I had been a customer for over 5 years, watching numerous staff changes (which already should have been a red flag) - but my recent experience has been an absolute disaster. I had to call multiple times for them to give me instructions and a drop off time for my cat's dental surgery - which was no surprise since I've had to remind them to fill prescriptions in the past few months. When they finally responded, they left off the drop off time. They didn't tell me the drop off time until minutes before it happened, and when I requested to delay it so she could take her pre-appointment meds, they declined. Not wanting to throw away my $500 deposit, I took her anyway. Then, when she developed constipation from her pain meds, instead of advising me on how to manage her pain, they consulted a different vet at the practice who wanted me to bring her in for more tests. I wish I'd thrown away the deposit just to avoid this vet. If this is how they treat their long-term clients nowadays, I would hate to be a new customer. read more

If you love your pet, AVOID this place. I saw a lot of concerning reviews for dogs, and wanted to add my sweet sweet cat's experience with the clinic. Initially, I thought my cat was just being a nervous boy because he gets anxious around vets. The first time Dr. Joshi and her techs took my cat to the back room to draw blood and urine, I don't know what they did to him, but he came out quaking and would not move from under the chair. Then there were obscene sums of money thrown around for unnecessary vaccinations and tooth treatments (my cat has fine teeth and the new vet confirmed that). At some point the food supplements for teeth were going to cost us $40/month! Not to mention that visit costs, vaccinations, and unnecessary and traumatic diagnostic tests were starting to get closer to $1000/year for a healthy cat! When I told them that this was a lot of money and asked to spread the treatment across the year, so I could manage the costs, Dr. Joshi recommended I get a credit card to cover my pet's care. Which she conveniently had all the information for and was ready to sign me up right there and there for it! I felt immense pressure to do it from Dr. Joshi. So uncomfortable. The last straw was when Dr. Joshi and her helper put my sweet cat who never shows any signs of aggression into what can only be described as a straight jacket and hoisted a leather Hannibal Lecter style mask on him to draw blood. At that point my cat was on the verge of mental breakdown shaking violently and crying. I felt so bad that I let these people get this far. I told them that we were done and to release my cat. We never went back. What an unprofessional clown show. I went to a new vet who was super gentle and said that there was no need for most of what Dr. Joshi was trying to push on my cat. The visit costs went way down and my cat is way happier now that he doesn't have to experience all this stress. read more

Wagnolia vet is an overpriced veterinary clinic, completely illiterate to dog behavior who concerns themselves with padding your bill with expensive sedatives and meal supplements than addressing the care of one's pet. My dog is one of the sweetest, kindest and friendliest dogs in the world. He had the misfortune of being a puppy in the pandemic. Wagnolia from the beginning of his treatments, beginning at around 8 weeks old, chose to have a Covid policy where they removed your pet from your care by throwing a rope leash around their neck and dragging them inside the building. Think if a human doctor did that to a child, would that be acceptable? After visiting wagnolia for the 1 million vaccinations they require, my dog has clearly associated this vet office with this traumatic memory. We have continued going to this overpriced vet for three years. After a check up the other day, the vet, Dr. Joshi, conversed with me reasonably about his anxiety with the vet. When giving the exam, the vet and her assistant cornered my 25 lb dog on a metal table, restraining him from behind, and wondered why he may be nervous. She agreed that the time before, when meeting a vet who had not been seeing him during those traumatic visits, my dogs rapport was noted as good. I said that he clearly associated her with a traumatic experience and she agreed we should work to have him come more frequently to the vets office. My dogs nervous reaction was not violent, it was simply an indication that they were handling him incorrectly. Has she simply let me stand by the table, with her checking him, the exam would have been simple. Would you be calm if 3 7 foot tall men circled you on a metal table. She diagnosed him with an ear infection and told me I could pick up the medicines later that day. Not to my surprise, in true wagnolia fashion, I received an email from wagnolia a day later, asking me to add a $100 a month anxiety medicine, an expensive dental supplement, and the ear medicine (which I agreed to) to my dogs treatment. After my over $200 yearly checkup, and paying $40 for an ear test, which probably was never completed but just diagnosed for money, I was not surprised to see them increasing their payday. When I said I would not be giving him the anxiety medicine, because it is solely attached to the 1 time a year we have a vet visit, Emma, who is about the most inept customer care person I have encountered, suggested that if I couldn't visit the vets office three times a week with my dog so he got used to the vet, I should consider finding a new veterinarian. This is simply unacceptable. Vets are supposed to be experts in pet care. If one can't realize that you are the cause of trauma, and you want to sedate a dog so they can visit, you should have your vets license revoked. Also, if the dog has no violent reaction and was perfectly calm when you were not enclosing him on a metal table, maybe find a way to adapt. Don't expect the animal to adapt to your incompetence. It's a dog. Don't take your pets to Wagnolia. I should have transferred to Duke Animal Hospital long ago like everyone recommended. read more

