VCA Chicago North Animal Hospital
4.2 (237) 3631 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, USAHours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
How to Save Money at VCA Chicago North 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 | 12,067 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,675 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,109 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,814 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 179 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,919 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 819 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,413 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 7,195 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,418 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 120 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 14,554 |
| 4.8 | Pumpkin | 2,913 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 10,498 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 58,886 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,601 |
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
VCA Chicago North has always been so wonderful with our senior dog Kensley. We’ve been coming here for the last 4 years and are on the CareClub plan and everything has been very affordable in comparison to other vets. Kensley has had all of her routine checkups, vaccines and dentals here with great care from all of the staff. As a nearly 15 year old dog with chronic issues she has higher support needs & the front desk staff is wonderful and so helpful, especially Margie & Yaneli, as well as all the techs, assistants and Doctors. We LOVE Dr. Egan & also Dr. Hunt! Everyone here goes above and beyond for miss Kensley and we couldn’t be more appreciative. We’ve never had a vet that made it more easy to communicate and receive care than VCA Chicago North Animal Hospital. Thank you everyone, for taking such good care of our girl!
posted: 10/15/2025
We have had only positive interactions with VCA Chicago North with our 10-month old puppy. We are seen promptly upon arrival for appointments and it’s easy to get an urgent appointment when needed. Dr. Hunt and the vet techs and front desk staff are so sweet to our rambunctious pup and know how to handle him. Our calls are answered quickly, our concerns are taken seriously, and they have needed medications ready promptly. I’m an anxious dog parent and I always feel supported by the staff here. He gets so excited when we pull up!
posted: 01/06/2026
We switched from another VCA location in hopes to find a vet we felt for our needs better. We see Dr Hunt and she is so kind, patient and caring. She takes the time to listen to my concerns and ensures all our questions are answered. All the tech here have been wonderful as well, so glad we switched to VCA North.
posted: 01/02/2026
The worst service ever. Waited over an hour for one vaccine. Then they charged me $214 for a doctors visit and a vaccine. I said what doctors visit, my dog just got a vaccine. She said but the doctor came in and took vitals. I’m already confused because why does my dog need vitals taken for a vaccine. She said you booked it online that is why it’s with a doctor and not just a technician. So I asked how would I know that if it doesn’t say anywhere? Online it asks you what service you want and I chose vaccine that’s it. He said yeah it doesn’t say anywhere online that you should call us if you just want a vaccine…….. my question was how would I know I need to call vs book online there is no note or anything….. just a scam. Moving to a different vet
posted: 01/22/2026
This vet practice recently changed their policies regarding sick visits. They used to hold several appointment slots a day for sick pets, but they no longer do. If you choose this practice for your pet, you will likely need to take your pet to an emergency vet at some point. In my opinion, this is clearly financially motivated, and I will be seeking out a different vet for my cat.
posted: 07/24/2025
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