC as he was unable to hold down food. Our primary vet had seen him earlier in the day, taken an X-ray, & recommended VSC for a same-day ultrasound. The staff at VSC was friendly & conveyed a genuine focus on helping him. The ultrasound was completed w/no conclusive findings, so we were provided w/meds, bland diet instructions, & sent home. The attached pic of Tyson was during the ride back. The following Monday, we returned as he was still unable to hold down food. VSC took a 2nd x-ray. Afterward, we were informed Tyson bit the vet tech during the process. They said it was one puncture wound which likely occurred as they had to hold him in uncomfortable positions to obtain the x-rays. The x-rays revealed his esophagus was 4x the size it should be. Tyson was admitted & received treatment for mega esophagus, which included medications along with attempts at using a Bailey chair in the hopes that this would enable him to successfully transfer food to his stomach. The following day, a doctor at VSC informed us the meds & Bailey chair were not successful & they were going to try a different med, but if that didn't work, the next options would be much more difficult & invasive (surgery). Given his age & the fact he had been struggling with other health issues for some time (high liver values & suspected Cushings), we agreed euthanasia would be the most humane option if the other meds didn't work. It was at this point that the doctor shared that because the bite incident had been reported to the County & it occurred less than 10 days ago, if we decided to euthanize, they would be required to remove Tyson's head & send it to a lab so his brain could be tested for rabies. She apologized for having to inform me of this & said VSC could lose their license if they did not abide by this requirement. She said we could obtain & choose the disposition for the rest of Tyson's remains, but not his head as the lab would not be able to return it. I informed her Tyson was current on his rabies vaccine & she explained the 10 day observation period is for all dogs regardless of vaccination status. She added that while they were "100% certain" Tyson didn't have rabies, they must abide by this requirement or could lose their license. Here's my question: Since the following was known: 1. Tyson was an old dog in a strange environment 2. He had been unable to hold down food for several days 3. The needed x-rays would require staff to place him in uncomfortable positions Why weren't any safety protocols in place to prevent the risk of a bite from occurring, such as the use of a muzzle or bite resistant gloves? Unfortunately, the second round of meds didn't work & a day later we had to say our final goodbyes to Tyson. Thank you to the staff at VSC for their compassion on that incredibly difficult day. You were wonderful. The following day, I asked VSC to contact the lab on our behalf to request the return of Tyson's remains. VSC replied that the lab agreed to send their portion of his remains to the crematory once they completed their testing, however, to expect this process to take some time. Every day since, I check my email to see if there is an update from the crematory so that we can bring Tyson back home. The waiting is preventing my family & I from being able to work through the grieving process & obtain needed closure. VSC is in many ways an excellent animal hospital with a wonderful staff committed to providing exceptional care. However, due to the absence of safety protocols described above, I cannot provide them with a positive review. I will update this to a positive review if VSC commits to implementing steps & PPE measures recommended by the NIH & AVMA to minimize the risk of their staff being bitten so that no other pet owners have to face the situation we find ourselves in today. Our memory of Tyson will forever be marred by this tragic yet preventable event. Gary Earnest

    Our sweet Lola

    I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional care my dog Lola received at the Veterinary Specialty Center under Dr. Mimi Noonan and her tech, Kathryn. When we first brought Lola in January 2021, she was in very bad shape, and our local vet was unable to diagnose the issue. Dr. Noonan quickly identified a complex condition and started treatment. Although her initial prognosis was 3-6 months, she advised us to cherish each day. Lola stabilized by April 2021 and went on to live another four wonderful years. Eventually, Lola developed Trachea Collapse and Syncope fainting spells, which sadly led to the difficult decision to euthanize her. Kathryn, who had become so dear to us, waited past the end of her workday to be with us during this heartbreaking time. I cannot express enough gratitude for the care this practice, Dr. Noonan, and Kathryn provided over the last four years. The kindness Kathryn showed by holding my hand as I said my final goodbye to my best friend and loyal companion meant the world to me. I would give them 100 stars if I could!

