Tag Archives: vet

Best Vets in Downers Grove - Elmhurst Animal Care Center

Best Vets in Downers Grove, IL

Keeping your four-legged child bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is of the utmost importance to loving pet parents. At home, you can ensure that your furry baby is happy and healthy through everyday activities, such as:

  • Taking long walks on the beach (or sidewalk)
  • Giving zillions of belly rubs
  • Feeding delicious & nutritious meals
  • Falling asleep on the couch together watching Lassie reruns

In addition to the above, it is essential to find a great Downers Grove, IL vet to care for your pet in sickness and in health. We’ve put together a list of some of the best vets in Downers Grove and its surrounding area to help you get started in your search for Fido’s perfect match!

Elmhurst Animal Care Center

Location: 850 S. Riverside Drive in Elmhurst
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Saturday: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Sunday: Closed
Other Info: You can make an appointment with a specific vet or walk in and take the first vet that is available. Elmhurst Animal Care Center regularly hosts adoption events supporting local shelters

Hinsdale Animal Hospital

Location: 218 W Ogden Ave in Hinsdale
Hours: M-F 7am-8pm (Doctors start at 8am), Sat 7am-3pm (Doctors start at 8am), Sun Closed
Other Info: Hinsdale Animal Hospital has a super friendly staff! I’ve heard a lot of good things from several OUG pet parents that Dr. Ashamalla is amazing.
24 hour emergency care and home visits by appointment

All Creatures Great and Small

Location: 4945 Forest Ave in Downers Grove
Hours: Mon-Thu 8 am – 6 pm, Fri 8 am – 4 pm and Sat 8:30 am – 12 pm
Other Info: All Creatures Great and Small offers services for exotic pets. Doctor available by appointment.

Best of luck choosing a great veterinarian in Downers Grove, IL!

Best Vets in Naperville - Welcome Waggin

Best Vets in Naperville, IL

Keeping your four-legged child bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is of the utmost importance to loving pet parents. At home, you can ensure that your furry baby is happy and healthy through everyday activities, such as:

  • Taking long walks on the beach (or sidewalk)
  • Giving zillions of belly rubs
  • Feeding delicious & nutritious meals
  • Falling asleep on the couch together watching Lassie reruns

In addition to the above, it is essential to find a great Naperville, IL vet to care for your pet in sickness and in health. We’ve put together a list of some of the best vets in Naperville and its surrounding area to help you get started in your search for Fido’s perfect match!

Best Vets in Naperville - Danada

  1. Danada Veterinary Hospital
    10 W. Loop Rd.
    Wheaton, IL 60189
    630-665-6161

    Hours:
    Mon – Fri (7am – 7pm)
    Saturday (7am – 12pm)
    Sunday (closed)

    Danada Veterinary Hospital is a full service companion animal hospital providing comprehensive medical and surgical care for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and other small animals. Danada Veterinary Hospital prides itself on superior medicine in a timely manner within a friendly, clean environment.

  2. Best Vets in Naperville - Ness Exotic

  3. Ness Exotic Wellness Center
    1007 Maple Avenue
    Lisle, IL 60532
    630-737-1281

    Hours:
    Mon – Thurs (9am – 8pm)
    Friday (9am – 6pm)
    Saturday (8am – 2pm)
    Sunday (closed) 

    Ness Exotic Wellness Center provides comprehensive services for birds and exotic pets as well as holistic pet care for dogs and cats. They offer Chiropractic and Acupuncture, along with herbal therapy, homeopathy and various other therapies. They will work with your conventional small animal veterinarian to complement their traditional western therapy with the array of holistic modalities that they offer.

  4. The Welcome Waggin’
    630-699-3113

    Hours:
    Flexible weekday and weekend hours are available by appointment. To schedule home veterinary services, call 630.699.3113 or send an email to: service@thewelcomewaggin.com.

    The Welcome Waggin’ was founded by Dr. Lisa McIntyre with the goal of providing exceptional care and service in your pet’s home environment.
    By minimizing the stress of travel, reducing the likelihood of disease transmission, and observing your pet in its natural surroundings, they are able to help maintain your companion’s optimal health and well-being. Home veterinary care is ideally suited for working professionals, busy parents, multiple pet owners, the elderly or disabled, and owners of animals that become anxious in a hospital setting.

