Lakeside Spears Animal Hospital
4.1 (540) 2001 Sweets Dr, Carbondale, IL 62902, USAHours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
How to Save Money at Lakeside Spears Animal Hospital
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 | 895 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,059 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 20,318 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 27,453 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,791 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 177 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,767 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 815 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,428 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 5,950 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,417 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.4 | PetPartners | 117 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 14,149 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 2,574 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 9,917 |
| 4.8 | Trupanion | 62,992 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,475 |
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
Unfortunately our first trip to Lakeside was when we were saying goodbye to our beloved pup. The staff handled the entire situation with compassion, kindness, and grace. They were so attentive and gave us the space we needed during this extremely difficult time. They were lovely, and helped us provide the best and most loving end we could.
posted: 05/12/2025
I called at 11:40 pm with a medical emergency and I was told to drive 2 hours away for help. Clearly they are stating on their time they are open until midnight but was informed they close at 11 pm. I explained I felt my dog was needing help and it was pretty plain no one there cared, just passing me off telling me there’s a clinic that’s a two hour drive up near St Louis rather than any offer to help me .. NOT knowledgeable on toxins either! If I could give NO stars I would!
posted: 06/08/2025
I went there about three years ago with my cat, who was not eating and very sick. They took her in the back where i could not see what they were doing, said they gave her fluids. Then they said she pooped, which I don't think she did and charged me for clean up. The bill was almost $400 and she died the next day. Meanwhile i drove there at 11pm with my 6month old baby because I loved this cat so much just for her to die and me waste $400 i could have spent on food for my child.
posted: 06/27/2025
I called in an extreme time of need late at night, wasn't a patient and they took the absolute best care of Mr. Zippy until the end. Fantasic Vet and crew!!! - Thank you so much
posted: 01/06/2025
They shouldn’t list they take emergencies and are an urgent care. I had an emergency with my dog at 9pm last night and called, so they’d know I was coming in, and I was told not to. I was rudely told they don’t have the staffing and there’s nothing they can do, without even accessing the situation. She said I needed to go to the closest animal hospital 2 hours away. Couldn’t give me a name or specific city, nothing. Extremely rude and unhelpful, not a touch of sympathy. I would not recommend. We rushed to Hawthorne Animal Hospital after calling someone to look up the nearest one for us, and they were AMAZING and saved our boy no matter how busy they were!
posted: 05/03/2025
Veterinarians in Carbondale, Illinois
Central Hospital For Animals - Carbondale
695 N Giant City Rd #3, Carbondale, IL 62902, USA(618) 749-8262
Greenwell Lee Ann DVM
3014 S Illinois Ave, Carbondale, IL 62903, USA(618) 457-4813
Lakeside Spears Animal Hospital
2001 Sweets Dr, Carbondale, IL 62902, USA(618) 552-8691
Lakeside Veterinary Clinic
2001 Sweets Dr, Carbondale, IL 62902, USA(618) 942-2777
Lakeside Veterinary Hospital
2001 Sweets Dr, Carbondale, IL 62902, USA(618) 529-2236
Spears Animal Hospital
3014 S Illinois Ave, Carbondale, IL 62903, USA(618) 552-8691
Striegel Animal Hospital
2701 W Striegel Rd, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA(618) 457-4133