Canine Center
Hours
How to Save on Veterinary Costs at Canine Center
Preventive care
Routine wellness exams can help identify health issues early, often before they become more serious or expensive to treat. Regular checkups are one of the most effective ways to manage long term veterinary costs.
Compare prescription pricing
Some pet medications prescribed at veterinary clinics may also be available through local or online pharmacies. It can be helpful to compare pricing when appropriate to reduce ongoing medication costs.
Consider pet insurance
Pet insurance may help cover a portion of eligible veterinary expenses depending on the plan, including accidents, illnesses, and in some cases preventive care. Coverage details, reimbursement levels, and deductibles vary by provider.
Why Pet Insurance Information Appears on This Page
Looking for information about Canine Center? This page also includes pet insurance resources to help pet parents understand how to prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses.
Veterinary care costs can vary widely depending on the type of visit, treatment, or emergency. Many pet parents explore pet insurance before they need it so they are better prepared when unexpected situations arise.
How to Choose a Pet Insurance Provider
Pet Insurance Review helps pet parents compare insurance providers using verified customer reviews and real-world experiences. Our tools make it easier to evaluate providers based on claims experience, service quality, and overall satisfaction.
We have collected more than 220,000 reviews from pet parents, creating one of the largest independent databases of pet insurance feedback available.
How rankings are determined
Unexpected veterinary expenses can happen at any clinic. The providers below are ranked using verified reviews submitted by real pet parents through Pet Insurance Review. Results reflect overall satisfaction, claims experience, and value based on real world feedback. Rankings are updated regularly as new reviews are submitted.
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | Adoro | 19 |
| 4.5 | AKC | 1,801 |
| 4.4 | ASPCA | 12,228 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,973 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,918 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,868 |
| 4.4 | Hartville | 183 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 11,371 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 833 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,416 |
| 4.7 | MetLife | 11,234 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 25,705 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 121 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 15,347 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,867 |
| 4.7 | Pumpkin | 3,545 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 11,586 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 55,033 |
Compare Pet Insurance Plans
You can compare coverage options from multiple providers to find a plan that fits your budget and your pet’s healthcare needs.
Getting to Know Your Veterinarian
Choosing a veterinarian is an important decision for pet parents. A strong vet relationship is built on trust, communication, and understanding your pet’s individual needs.
Experience
Ask whether the clinic has experience treating your specific type of pet, since care can vary between dogs, cats, and pocket pets.
Emergency Care Procedures
It’s helpful to understand how the clinic handles after-hours emergencies, including whether they provide emergency services or refer to nearby emergency hospitals.
Communication Preferences
Ask how the clinic communicates with pet parents, including updates, test results, and follow up questions.
Breed Specific Health Considerations
Some breeds may be more prone to certain health conditions. Early awareness can help with prevention and early treatment.
Facility Tour
If available, touring the clinic can help you and your pet feel more comfortable before the first visit.
Final Note
Pet care decisions often involve both medical and financial considerations. Having access to trusted veterinary information alongside pet insurance comparisons can help pet parents feel more confident when planning for their pet’s health and wellbeing.
Explore Topics
Reviews from Google
113 reviews
Dr Barcus and staff are great. I'm so happy we found Canine Center. Dr. Barcus is beyond knowledgeable on the newest treatments and fully explains options. We're so grateful for her help in treating our dog in her senior years and making Gracie (and us) comfortable after her cancer diagnosis. I wish we had found Canine Center sooner!
Jul 4, 2023
Love this place! Very clean, warm & welcoming. My dog is happy to enter through the door! Dr. Barcus is great at explaining everything in ways that I understand. Their tech, Lexi is awesome too!
Aug 24, 2023
We are new to IL and I have a GSD. Dilly loves going to the vet and they have been really great with her there. They let her be herself, and she does well with them.
May 1, 2023
We have been going to Canine Center for many years and they have taken care of our dogs from infancy to senior. The care and understanding that is shown by the doctor and all her staff is wonderful. The doctor takes the time to explain diagnoses, procedures and medications so that the client understands the treatment their best friend is receiving. We love that Canine Center does not recommend unnecessary treatments or vaccinations for conditions our pups would never encounter, and the doctor has always been open an honest about the effectiveness of any recommended procedures. Prices for treatment and prescriptions are very reasonable and you can be sure you'll receive any available promotions or manufacturer's discounts on products. The doctor is passionate about dogs as you can see when you first walk into the clinic in Lake Villa, and she is always researching the best for our canine friends. You can find her name on web pages, studies, papers and publications penned over the last 25 years, from Tufts University, to specific breed clubs, dog nutrition, exercise, agility training, and canine enrichment programs and activities. Early morning, evening and weekend appointments are available which fits wonderfully with our busy schedule, and they have accommodated emergency appointments during office hours when our pups have needed them.
Dec 7, 2022
We’ve been going to the Canine Center since it opened in 2005. My husband and I have the highest respect and are so thankful for Dr. Barcus and her staff Cheryl, Michele and Lexi. This past Saturday, I left a message before hours to see if we could bring our loving german shepherd, Nikki, in for diagnosis. She had gone from an active, healthy, 10-year-old to a lethargic pup and had collapsed late the night before. Cheryl called back before they opened and said I should bring her over asap. We arrived shortly after 8 a.m. and the entire staff was on hand waiting to help. Within a short period of time, Dr. Barcus shared her thoughts on a diagnosis and it was the worst we could have imagined – hemangiosarcoma and the spleen had ruptured. We were devasted and in shock. She offered a thorough explanation of the disease, information on treatment and prognosis so we could make our decisions. Dr. Barcus and her staff spent well over 2 hours (on a busy Saturday morning) tending to Nikki, myself and my husband. In the end we decided that putting Nikki to rest was the best decision for her. It was also the hardest decision we’ve ever made. Our beloved pup who had just been her spunky self hours before was no longer going to be a part of our every day life. Again, the staff came to the rescue and allowed us to spend as long as we wanted with Nikki in a beautiful, peaceful, private room. Every single one of them was attentive, compassionate and empathetic to Nikki and our situation. Thank-you all for your time, your kindness, your knowledge and for everything you did for us yesterday morning. I can’t imagine being with anyone else or being anywhere else during such a difficult time. You are all truly the best.
Feb 17, 2019
Veterinarians in Lake Villa, Illinois
Animal Care Center-Lake Villa: Spatz Anton DVM
101 S Milwaukee Ave Ste 105, Lake Villa, IL 60046, USA(847) 356-8387
Animal Hospital of Lake Villa
101 S Milwaukee Ave, Lake Villa, IL 60046, USA(847) 356-8387
Animal Medical Center of Lake Villa
206 N Milwaukee Ave, Lake Villa, IL 60046, USA(224) 444-8653
Blackwell Mobile Vet Services
468 Park Ave Unit 8, Lake Villa, IL 60046, USA(847) 533-8387
Canine Center
34740 N. US Hwy 45, Lake Villa, IL 60046, USA(847) 986-3644