Best of luck choosing a great veterinarian in Naperville, IL!

Best Vets in Chicago

Best Vets in Chicago, IL

Keeping your four-legged child bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is of the utmost importance to loving pet parents. At home, you can ensure that your furry baby is happy and healthy through everyday activities, such as:

  • Taking long walks on the beach (or sidewalk)
  • Giving zillions of belly rubs
  • Feeding delicious & nutritious meals
  • Falling asleep on the couch together watching Lassie reruns

In addition to the above, it is essential to find a great Chicago, IL vet to care for your pet in sickness and in health. We’ve put together a list of some of the best vets in Chicago to help you get started in your search for Fido’s perfect match!

    Best Vets in Chicago - Animal Medical Center

  1. Animal Medical Center of Chicago: Not only does AMC of Chicago do a lot for the rescue community, but they also have the wonderful Molly working at the front desk, former OUG! Pet Sitter extraordinaire! 
    1618 W. Diversey
    773-525-3353
    Open Monday – Saturday
  2. Roscoe Village Animal Hospital: Dr. Rovner at Roscoe Village Animal Hospital is another Vet that lends a hand to the homeless pups of Chicago, and takes great care of the dogs and cats with homes too!
    3131 N. Clybourn
    (773) 549-3131
    Open seven days a week!
  3. Animal Emergency & Treatment Center of Chicago: Unfortunately, our pets do encounter emergencies. OUG! Central Top Dog, Sara, had such an emergency in July of 2012 and the staff at AETC was so kind and compassionate. Open 24/7, this is one of the spots in Chicago to know!
    3927 W. Belmont Ave
    24-Hour Emergency Number: (773) 516-5800
  4. Blum Animal Hospital: Voted Chicago’s favorite pet hospital, OUG! has lots of Pet Parents that trust this hospital in Lincoln Park!
    3219 N. Clark Street
    (773) 327-4446
    Open Monday – Saturday
  5. West Wrigley Animal Hospital: Our very own office pup, Digby, has a major crush on his Vet at West Wrigley Animal Hospital!
    3416 N. Ashland
    773.528.8387
    Open Monday – Saturday

Best of luck choosing a great veterinarian in Chicago, IL!

Table Talk: How to Feed your Pet the Natural & Healthy Way

Guest Blogger:  Many of our pet parents are interested in feeding their furry friends a healthy & natural diet so we thought we’d check in with the experts over at Boulder’s Natural Animal Hospital for some advice.  Boulder’s Natural Animal Hospital is a full service veterinary hospital located in Boulder, CO.

 

If you take some time to think about the trends and changes in the food products you find at your grocery store, you’ll notice that things are very different than they were even 5 years ago.

With more consumers adopting health-conscious and environmentally-conscious eating habits, natural and organic options have sprung up everywhere! Similarly, many companies have introduced ‘healthier’ options such as natural and fortified foods for your pet. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know what foods are right for your pet and what’s just plain hype. Have no fear: in this post, your friends at Boulder’s Natural Animal Hospital would like to help shed some light on the tricky subject of pet nutrition. We’ll discuss some things to look for as well as those to avoid and why, so you can be a savvy shopper and the best possible pet parent. Bon appetit!

Things to Look for

  • AAFCO Approved Foods: The motto of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is  “Feed Safety & Consumer Protection – Over a Century of Partnership & Progress”. This organization certifies pet foods that meet at least the minimum requirements for nutritional content. As such, seeking foods that are approved by the AAFCO is a good baseline. It’s also important to note that the AAFCO has not established official definition for the words ‘holistic’ and ‘organic’. So don’t be fooled by fancy language on the side of a bag.
  • Please Pass the Meat! Many people have made the choice to eliminate the consumption of meat from their diets. Some may also choose to feed their pet’s vegetarian fare. As a pet owner who places your companion’s well-being at the top of your list of priorities, it is imperative to note that dogs and cats are carnivores. Biologically, they need real meat and the proteins that come along with it to thrive. On the same note, Fido and Fluffy have not evolved to utilize grains as a source of nutrition. This means that rice, corn, and other carbohydrates are unhelpful at best and downright dangerous at worst. The only reason they are added to most pet foods is because they are less expensive and make the meal chunkier.
  • Watery Food: Though it may sound a little bit strange, the “waterier” your pet’s food the better. Dogs and cat’s alike need a large amount of water in their diets to stay hydrated. For their more wild relatives, a large amount of their daily water comes not just from drinking, but eating as well. This is because the bodies of prey animals are composed of up to 70% water! Compare that to your standard dry kibble and you might see a problem developing. If possible, feed your pet wet food at least a few times per week, but strive to make the mushy stuff a daily part of their diet if possible.