Read the room of these reviews The owners of the Vet are the most inept "Vets" in Chicago The techs have zero ability to convey a constructive conversation regarding your animal's care They will go out of their way to "recommend" the most random treatment to simply add an additional charge. They will never consider you a person with an acute pet issue, you're simply an open checkbook read more

Dr. Joshi and the team at Wagnolia have been wonderful for both of my dogs. We came to Chicago knowing that both girls had complicated medical histories, and we were nervous about finding a vet who would be a good fit. Working with Dr. Joshi over the past few years has been a game changer. She recommended many preventative measures that have kept both girls healthier and happier, and have significantly lessened the chronic ear and skin infections they both previously experienced. I wholeheartedly recommend! read more

I am getting a puppy and am looking for a new vet, as my old vet is retiring. I asked for a quick chat with Dr. Joshi, to see if this was the practice for me. After twelve days, an administrator got back to me to say I would have to pay $35 for the privilege of talking to the vet to help decide whether to start a fifteen year relationship where I paid thousands of dollars to this person for their care. In contrast, Uptown Animal Hospital and Boulevards Vet both got back to me within twenty-four hours and were both very friendly. If Wagnolia treats me this carelessly, how would they treat my puppy? No thanks! read more

Dr. Joshi was excellent. I was a tad nervous about my visit with my cat because I had a bad experience with another vet 4 years ago that ended with the loss of my cat. I haven't been a to a vet since, but I know my senior cat needs some love and care. Dr. Joshi was so tender and loveable with my cat and they were very patient with him as well. My cat wasn't able to complete some of the blood work due to him being too nervous - but we may come back for other things. The location is decent as well, you can find parking close by - which is really nice. I recommend this place since it's filled with such nice people who seem to truly love and respect animals! :) read more

When my vet of 14 years recently retired, I was nervous about finding a new one. We are extremely happy to have found Dr. Joshi. Dr. Joshi has been amazing with my almost 15 year old Husky Golden girl. Her examination was VERY comprehensive, as she took the time to thoroughly evaluate all of Cleo's health issues. Dr. Joshi's education, experience, and knowledge are very impressive and she clearly loves her profession. She followed through with emails and her awesome technicians showed us the cost options associated with the proposed treatment plan. Best of all, this is the first time Cleo has not been stressed out at an animal hospital. read more

I love Wagnolia. My rescue has needed a lot of care, patience, and attention since I got her a year ago, and the entire staff here is supportive and attentive... even when I leave three rambling, worried voicemails in the middle of the night. (I really didn't think I'd be *that* pet owner, yet it happened pretty much instantaneously when I got my dog!) I always know my pup is in good hands (even if she is less sure). The vets have been super patient and tuned into her needs, and it's worked. Her attitude toward vet visits has improved significantly. Dr. Baehr has really taken the time to help me understand the different options in so many facets of Pepper's care, and I couldn't be more grateful. The confidence that both I and the vet can get her the best care she needs is so important! read more

Dr Joshi is so helpful and loving. Honestly, I wish I liked my own doctor as much as I love my dog's vet.

After an unfortunate experience with another local vet, I did some research and decided to go with Wagnolia. I so appreciated the ability to see my dog, despite Covid, quickly. Not only that, both Dr. Stecher and Dr. Joshi gave detailed, comprehensive care plans. I appreciate the positivity and the endless knowledge they've bestowed on me. So far, they are also pretty affordable, given we're in Chicago. Thank you so much. read more