    Bella 04/27/2025

    Overall, I would highly recommend VSC for anyone needing a specialist or emergency care for their pet. The advanced technology, equipment and training give you almost immediate answers for your pets health. Bella my BFF needed a specialist as her breathing was extremely rapid even at rest. My vet had already ruled out blastomycosis and pneumonia, but unable to determine further after x-rays & blood work that her lungs were not working properly, & needed further testing however only appointment was in June. I never had any indication that she was ill or anything else was possibly wrong prior to her vet visit on March 25. Her BW showed minor inconsistencies and we re-ran tests plus a couple specific and X-rays. The only indication I had was her breathing started becoming very labored and fast shortly after vet appointment . . prior health over the years had bouts of chronic pancreatitis and colitis which were always treated immediately..never showed any signs that anything else was wrong. Bella was getting worse with her breathing & my vet made arrangements to have her seen immediately through the ER at VSC. Dr. Fayth Kim was very caring and understanding and treated Bella like her own pet. VSC runs the numbers for you ahead of time so you know what types of charges you are looking at and helps you understand what tests are needed initially and what may be extra if further analysis is necessary and it's accurate. Unfortunately after ultrasounds and BW it was determined Bella had cancer that metastasized not only to 3/4 of her lungs, but also the heart, kidneys, liver, intestines, stomach, and bladder, and lymph nodes ...basically to every internal organ. Everyone from receptionists, vet techs scribe, & the vets were patient and asked numerous times if there was more questions.. I felt all cared deeply that you understood your pets issues along with treatment options. Bellas remaining time on earth was very limited and VSC home hospice program along with fluid support from my vet gave us the means to keep Bella comfortable at home hospice for 11 days until Bella showed she had enough on a Sunday evening.. we took her into VSC ER and even though short staffed and full with emergencies, they were still very compassionate and caring and supportive. Both visits the vet techs were wonderful and very caring... I wish I had gotten their names.very grateful to them. They were amazingly calming especially on the night. I had to let my sweet Bella go to the Rainbow Bridge while she lay on my lap. Dr. Kylie Sobota eased my BFFs pain and sent my angel Bella to the Rainbow Bridge so she no longer had to suffer. The mortuary VSC partners with to entrust your beloved pet to is wonderful as well. While this is a very hard personal loss, and we are still devastated by the sudden onset, worsening of her disease, and her loss; both my vet and VSC helped us understand the severity of Bella's illness, how to best help and support her and to know I made the right choice in my decision to release her from suffering further. PS : Previously, I have been a client @ VSC in 2010/12for my yorkie Shamus and in the late 1990s a couple times for my mother's vizsla Freddy. Only once with Freddy was there a minor issue and it was promptly rectified. Dr Claude Gendreau was the founder of VSC in Riverwoods/Buffalo Grove at that time. Dr Gendreau, Dr Noonan, Dr Feinmahl & Dr Armentano came highly recommended from Dr Richard Blazer of MVC & Northlake AH.

    King
    Bruce M.

    I feel for all the people who had bad experiences @ VSC. I ended up there only because I'll never go to Blue Pearl again due to their "care" for my previous dog. All I can attest to is my experience @ VSC & Dr. Bagheri (neurology) was wonderful with both King (10 yr old Malinois/Boxer Mix) & I when we showed up there to get her opinion of King after a vaccine injury the year previous & his disoriented, sad, confused & exhausted tendencies. Dr. Bagheri dealt with his exam and my questions with astonishing honesty & compassion & handled our goodbye moments delicately & professionally that very day. She didn't try to upsell or make promises she couldn't keep & is very good at her job. Thanks Dr. Bagheri. See you down the road King. You're a good boy.

    Proof that VSC added almost $1800 in charges 2 months after he died and already charging $9000
    George S.

    I'm writing this review with a heavy heart and a warning to all pet owners: avoid Veterinary Specialty Center at all costs. My experience here with my English Bulldog, Eddy, was nothing short of a nightmare that ended in his premature death. Eddy went inn for routine surgery and died less than 48 hours after discharge.The postoperative care Eddy received was dangerously inadequate. Despite Eddy showing clear signs of pain and distress, his symptoms were continuously ignored or trivialized by the staff. He was brought inn 2x in 24 hours and concerns were dismissed as anxiety. Communication was disastrous. We were misled about Eddy's condition, the risks were never clearly communicated, and our repeated pleas for comprehensive treatment were dismissed. It felt like they were more interested in minimizing their efforts and costs rather than saving my dog's life. This clinic's lackadaisical approach and blatant disregard for our concerns directly contributed to the loss of Eddy. They failed him miserably, and no pet owner should have to go through what we did. If you love your pet, do not take them to this facility. After all this they still call me and email me weekly for $600 after receiving $9000+ without knowing how he died (they claim that's on me for not paying for a necropsy) and the $600 bill turned into a $2000+ bill. $1798 in April when he died 2/22! No contact from admins as promised but billing dept has no problem calling and emailing even texting for payment!

    My lab-mix, Casey, wearing the cone of shame at home after VSC removed a cancerous mass from his anal gland.
    Phoebe K.