Things to Avoid

  • Enhanced, Fortified, Blah Blah Blah: If you put our ‘Things to Look for’ list into practice, you can forget all of the hype-filled claims that fortified foods come with. Remember that dogs and cats are biologically programmed to derive everything they need for optimal health from a natural diet. Additives can be harmful whether they present a short term danger or cause complications over time. In dog foods you should strictly avoid any brands that contain BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate, as they are known to be harmful and some are even carcinogens. For both dogs and cats, avoid foods that contain artificial preservatives in favor of those preserved with vitamins E and C.
  • By-products: The first ingredient in your pet’s food should be meat… and we’re talking REAL meat. Remember that your pet is a carnivore by nature and his body is fine-tuned to receive the maximum benefit by processing and using the nutrients from prey animals. Fillers and meat by-products sometimes contains additives that can be harmful to your animal companion. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if the meat isn’t human-grade, you shouldn’t feed it to your pet.
  • Overfeeding: This tip might be a bit different than the others that we’ve discussed so far, but we feel that it is just as important. America’s pets have a weight problem, just like many of our people. The key to a happy and healthy pet is feeding them the right things in the right amounts. Pets don’t have the mechanisms in their minds to turn town a delicious bowl full of food if it’s sitting on the floor in front of them all day. Make sure you feed your pet the proper amount of food for their particular size and breed and you’ll have a much happier camper on your hands.

We hope that you’ve found these tips to be helpful and informative. Some pet parents may decide that trying to navigate the complex world of pet food brands is too risky and preparing a home-cooked diet is the way to go. If you would like to explore the home-feeding option, schedule an appointment with one of the skilled veterinarians at Boulder’s Natural Animal Hospital – just call 303-494-7877.

– The Boulder’s Natural Animal Hospital Staff

www.bouldersnaturalanimal.com

 

 

Doga Anyone?

Out-U-Go! & Boulder’s Natural Animal are once again teaming up to host Boulder’s next awesome outdoor charity event!  Our last event, the Pampered Pooch Spaw Day for Charity, was such a huge success (we raised over $1200!) that we’ve already begun organizing Doga for Charity!  Stay tuned to our Facebook page for the exact date and time, but this awesomely fun and hilarious event will take place this summer outside Boulder’s Natural Animal hospital.

All funds raised will be donated to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

Plan on a day of fun in the sun, canine massage, food and drinks and…. DOGA!

Any pup can participate, no matter how long they are able (or not able) to stay in one place 🙂

The team at Out-U-Go! and Boulder’s Natural Animal are looking forward to keeping everyone posted as more details develop, but based on the level of success we had with the Pampered Pooch Spaw Day, we think you’re in for a treat!!!!

A Local Shout-Out: Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital

I’ve recently gotten in touch with several veterinary clinics in and around the Denver area and we wanted to give a special shout-out to Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital.

Now there are a TON of great vets out there but as we all know, a sick pup or kitty can often be a bit of a strain on the wallet. Unfortunately, for some people out there, a vet visit just might not be in the cards for financial reasons and that’s where Harrison Memorial steps in. Their goal is to “provide quality, comprehensive, and compassionate […] care for the economically disadvantaged.” They want to make sure that all of our furry friends out there at least have the option to receive care. The clinic is also a huge advocate of spaying and neutering in order to lower animal over-population in our country.

