Dr. Barcus and her team are excellent. I have been bringing my dogs there since around 2010. They always take time to answer all my questions and give me great advice. read more

Dr. Barcus and her team have been a blessing to our family for years. She saved my parent's dog's lives twice. When it comes to caring for the individual dog, there is no better veterinarian in Lake County. Highly recommend. read more

I just recently adopted a new puppy and decided to get him established with the Canine Center in Lake Villa (near Grayslake/Third Lake). The office is bright with big windows and large exam rooms. The staff is friendly and Dr. Barcus is very knowledgeable and doesn't seem overly rushed to just push you out. She took the time to discuss my puppy, give her recommendations on food, training, and overall care. The prices seem reasonable and while I didn't think too much about it at first, I kinda like that she specializes in just dogs. read more

I found this place unintentionally and am glad that I did! Dr. Barkus (Yes, that's her name and perfectly fitting) has been excellent with my dog Ryno. I have a German Shorthaired Pointer that she is all too familiar with. She understands the requirements of this type of hunting dog. Ryno hates going to the vet but every time he comes in here, his tail is wagging and he instantly finds a calmness. I will continue to bring my dog here as he is treated well and I am kept well informed. read more

Dr. Barcus and her staff are fantastic! Always very helpful and informative. We've been taking our dogs here for years.

Dr Barkus is phenomenal ! She was the first vet in 5 years who took the time to observe, analyze and diagnose our Vizsla to find the partial seizures he was experiencing regularly. The traumatic anxiety and stress he (and we) suffered have now been eliminated ! What other vets dismissed as"anxiety" was a real issue that COULD be solved and Dr B was the ONLY ONE who took the time to help him with this ! I've never had a vet who calls directly to check up on our animals - so impressive ! The staff follows up after any appt to make sure our dogs doing well ! Dr B and her staff are kind, caring & knowledgeable! I'm on a very tight income and Dr Barkus helped me to find a med that would work, at a price I could afford - this saved me from having to give up our dog which we love with all our hearts !! read more

I took dogs to Dr. Barcus 10 years ago and found that she was a knowledgeable and informative chiropractic vet. My dogs have only needed routine care since then. I travel a lot in a motor home so have used vets all over the USA for this routine care. I have never had the level of cruel treatment anywhere else but here. I took my extremely shy dog to Dr. Barcus this week. I was asked if my dog did better with me present or away from me. I replied that she is shy and would be better with me. A vet tech came to get her for a blood draw (no owners allowed) and DRAGGED my dog down the long hallway. My dog weighs 17# and could have been carried or I could have been asked to take her to the procedure room but, no, she was dragged down the hall. Now, my shy dog who I have spent serious money on rehabilitation classes for and was improving, has regressed to worse than she ever was. Thanks for nothing to the staff at Canine Center. When I told Dr. Barkus about this incident her attitude was uncaring and brusque. She told me it would be discussed at the next staff meeting. So, what do I do with a ruined dog? read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about the Canine Center! I've been bring my Maltese here for 14 years and I believe part of his long, healthy life is due to the vast knowledge of Dr. Barcus. I love that she not only educates you about the health of your dog, but she also stresses the importance of nutrition and healthy dog food choices. Dr. Barcus and her staff always make each visit pleasant and treat my dog with care and compassion. read more

I thought Dr Barkus was great, absolutely loved her approach to taking care of dogs. The same thing cannot be said of her staff. They are disorganized. I took my last dog there. The doctor diagnosed a tumor in my dog's throat. They said I could have it biopsied, which I asked for them to do. Said it would be a few days for the result and would call me. After them not calling for 2 weeks, I called them and that's how I got the news my dog had cancer. I thought it extremely insensitive that for this particular result, they never called. It made the experience of losing my dog even worse. A friend who has taken her dogs there has made similar comments. read more

I cannot say enough about Dr. Barcus and her staff. Both of my small dogs (Rocco and Diesel) have been under her care since the 1st day I got them. I have called at all different times, even after hours and have gotten a call back from Dr Barcus in less than 30 minutes, who knows my dog by name and has talked me off of the panicked ledge(if you are a 1st time puppy owner you will understand what I mean by the panicked ledge!) numerous times. I love that they have holistic healthier food and she is not about unnecessary tests or surgeries. I trust her completely with both of my fur babies health/ well being and will continue the 45-1 hour drive to have my dogs see her. read more