    After my primary vet located a small mass on my dog during a routine physical exam, I called two animal hospitals to determine what course of treatment to take and how much it would cost. Based on my preliminary research, I chose VSC. I'm very glad I did. They scheduled Casey, my beloved lab-mix, for surgery within a week to remove the mass, do a biopsy and send it to a lab for testing. Dr. Hybki was very good and answered ally questions. They performed the surgery the same day as the consult and kept him overnight. Because ASC is open 24/7, I was able to bring him in on Easter Sunday to address my concerns about the surgical wound opening due to my dog "scooting" on the rug. They took pictures and had me bring him back the next day so the surgeon could take a look. There was no charge for either visit! And I got a couple of great recommendations to help keep my dog's butt safe. Great, professional care. Very clean office. And we'll be returning next week to see the doggie oncologist to discuss treatment options. I feel like my dog is receiving exceptional care and I'm getting wonderful, compassionate service. I highly recommend VSC for emergency vet and great surgical care.

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

    Super long wait - 3 hours and counting - very little communication - no sense of urgency or compassion for this lengthy experience.

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    9 months ago

    Dr. Kruckman is amazing. She and her staff did wonders by our dog. We couldn't recommend them more.

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    1 year ago

    Expert care and good follow up. Would take my dog there again if we need further surgeries.

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    Ask the Community - Veterinary Specialty Center

    My 2 year old shihtzu is having back issues (possible bulging discs or ?). My regular vet referred me to a different doctor in aurora but this place's MRI price range starts half price. Is Dr. Comito good? Trustworthy? any info on her please.

    Guaranteed it will cost much much more at VSC than anywhere else

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Veterinary Specialty Center

    Comito and her staff, and from the minute they came in the room we knew that they deeply cared about our dog.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    we were trying to help our hamster in need, and the doctor we called told us that she can give us…read moreresources to help our hamster. Great help and thoughts for our hamster! :)

    I came here last night with my very senior dog Sasha, because she'd been having persistent GI…read moreissues that were pretty severe for her. I called ahead of time to check on pricing for the exam, etc., and one of the Vets answered and was so kind and patient while I explained what was going on. She reassured me they would walk me through a treatment plan we could handle after I brought her in. When I got there, I was met with the warmest, kind, helpful energy from every single person who worked there. From the person who did our intake, to the techs who did her initial vitals and administered her IV later on, (and cleaned up her mess on the way out - TY) to the Vet herself, I felt more than comfortable that they had my girls best interest in mind but were also realistic with what I could spend and how far we wanted to go with her care considering that she's 15.5 years old. After the vet examined her, I was sent a quote via email I could approve via my phone, and while I paid cash, they have an instant link you can pay for your services via credit card through email as well, which I found amazingly efficient and made what I was spending and what was included crystal clear so there was no anxiety about hidden costs. (I also found this place to be INCREDIBLY reasonable in their pricing compared to the other Vets I've gone to in the city). Special shoutout to the tech with the amazing mustache and the woman who administered her IV.... He was down on the floor, with my pup's head in his lap, petting her and saying the sweetest, most reassuring things while the other tech also just gave her such praise that we got some little exhausted tail wags out of her during what couldn't have been a comfortable process. It was just what we both needed in that moment, so thank you both so, so much. I was calm but pretty emotional, and I just felt safe coming here and would 100% come here again if needed, and recommend that anyone facing something like this with their fur baby come here too. The entire experience was quick, efficient, and again.... the kindness and genuine love they showed my baby was all I needed to know to feel comforted during a stressful moment. Happy to report the treatment she received has dramatically improved her condition in just a day, so overall it was a 10/10 experience.

    Elk Grove Veterinary Specialty & Emergency - Meet our Internal Medicine patient, Jackson, and his mom.

    Elk Grove Veterinary Specialty & Emergency

    (136 reviews)

    Had a very good experience albeit under horrible circumstances. Staff were very considerate,…read morefriendly, and the care was exceptional. I highly recommend for an emergency situation.

