Veterinary Specialty Center
4.6 (1848) 2051 Waukegan Rd, Bannockburn, IL 60015, USAHours:
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
How to Save Money at Veterinary Specialty Center
Schedule Regular Vet Visits
One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.
Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions
Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.
Pet Insurance
Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.
How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?
Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | AKC | 889 |
| 4.7 | ASPCA | 11,392 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 14,179 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 1,995 |
| 4.4 | Figo | 2,561 |
| 4.7 | Hartville | 164 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 7,475 |
| 4.9 | Lemonade | 781 |
| 3.2 | ManyPets | 2,145 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 487 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,391 |
| 4.3 | Pet Assure | 12 |
| 4.7 | PetPartners | 110 |
| 4.5 | Pets Best | 7,194 |
| 4.3 | Pumpkin | 1,131 |
| 4.7 | Spot | 5,194 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 60,280 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 124 |
Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.
Thinking of insuring your pet?
Get Quotes & CompareGetting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask
Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:
Tell me about your experience with [pet type].
Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.
How do you handle emergencies?
You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.
How do you communicate with pet owners?
Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.
Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?
Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.
Do you have any questions for me about my pet?
This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.
Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?
Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.
Reviews from Google
I highly recommend Veterinary Specialty Center and Dr. Mitch Robbins. My dog, Frank, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and a disc injury at a young age, and Dr. Robbins has provided him with excellent care ever since. Dr. Robbins is a highly skilled veterinarian and surgeon. He is also very compassionate and understanding. He took the time to explain Frank's condition to me in detail and answer all of my questions. He also made sure that I understood the different treatment options available and the risks and benefits of each option. Dr. Robbins continues to monitor Frank's condition and provides him with ongoing care. He is always available to answer my questions and give me advice. I am so grateful for Dr. Robbins and the entire team at Veterinary Specialty Center. They have given Frank a second chance at life, and I am so happy that he is in their care. Here are some specific examples of the amazing care and attention that Frank has received from Dr. Robbins: Dr. Robbins always takes the time to explain everything to me in detail and answer all of my questions.He is very compassionate and understanding. He always puts Frank's needs first. Dr. Robbins continues to monitor Frank's condition and provides him with ongoing care. He is always available to answer my questions and give me advice. I highly recommend Dr. Robbins and Veterinary Specialty Center to anyone who needs specialized care for their pet. Trust me, you will be in good hands.
posted: 09/21/2023
THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!! Veterinary Specialty Center is the only place I will bring my dog if he is sick or unwell. He was hospitalized at VSC for 48 hours after eating grapes and then returned daily for treatments in the hyperbaric chamber, fluids and bloodwork to monitor his kidney and liver values. Dr. Herring and Dr. Vietti are the best of the best and I trust them completely! The personalized care they not only gave to my Louie but also meeting with me daily to go over his bloodwork was so reassuring and something most doctors would never do. They saved Louie (more than once)! I trust them both more than I trust my own doctors. I was given all of the information and advice from them on a day to day basis and was never left in the dark. Truly, Dr Herring and Dr. Vietti are the absolute best doctors by far! Besides the incredible care they gave to my Louie, the nurses, techs, front door staff, cleaning crew and everyone else in between were wonderful! I love everything about VSC and I’ve made it well known on different social media platforms! I wouldn’t go anywhere else! (I can feel the love that Dr. Herring, Dr. Vietti and the staff have for my little Louie! It’s so comforting to know that almost everyone knows Louie and when they walk past him, they have to stop to say hello & give him a little love). I’m so grateful for all of the care he received to bring him back to good health! Thank you to everyone who helped with his care and recovery!!
posted: 08/02/2023
Top tier experience. I don't leave reviews often but if you are in need of emergency/speciality animal care -- look no further. Go here. I initially went to VEG (which also was great but they did not have an ultrasound system available) and they told us to go to VSC. I should have gone to VSC from the start. VSC took AMAZING care of my cat as he was hospitalized for 3 days while very ill. He had a rare infection in his gall bladder/liver causing him to be jaundice and sick and anemic. They literally saved his life and I am so grateful. All of the techs and doctors that worked on his case and that I interacted with were attentive to any questions I had and extremely knowledgable, professional and kind. The facility was clean and well kept and I felt safe knowing my kitty was here for several days. During visiting hours, I was even able to go back and see my cat in the emergency area and sit with him for a while and feed him. I would absolutely 100% recommend VSC to anyone who needs specialty/emergency pet care that can afford this type of treatment. Yes, emergency pet care is very expensive but I was able to use my separate pet insurance company to cover 90% of the costs. It was worth it to me to have my fur baby still by my side and for him to return to being a happy, healthy kitty ❤️ VSC is the best of the best. Pablo says thanks VSC!!!
posted: 10/02/2023
We had to bring our cat in for an er visit because she was extremely sick and had history with chronic illnesses, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to our sweet girl but the compassion and professionalism we received was unmatched and we’ve seen our fair share of veterinarians. They handled everything with so much care and made sure we fully understood every step of her treatment and were on the same page as far as next steps. Our doctor explained everything extremely well and was happy to answer our many many questions. It was an extremely difficult situation but because of the help and kindness we received we were able to look back and be so thankful for everything that was done for our cat Freya. Thank you Dr Emiliano and thank you to everyone else who helped us through such a difficult time.
posted: 09/14/2023
We were referred to Veterinary Specialty Center by our vet for emergency surgery. Within minutes of arriving at VSC, they had our pet (a 3-yr old GSP named Luna) back imaging her abdomen. Within 15 minutes we were discussing the Emergency Doctor regarding the surgery (removal of gallbladder due to rupture), and our options. The Doctor went over the procedure and risks, along with the timing for recovery (if she made it that far). She told us the Surgeon was waiting. After approval, we received a text message that Luna was responding well to anesthesia, and surgery would begin in a few minutes. Within an hour and a half, we received a call from Dr. Robbins letting us know the surgery was successful. We received updates from the Critical Care doctors (Dr. Sharpe, and Dr. Herring) twice a day for the 4 days Luna was in the ICU. They were direct, and honest with us while being empathetic to the emotional roller coaster, having a really sick pet in the ICU can entail. Their communication kept us informed, and involved in the best ways to care for Luna. Luna has since returned to her old self, chasing squirrels and birds, wrestling with her canine brothers, and snuggling at night. She is our miracle child. We are convinced we would have lost her if it weren’t for VSC. Highly Recommend!
posted: 09/13/2023