I am so disgusted with this business that I am leaving my first ever Yelp review. I use the word business instead of clinic because that is simply how they present themselves. After nearly a couple years of questionable service with experiences similar to those of other reviewers regarding dishonest practices and pricing, we have to finally draw the line at causing harm to my dog. We brought our healthy Great Pyrenees in for a regular annual check up, shots, and hygienic trim. Wagnolia does not allow owners to be present during any of these services. When our dog was returned to us, she was in complete panic. It wasn't until we got home that evening when we realized that it was because they had shaved her entire groin and back area so closely that patches of skin were missing. She was absolutely miserable, refusing to walk, panting uncontrollably, and barely able to eat or drink. When we called Wagnolia the next day their phones were not working. We were able to get an appointment 3 days later. When we arrived to the appointment we were greeted at the door by an assistant to whom we tried explaining the reason we were back was because of an apparent mistake that was made during our previous appointment that has left our dog in serious pain. She was immediately defensive and abrasive. In a particularly unprofessional tone, she told us that they did not cause this issue and that Ellie would not be seen unless we paid for another examination fee in addition to any medications or other procedures she might require. We found this unacceptable considering that the reason we were back was due to the poor clinical judgement and execution of treatment on the part of Dr. Joshi and her staff. The woman contradicted herself several times, stating that they did not cause the sores but also stated that because we requested a sani-shave that they were not liable for the mistakes. I understand that this assistant was just doing as she was told, but she was clearly unequipped to be put in the position of handling this situation. Meanwhile, Dr. Joshi remained inside, refusing to involve herself in the matter. As I was expressing my disgust to this assistant she seemed pleased to inform me that no amount of negative online reviews will make a difference to them. It wasn't until other owners began to arrive and witness what was happening that Dr. Joshi decided to intervene. She made a petty attempt to claim that my behavior was distressing for the only other customer waiting on the patio. Although my behavior was far from aggressive or erratic, I am glad that another customer got to witness this entire interaction. I wish all of Wagnolia's customers could have been in line that day to see the exposed values of this unethical business. Thankfully, GoodVets Uptown was very understanding about the position we were in and was able to see Ellie. They were in direct disagreement with Wagnolia's claims and Ellie was able to receive the attention and care that she needed. read more

I'm surprised Dr. Joshi doesn't send a bill to everyone who has left a negative review for the time she has to spend defending her unethical business. My dog entered her clinic healthy and left in serious condition. There was no acute change in her health status until this clinic botched a simple procedure, for which they refused to take any accountability. Dr. Joshi will say otherwise in her response below. But just know that other more reputable vet clinics have examined, treated for Wagnolia's mistakes, and disagreed with Dr. Joshi's claims. In fact, Dr. Joshi insisted that my dog required a dental surgery costing nearly $2000. This decision was not supported by any of the other doctors. Interestingly if you scroll below, you will find that this is not the first time Dr. Joshi has attempted to pressure her customers into putting their dog through this unnecessary surgery. read more

I could not be more pleased with the care my puppy received today at Wagnolia (and I should note that this is during COVID-19)! I was able to drop him off and pick him up safely for his exam and vaccinations and it is so clear that he loved the technicians and that they cared for him too. Dr. Baehr spent upwards of 20min on the phone carefully explaining his exam, the vaccination schedule, and listening intently/ responding kindly and clearly to every question I had. I imagine that if I had more questions she would not have hesitated to walk me through them as well - I wish doctors for people were this stellar! While I have met no one in person yet, it is clear this office has a true love for animals and their care. If this was the attention I received for a very healthy pup, I am happy to know that should there ever be an emergency he will be in the best of hands. I am so grateful to the entire team for their care and patience! read more

Caring, funny, and very willing to explain diagnoses and procedures. I took my cat here after he developed a cough out of nowhere. After some scans and bloodwork, he was diagnosed with feline asthma and I was given a treatment plan for him. Dr. Joshi and tech Genesis were super willing to explain treatments to me and when I came to pick up my prescriptions, Paige and Cassie were super helpful at the front desk. No question is too silly or repetitive, it seems and nothing feels rushed. My invoices were explained pre-payment which was helpful and making follow-up appointments was really easy. It's nice to feel like I'm not "just a number" in Dr. Joshi's practice (especially when she and her team are treating my fur-baby)! read more

