I'm so glad I've found my local vet in VCA Blum. My boy is pretty healthy so I've only been here for an adoption wellness exam, vaccine booster, and then (the real 5 star experience) the fear free program visit. This program helps anxious or reactive dogs calm down in the vet environment and practice important skills, and it's FREE! The DVM Emily and the Fear Free Coordinator Rebekah are both awesome and the friendly helpful staff make me feel confident in my dog's care. I'm excited for their move across the street to happen and finally see the upgraded space! read more

My partner and I took our kitten in for her first check-up (yay for healthy cats!) and we saw Dr. Ryan Hopper. We had gone to VCA because we had a coupon for a free first-exam from Paws Chicago (rhe place we adopted from). Here's the good and the not-so-great things we noticed. Good: Could make a same-day appointment. We were welcomed by the front desk and had a fast check-in process. Dr Hopper and the vet tech were both kind, knowledgeable, and really seemed to care about our kitten. Checking out was fast and it was not difficult to add my partner to the account. The Not-So Good: For being a "free" first vet visit, it still managed to be a bit expensive. $83.70 was the price of her FVRCP vaccine and we were not told the price of the vaccine until after they gave it to her. Had the first visit not been free, the cost for a wellness exam would have been $121.40, bringing the non-discounted total to $205.10. This is a MUCH higher price than me and my partner are used to. Additionally, my partner and I noticed that this veterinary office is owned by the Mars corporation (yes, as in the candy bar corporation). When our vet recommended food brands, we also noticed they were all Mars-owned. Whether this was intentional or not, who knows. Regardless, the high visitation cost was off-putting and makes us wonder about if our money is actually ONLY going to pet care :/ We don't plan on going back because we can't confidently say it would align with our spending values, but if you do go, see Dr Hopper. (He does talk really fast though, so bring a pen and paper to take notes. You won't remember all the info he says at once) read more

Scheduled a dental procedure after a 5 minute exam where they barely looked at my dog's mouth and then cancelled the appt days before after a 2 month wait based on an expensive set of blood work with an email. Saying they didn't like the numbers in the blood test. Horrible website. They used to be respected but now they're just as revenue stream. Loads of other places that take care of your pet better. read more

I met Dr Hayes on two occasions. During the first one he showed minimal exam skills or interest in the dog, he treated me with dismissal, talking down to me not knowing I am a physician, but hey, we were there for vaccines! He was the only person my dog wanted to bite and disliked and treated with aggression. The second time he evaluated my dog, he failed to recognize that she had ivdd and acute herniation in her low back, despite doing an xray. She was in a neurological emergency and if he had examined her well, he would have seen gait abnormality. He could have correlated it to the severe stenosis in her back and sent us to ED. Luna deteriorated over the next 14 hours rapidly overnight. She lost ability to move her paws. When we called Vca Blum , they told us to go to medvet on Saturday , but they had no neurologist or neurosurgeon there. My dear sweet Luna developed respiratory distress. She is now in heaven. There was a delay in diagnosing, failure to appropriately examine the dog. Failure to send us to ED with neurological care. Shame on Dr Hayes and VCA Blum. Shame. read more

This place was great when we first started taking our dogs. now they're just a scam, they charged us around 3k to tell us our dog needed surgery which would be another 6k. we were skeptical so got a second opinion and turns out our pup didn't need surgery. it's been quite sometime and our pup is a healthy as ever. I wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemy. read more

Sadly, I need to update. After loving Blum (the independent vet) for years, they went downhill quickly after VCA took them over. Accidentally double-dosing my precious dog with a vaxx. Shoddy nail trims, or forgetting them altogether. Super expensive charges. Lots of turnover at the front desk, my favorite vets are gone. A general unfriendliness and lack of patience with my quirky, yet precious, rescue dog. I've already switched vets. It's sad, because I loved Blum for many years. It's just not the same vet anymore. read more

The best vet I've had the pleasure of going to in the 10 years of having my dog, I only wish I had found them earlier. They're like the anti-rip off vets, you can tell they genuinely care about the animals they treat and are ethical in the treatments they recommend. The vets, techs and staff are all knowledgeable and extremely friendly/helpful. Since my dog is now a senior he's gone through a range of tests/treatments over the years. VCA Blum will lay out a range of options, are transparent on costs and will allow you to decide what you want to do without any pressure. It's such a refreshing experience not being sold/ripped off at every second. I could not recommend them enough! read more

To be honest, the low rating has to do with the front desk staff, not the vets or the techs. I will say however regarding the doctors, all of the good ones have left. It's obvious that after being bought out by a larger company, The service to their own doctors has clearly plummeted as so many of them have left over the last few years. My biggest issue was the level of front desk service. There are typically 4 to 5 people standing behind the front desk but it seems to take a long time for anyone to acknowledge you when you arrive. I also saw one staff member be incredibly rude to an Uber eats driver (bringing someone in the office their lunch) who clearly did not speak English and she raised her voice to this person as if that would make a difference in his understanding English. Bad behavior towards service people is the lowest form of human behavior. Also, you would think that a veterinary office would understand that dogs and cats are incredibly uncomfortable and unhappy when they are in the office. Therefore, something like allowing people to pay their bill while their dog is in the back being attended to would be incredibly helpful. This would reduce the amount of time that the dog has to be in the office. The front desk staff doesn't seem interested in trying to assist in that way Nevertheless, we have opted to move to a different veterinary office which, so far has provided top-notch service. My strong suggestion is that whoever is managing this office teaches their front desk staff attentiveness, kindness, and compassion. I wish I had better and more positive words for this organization as I'm sure that many people who work there do in fact care about their work. It just really does not shine through even a little bit. read more

Lots of add on charges. High vaccination rates. Seems that vets. Rotate thru at a rapid rate.