    Thank you so much to the empathetic and caring staff at this clinic. My baby, Monet, came in with…read morecongestive heart failure on the night of December 30th. When I ran in with her, a medical staff member took her from my arms and quickly provided the necessary care to stabilize her breathing. When I struggled with my decision to continue care or to put her to sleep, the staff member helped me talk through my thoughts. I decided to continue care and received a call the following morning that her stats had improved, and she could go home later that day if she continued to improve. We picked her up at 6 that night on the 31st. However, she had another heart failure, and we had to take her to the vet again. Before putting her down, the kind staff members made sure that her breathing was somewhat stable, so we didn't have to see her in distress. Monet went peacefully in my arms with her dad next to her. Dr. Nick was our vet on the 30th and 31st. Both days, he kindly explained Monet's status and possible outcomes. He stated that I did everything I could for her on the 31st, which really helped me during my healing process because I felt like I did everything in my power to try and save her. The following week, I received a card from them with thoughtful words. Monet's ashes came in a beautifully wrapped container and bag. Thank you so much for all your kindness during this difficult time. Monet was well taken care of during and after, and knowing that brought me some comfort.

    BluePearl - Northfield

    BluePearl - Northfield

    (233 reviews)

    As a pet parents, we've brought our dogs to BluePearl for emergencies and they've always been…read moretreated with care. Most recently, my oldest had a tumor removed with Dr. Wilson. Dr.Wilson and his surgery team were absolutely wonderful. Everyone was kind, patient, and made sure my dog was comfortable every step of the way. You can tell they really love their jobs. It was very reasonable priced from the consultation, wound care, and follow up appointments; the estimate was as precise as they could have gotten. All that being said, the front desk can come off a little short or rushed, especially if you're not used to their process or what they expect you to know. Once you get passed the learning stage (different than a doctors office for humans) they truly are kind people. Where things fell short for me was with the oncology department. The experience felt impersonal, and the final bill didn't match the original estimated quote despite my dog having the basic surgery with no extra add ins or assistance. Labs were drawn without asking us (charged triple our local vet would have charged) and we were charged for an X-ray that wasn't done, which came across as money-driven, intentional or not. We did get compensated for the X-ray. Overall, I'd definitely recommend BluePearl of Northbrook for emergencies and for the General Surgery department, Dr. Wilson and his team are amazing! I'd look elsewhere for oncology care based on our experience.

    This pet hospital, in my opinion, seems to care more about money than about the well-being of…read moreanimals. I went in for a tumor removal consultation, but the vet who saw my dog was unhelpful and simply repeated information I had already received from my regular veterinarian. Before even discussing treatment options, they insisted on $5,400 worth of tests -- and then informed me that the vet doesn't perform surgery anyway. I ended up paying $240 just to receive an estimate for tests, with no actual help provided. To make matters worse, my dog was bleeding from a skin tag he had scratched. When I asked if they could cauterize or treat it to stop the bleeding, the assistant told me, "We don't do that here," and the vet just applied gauze and pressure -- the same basic care I had already done at home. By the time I got to my car, my dog was bleeding again. I had to take him to another hospital that actually cared enough to help. Sadly, this place showed no compassion or urgency when my pet needed it most.

    MedVet Chicago

    MedVet Chicago

    (965 reviews)

    Avondale

    I first visited Medvet 10 years ago when my now 10.5 year old French bulldog consumed grapes during…read morea walk. He was hospitalized for a week, which was absolutely terrifying for this new dog owner, but the staff was very kind and patient, regularly assuring me everything was going to be okay. He left the hospital with no permanent kidney damage thanks to their excellent medical care. I visited Medvet with the same pup again about six years ago for an oncologist consultation following two surgeries removing a total of four mast cell tumors. The oncologist was so knowledgeable and compassionate during the initial consultation that I was finally able to relax a bit despite not yet knowing if the cancer has metastasized. After an ultrasound and some bloodwork, he was able to give us the great news - the cancer had not metastasized. My pup has not had any health issues since. Two weeks ago, I rushed my 16.5 year old Bengal cat, Stevie, to Medvet after she suffered what appeared to be a stroke. Her health had been declining over the past year (zero health concerns prior). Our regular vet was concerned she might have cancer after reviewing bloodwork results six months ago, but since I refused to put a 16 year old cat through chemo or radiation, we decided to monitor the situation. The results of the bloodwork at Medvet ruled out every easily treatable illness... cancer likely caused the neuro issue. I'd never had to make the hard decision to compassionately end a fur baby's life, but I believed in my heart it was the best thing for her. And minutes later I questioned my decision... I probably spent an hour going back and forth while sobbing uncontrollably, and the amazing team at medvet counseled me through it all. Ultimately, they made me feel comfortable about my decision to let Stevie go with dignity. Since her passing, I've received multiple cards from the staff at Medvet. Their team truly cares about every patient AND owner. Their compassion and kindness is second to none.

    less than one for the internal medicine department! They killed my dog within a week and half of…read moregoing there for help! When I called to cancel his appointment and the reason they hung up!

    Veterinary Specialty Center - vet - Updated May 2026

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