I had a great experience taking my two cats in for a routine checkup. My cats are very shy and anxious when they have to leave the apartment so I was really nervous to take them for their appointment. However, Dr. Joshi was extremely kind, professional, and genuine, and my cats warmed right up to her! It's clear that Dr. Joshi loves animals and passionate about her work. Unlike other vet appointments I'd been to in the past, my appointment at Wagnolia didn't feel rushed and she took plenty of time to explain her recommendations and answer all the questions I had. She was very trustworthy and I felt that she genuinely cared about the well-being of my cats. She even sent me home with articles to consider about easing their anxiety and how to schedule their meals. I'd highly recommend Wagnolia for anyone looking for a new vet, they're a great addition to the neighborhood! read more

I brought my older cat in for a cough she developed, and the staff was as nice as could be. Everyone was super-attentive while we were there, and the follow-up was second to none. the interior was very nice as well, with better than average wait times. Sadly, my cat's diagnosis was lung cancer. The doctor was very sweet about the whole thing. Highly recommend. read more

Kinda feels like they're stretching out visits into repeat appts to make more money. Either there is a lack of internal communication in the office which leads to me getting incorrect or incomplete information, or they're lightly bilking their clients. read more

I changed to this vet in January as I wanted to find a vet that was not aligned with a major chain. I thought an independent would be better. The vet visit was fine though I waited a very long time (a couple hours) before we were done. Most of the wait problem was evident when I met the extremely long winded vet who over explained everything. Basically someone who likes the sound of her own voice a lot. That being said, I was overall happy with the vet visit. My dogs were healthy though one of my dogs has a skin condition which is treated by apoquel. This was not new, and I had placed an order with 1800petmeds prior to the vet visit (as I had done numerous times before with my prior vet) to have the apoquel refilled after the new vet visit. Instead of approving the meds through 1800petmeds, the vet dispensed the meds that day through their pharmacy without giving me any choice in the matter. I thought it was odd (and more expensive), but I thought "I guess they assumed I needed them immediately" and didn't give it another thought. Now months later, when I tried to refill the prescription through 1800petmeds, I got a message from the vet saying I had to use their online pharmacy. I checked out the pricing and it is still more expensive. After waiting two days, I called and left a message saying please approve my prescription through 1800petmeds... no response but also no approval. I called today (now five days after requesting the prescription) and I'm told that they only approve prescriptions out of their online pharmacy due to quality concerns at online pharmacies. As though the pharmacies are not licensed by the government, but instead by my veterinarian. I also wasn't requesting medication from Joe's roadside pet pharmacy. It is through a nationally recognized veterinary pharmacy. The bottom line is that they get a cut of pharmacy sales through their online pharmacy, not through 1800petmeds. Now I have a limited supply of medication due to the delay, but they insist I pick up a written prescription as they will only approve online pharmacy requests through the one that generates revenue for their practice. If your vet's revenue is so heavily associated with the sale of meds, how are you to trust that all prescribed meds are necessary for your dog's health and not just the vet's pocketbook? In this case, it's clear what my vet's motivations are. Shameful... their concerns are only with their wealth and not the health of the dog. Otherwise I wouldn't be waiting to find this out five days later when I have limited supply of my dog's meds. I'll be looking for a new vet and I suggest you do the same! read more

I would not go here if you value your time. My dog never had any issues with previous veterinarians until we came here. An annual wellness visit becomes 2-3 visits because the vet refuses to draw blood and administer vaccines during the same visit. I understand COVID protocols are in place, however, this "business" does not let pet parents accompany their pet children to provide comfort. We are two years into the pandemic and I am fully vaccinated / tested negative within 72 hours. I even offered to wear a new N95. My dog took Trazodone and still they wanted to spread things out across multiple visits. Wagnolia will not submit prescriptions to reputable online pharmacies like 1-800 Pet Meds. They won't e-prescribe, call the pharmacy, or mail in the prescription. You have to request a printed copy and then mail it yourself. My dog takes Simparica Trio (fleas, ticks, heart worms) which costs $100 more if you order from the Wagnolia pharmacy. Pretty obvious to me that they're trying to steer business their way because they up-charge necessary medications. They also refuse to see my dog without taking Trazodone first, which again, was never a thing with previous vets. How convenient that they sell Trazodone there! My dog and I have come here 5+ times and I have yet to meet the doctor. They make you wait outside (rain, snow, or shine) and then multiple people will call you during the visit. You can see them through the windows... First the vet, then the office manager, then the clerk. I work a very demanding job and have other responsibilities. I cannot afford to take multiple afternoons off and Wagnolia does not offer weekend appointments. Today was our last time going there. We will be switching vets. If you value your time and want to accompany your pet during their visit, I would not recommend this place. If you have nothing better to do and enjoy getting ripped off by a "business" that appears to value money above all else, go to Wagnolia. read more