Words cannot express how grateful I am to have found Dr Barcus and her team! They have saved me time, money, and a lot of stress in the year I've been going there. My dogs have been in a few fights with each other that have required stitches or surgery which is a terrifying thing- but she has always been able to fit my dogs in at the last minute and they do not overbook themselves. In my moments of fear they knew exactly how to handle each situation and walked me through how to care for my dogs- and have given my dogs the BEST quality care. What I appreciate most is that they are not judgmental which can be hard to find. They do not push unnecessary vaccines and are EXTREMELY reasonably priced. What could've set me back at least $1000 at an Emergency vet visit, did not break the bank at all here. They care- and are not in the interest of ripping off the dog and cat parents out there. Just keeping our fur babies healthy. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I tell everyone about this wonderful team. read more

After nearly 30 years with my previous Vet near Chicago, I decided to look for someone closer to where I was now living. I am extremely thankful to have found Dr. Barcus and the Canine Center! She is so down to earth, knowledgable and compassionate. They are actively involved with the community (this year's project is to help equip local fire departments with rescue kits for pets involved in house fires). I know she will do whatever must be done without jeopardizing my pet's health. She will not create unnecessary expenses but will fully explain all options. She is the best of the best and everything I could hope for in a Vet. There is no way to describe the peace of mind that comes with knowing my pet is receiving the best care possible. read more

Dr. Barcus has done an excellent job with my dogs, always performing research and going the extra mile for uncommon illnesses. She's also not afraid to say when more expertise is needed and give a referral, unlike some vets who get in over their heads. I would definitely recommend her! read more

I just wrote this review and then noticed that I did a similar review about five years ago. My feeling are the same and even more magnified since Dr. Barcus has been treating our girl for a longer period.... here is the update: Dr. Barcus is EXCEPTIONAL. She gives you her full attention and a lot of time. Dr. Barcus is an excellent diagnostician, and continues to keep up with the most current procedures, tests, medications and research studies. I appreciate that she is not a fan of over medicating. Her offices are bright, clean and her staff is very friendly. There is a nice selection of food, treats and toys, that are reasonably priced. We've been bringing our (almost 7 year old) Airedale to The Canine Center and trust Dr. B completely. I also appreciate the follow up that they do if they are treating your dog. We have recommended The Canine Center to a number of our friends who have thanked us many times. TEN STARS ... HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

I just wanted to follow up, after bringing my beloved dog here several more times. The entire staff are very friendly and dedicated, and they go the extra mile to provide great, compassionate service. They have a great low-stress approach to handling, and they've been very respectful of my dog's reactivity to other dogs by ensuring that she's at a safe distance from other dogs and doesn't feel stressed. Dr. Barcus is very knowledgeable and stays up-to-date on the latest information. She provides good, practical advise. None of the staff give you the feeling that they're trying to upsell you on anything, and they provide the info you need to make an informed decision about your pet's care. The clinic follows AAHA's recommendations on vaccination, so they don't push yearly vaccines on you (note: there are some that must be given yearly to provide protection, such as kennel cough and lepto). The ONLY downside is that it can be darned near impossible to make a left turn out of the parking lot onto Rt 45 due to the traffic. But that's not really a deterrent, and is far outweighed by the quality of care you'll find here for your pets. read more

The clinic was very clean. The staff was very friendly. Dr. Barcus was kind and sympathetic to our situation. We felt like we got an education on how to care for our dogs and how and what to feed them. We learned more in this one visit than we had in all the visits combined with our other vet. I would highly recommend this clinic to anyone. read more

I am always comforted by the fact that Dr. Barcus and her team of veterinary assistants and staff have my dog's best interests in mind. Dr. Barcus has a preventative approach, but does not recommend anything that seems unnecessary. She explains things clearly and is very prompt in delivering information. Their schedule is extremely accommodating and we have never had to wait for care. I highly recommend the Canine Center for their genuine interest in the wellbeing of your companion. read more

We had a dog who was sick for a couple of years. Our experience with Dr Barcus was mixed. I feel she knows about dogs lhealthcare but she has no people skills. And can be rude at times. This is why we changed vets. When we went to the other vet they elaborated more on her medications. (When our dog wasn't eating don't give her this med, or when she didn't have a appetite don't give her the another medication etc, ) one of her last visits they wrapped her poor Iv leg to tight which made her paw swell. Then made up excuse rudely and lied how it was part of her disease. Asked one the free websites, vet techs, and new vet about this incident and they disagreed. I was more upset that she lied then the incident then the actual event. I found it in interesting on Angie's list a commentabout Dr Barcus. They also had a sick that was misdiagnosed. read more

Dr. Barcus is a first rate vet. She really wants to do the best for your pet, and thoroughly explores and discusses all of the options with you. She and her staff have taken excellent care of our dogs and we appreciate all of their efforts. read more