In a few weeks, Harrison Memorial will be holding their annual fundraiser gala Mutts and Models! This year’s theme is “Breakfast at Sniffany’s!” What could be more fun than a Canine and Celebrity Fashion Show?! Pups and models alike will be strutting their stuff up there all to benefit underprivileged pets. The fun begins at 7:30pm on Saturday, May 21st, 2011. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit: http://cvmf.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=98. We hope you’ll make it!!

Awesome Fundraiser for Charity! “A Pampered Pooch Spaw Day”

 

 

 

We are thrilled to announce an AWESOME fundraiser for a great cause!  Out-U-Go! and Boulder’s Natural Animal are teaming up to co-host a fun, furry and hilarious event to help raise money for human and pet relief efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

With the help of many other local Boulder businesses, Out-U-G0! and Boulder’s Natural Animal are organizing a Pampered Pooch Spaw Day on April 16th, 2011 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm.  This event will take place outside of Boulder’ Natural Animal in South Boulder.

Bring your best, furry friend and come join us for an afternoon of fun times, tasty treats (for humans and pets), doggy massages, doggy pedicures, doggy nail painting, ice cream, food from the grill, music, laughs and an all around dog gone good time.

A $5 entrance ticket gets you and your pooch full access to our doggy “spaw” and all proceeds will be donated equally to the Red Cross for human help and to World Vets to help the animals affected.  What’s more, Out-U-Go! and Boulder’s Natural Animal will be matching all donations dollar for dollar!!!

If you’re a human, mark your calendars for April 16th, 2011 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm, cruise by Boulder’s Natural Animal in South Boulder for the spectacle that is A Pampered Pooch Spaw Day!  If you’re a dog, just try to remember 🙂

Tales from a Naperville Pet Parent!

Are you ever amazed and shocked at how much you are willing to do for your pet? Like you have this logical sanity that tells you, you won’t spend outlandish amounts of cash at a vet because it’s just a dog, but when confronted with the puppy dog eyes and potential loss of your dog, all logic goes out the window? My husband and I just went through this with our dog, Penny. After throwing up for three days, we went to the vet because now she wasn’t even taking fluids. X-rays (X-rays!) confirmed Penny had a large quantity of something in her stomach. We were certain it wasn’t food. Blood tests were drawn, but since she wouldn’t take in fluids, they were unable to collect a urine sample. Thus, we were sent home with a urine collection tray and instructed to collect a urine sample ourselves.

Unsettled, I went home and searched for hope….on the Internet, of course. Oooh! They have pet prayer blogs. Score. I’m not the best at prayer, but I’m still God-fearing and wanted at least someone praying for her. And incidentally, did you know that there is a patron Saint of dogs!? St. Roch. Note to self: See if bobble-head or hula dancing St. Roch exists for the dog crate…or car dashboard.

So the morning came and Penny was ready to go outside for her morning potty. Commence operation urine sample. How does one collect a urine sample from a dog? Ideally, husband who is dressed in full suit for a wake later that day duck walks behind the dog with aforementioned collection tray waiting for the female dog to squat. You, the neurotic wife, follow behind barefoot and in pajamas, gesturing wildly with suggestions. After contribution has been made, take syringe provided with collection tray and draw the urine from the tray. Deposit into a jar of your choice. Should that be an old jar of baby food from when you hosted a Kappa Delta brunch and your friend brought a child and strained carrots, so be it. Repurposing at its finest.

After vet confirms that blood, urine and all other vitals are fine, begin thorough poop investigation. This is not a fun job because you have neglected to pick up yard poop for the past few weeks because….errr…it’s cold outside. I save my empty, vegan, protein powder jugs for trash poop collection. Wait, doesn’t everyone? After donning a pair of latex gloves, I tried to pep talk myself into the task at hand.  The first method was simply to detach emotionally by taking on an alias of a CSI technician or a dinosaur archeologist. I still wasn’t feeling enthused. So I started narrating the process in my head with an Australian accent. That made the task more bearable. Finally, hurrah! I found the trouble-causing toy that has made its trek successfully through the land of doggy digestion.  Peace and sanity was restored in the kingdom. Now we are on to more important matters, namely finding dashboard saint figurines.

Amy Gausemel , Client of Out-U-Go! Naperville                                                                 Proud pet parent of Penny, a 1-year old Treeing Walker Coonhound