We have taken our dogs for regular check-ups to Dr. Joshi. She and her staff are very caring and professional. We also had a tooth extraction done for one of our dogs there and Dr. Joshi explained the procedure and answered all our questions before surgery. We will continue to use this clinic and we highly recommend them for their expertise and true love for animals. read more

We recently moved to the area from the suburbs and decided to take advantage of the $1 new patient exam Wagnolia Vet was offering. The office is nice and clean and the staff is friendly but a little slow moving. Our healthy dogs were examined (it took over an hour and a half for the first dog and about an hour for the second). The assistant proceeded to list off all of the tests and vaccines that our dogs needed as well as that one of our dogs needed a tooth pulled immediately as it could pose a serious risk to her health if not handled within 4 weeks. Taking this very seriously, we got the necessary pre-anesthesia bloodwork done and asked for an estimate on the cost of one back tooth removal. They quoted us "anywhere between $800-$1200". Before making an appointment with Wagnolia, we called our old vet to compare pricing. They quoted us $375-$500 and we decided to make our appointment in the suburbs. This morning I arrived at our vet in the suburbs for the surgery (tooth removal). The vet took our dog back and almost immediately asked me to come back with her to show me something. She explained to me that our dog was not at risk for infection in any way, that while there was a small crack - her tooth was not loose and there was no inflammation or sensitivity. She continued to say that she could not ethically remove a well rooted, healthy tooth in good conscious as it could pose an actual, more serious health risk for our dog. The few times we've been to Wagnolia the last 2 months I have always felt they are trying to up-sell us, but to me, telling us an (extremely expensive) procedure needs to be done within 30 days or are dog could get a brain infection and die...just to make a quick buck... is unacceptable and I feel inclined to share. If you're looking for vaccines or a nail trim in the area, it's a convenient place to go. Otherwise, I would not recommend. I doubt we will be back. read more

Dr. Joshi and her team are wonderfully caring people who go above and beyond. What really stands out to me is the amount of time Dr. Joshi spends with you in the exam room. She has consistently taken the time to thoroughly explain any diagnosis and answer any question I have had. Even more than that, she also makes herself available via email and phone to follow up. I've never had a vet spend 20 minutes on the phone with me going over test results in detail but Dr. Joshi has done it on multiple occasions. Thank you for the care you provide to our animals! read more

My dogs have been treated by Dr. Joshi since 2013. Positively thrilled she opened her own practice, Wagnolia. Dr. Joshi is an extremely professional, COMPASSIONATE, wonderful veterinary doctor. I recently had to release my beloved 16-year old dog from this world. From my initial hysterical phone call to the process itself I couldn't have sought more humane or compassionate care. At one point, she took my hand in hers as it was the end and I was a basket case. Everyone at Wagnolia is so kind. Do not hesitate to take your companion here. I trust Dr. Joshi - which to me is everything. I hope you will seek out her help. read more

I've been taking my "elderly" dog to Pet's First in Boystown since I got him 3 years ago. I learned more about my dog's health in an hour at Wagnolia more than I did at 3 years at Pet's First. He has several different health issues that had not fully been addressed and I feel terrible that I hadn't gotten him better help before. I definitely recommend Dr Joshi for older pets with mobility issues as they immediately suggested I give him injections that were never presented to me as a remedy before and I think I'm going to see real improvement rather than making him sick from oral medications that had been prescribed in the past. I can see why a new patient would think that they are "upselling" treatments as mentioned in the negative review below, however, I have worked in the pet industry for many years and have heard nothing but good things about Dr Joshi from people that know their stuff. I think that she is just more thorough than pet parents may be used to so it may feel overwhelming at first. In addition, their exam fee is much lower than average and so if you just want a consultation it's definitely worth it. read more

My favorite vet clinic in Chicago! Dr. Joshi and Hannah performed a dental cleaning on my cat yesterday. My cat typically does not recover from anesthesia very well and I'm quick to become a very nervous cat mom. My cat has a history of horrible dental problems but Dr. Joshi was very thorough and discussed what to watch out for and how to keep my cat's teeth healthy over the coming years. I truly appreciate the care and kindness they showed to us yesterday and I strongly recommend this clinic to everyone in the area. read more