North Center Animal Hospital, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner

4.7 (141)
1808 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613, USA

Hours:

Monday: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Thursday: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Friday: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Saturday: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at North Center Animal Hospital, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner

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:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 11,414
4.9 Embrace 14,242
4.9 Fetch 2,055
4.4 Figo 2,580
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,156
4.6 MetLife 493
4.8 Nationwide 21,393
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,196
4.3 Pumpkin 1,163
4.7 Spot 5,275
4.9 Trupanion 60,301
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting 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

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Nathan Crawford

We've been coming to North Center Animal for more than 10 years now for my cat Cleo and dog Finley. The care here is exceptional. The front desk and techs are friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. The veterinarians are caring and remarkably skilled. Dr. Locher and Dr. Castillo have been my primary vets over the years, but the entire staff here is top-notch. Your pets are in the best hands at North Center.

posted: 06/17/2023

M K
M K

Love the care team here. They have treated my two adopted stray cats with kindness and competence. They saw my cats when no one else could fit them in for an appointment. I see someone complaining about the costs but hello, have you been to Blue Pearl? Enough said.

posted: 04/08/2023

Philip Larkin

Having moved to Chicago in November of 2022 we were on the lookout for a trustworthy and affordable vet for our dog who unfortunately has had many physical issues. I regard us as truly fortunate to have found Dr. Joshua Locher and his team at North Center Animal Hospital. In all my years of having a dog and using vet services in other cities, Dr. Locher and crew have been absolutely fantastic and supportive for us. Easily the best care we have ever received hands down. I ended up having to make the absolute worst decision for my dog Felix, a decision I struggled to make for months. Dr. Locher was there for us every step of the way. We never got fobbed off to another doctor (although I am sure the other vets at NCAH are great too). He knew how tough our lives had become and he wanted to be there to help us navigate and make the best decision for Felix and our family. Then today I received a handwritten sympathy card with two paw prints of Felix included. What a wonderful doctor and team. Thank you all most sincerely for all the help and support provided - especially our veterinarian Dr. Joshua Locher.

posted: 07/05/2023

Nicole Fister O'Donnell

My love for this team is so strong. My husband and I established care for one of our cats. Our very large, bigger then life, very fluffy dude- Wilson the cat. Over the years he became very sick. They did everything they could to assist. Diet change, medications, etc. We ended up putting him down a few months ago. (It still breaks our hearts to think of him.) We were complete messes in the office that day. The Vet and her staff represented the true definition of compassion, dignity and care. Part of owning and loving a pet is knowing that one day we will need to say goodbye to them. We would not have said goodbye anywhere else then at North Center Animal Hospital. As someone else mentioned, the medications and treatments can be expensive but they are great at breaking down prices and adjusting care if need be. This staff just goes above and beyond for the fur babies (and their humans). Truly exemplary care. Our pets will only go here. (thank you staff!!!)

posted: 01/17/2023

Simon Emerson

I've never been to a better vet. The whole staff was kind and knowledgeable. Everything from scheduling to the actual appointment was easy to understand and you can tell they care. They gave me so much valueble information. I could go on all day and still not say enough to convey how great North Center is

posted: 09/07/2021