After a bad experience with an emergency at Blue Pearl in March 2022, I brought my cat Lionel to his regular veterinary practice, VCA Blum. Dr. Scott, in the most caring way, made excellent recommendations for his care so he wouldn't get an infection and heal well. I had been up most of the night, making sure he was okay. I was hysterical, truthfully, and she and her staff were so patient and kind. I can't thank the staff and Dr. Scott enough for their kindness and care for my cat. read more

Our pups have been Blum clients since the early 1990s -- we're on Rescue #10 (Elroy). Their Veterinarians have sterling credentials, and we value their counsel, regardless of outcome. We adopt a lot of seniors, so we don't always have the full backstory. Their prognoses are always of great value, and delivered with compassion and pragmatism. PLUS: Free frozen peanut-butter cups in the exam room!! When we pull up to the Blum building, tails are always a-wag. read more

VCA Blum Animal Hospital - Elroy loves Blum! - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After a terrible vet experience with another vet service and my dog having been diagnosed with Cushing's someone recommended Blum. Thank God. Doctor Scott is amazing and my dog is doing well! read more

Great staff. I felt extremely comfortable with them keeping you informed about what's going on and why.. The only thing that caught me off guard was a $54 charge for taking my pups blood pressure. $54 to get blood pressure? Really clean office and rooms.. I will be recommending friends and family here read more

The dr that saw my cat was very nice and informative when it came to my pet health. however, when it comes to their front desk employees the guy Jesse A. that sit all the way at the end to the left short blond hair was very rude and mean to me for no reason . despite me being very nice and kind he was very rude while his coworkers sat back and watched and did nothing . I told him I had the healthy start certificate for my cat and that my first visit is free he stilled preceded to bill me and stated that I needed to contact my insurance which made no since at all . instead of arguing with him I went home and called them and a lady helped me out with everything. Unfortunately due to Jesse and his coworkers not intervening and helping me this would be my FIRST And LAST time bring my cat at this animal hospital . People shouldn't bring their personal problems to work with them . read more

I can't say enough about Blum. I have had four of my dogs as Blum patients and as long as I live in Chicago I will continue to visit. I had two greyhounds in the past, with one being a Galgo Espanol, who saw Dr. Baker and her associates when she was not available. Fast forward after my two hounds have passed, I now have another Galgo Espanol, André, and an 80# floofy Goldendoodle, Sabi, who are current patients. Prices are consistent with any other quality vet clinic in Chicago. For those who are complaining about prices in the other reviews, you should consider investing in pet insurance. That leaves you with no reason you would have to think twice about having top notch quality care for your fur babies. read more

VCA Blum Animal Hospital - André - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had an emergency with our dog, Rocky, today and called for assistance on how to handle. The individual on the phone was efficient in learning what had happened and provide recommendations on how to proceed. We brought him to Blum and he was taken immediately by a vet technician, who explained what was to done. She had all the necessary info about the situation so no time was wasted. A veterinarian came out to explain what was done and how to handle him at home. We are grateful for the quick response and treatment. We have used Blum for over 25 years and never disappointed. Thank you to the staff for great care. This is the animal hospital to us. Harold Holler and Tom Dato, and Rocky too read more

What a fabulous experience with the Blum Animal STAFF -- Great!! -- And especially a huge thank you and great care (and caring!) to Dr Bridget Sheehan!! Brought my 10 year old puggle, Moose, to Blum for a second opinion... What a great veterinarian!! Was completely on top of the mass growing on my little guy as well as on top of his new arthritis as well as his irritable bowel. Blum has followed up; has returned calls and left voice mails with specific advice and I've received a sweet note from Dr. Sheehan!! Fantastic!! Having my 30 year vet, Dr Jane Lohmar , retire has led to challenges (Jane is a FANTASTIC VET!). I'm relieved and thrilled at finding Dr Sheehan!!! THANK YOU TO ALL OF BLUM AND A REALLY BIG THANK YOU TO DR BRIDGET SHEEHAN!!! read more

Techs and docs are good, the front desk staff is HORRENDOUS. Ranging from ignoring you when walking in the door, shouting at you to sit when you approach the desk, and inefficient since it always seems to be 3 staff members trying to work out one problem when everyone else is waiting. Honestly, when just a hello would change everything. Not worth it, going to find another place. I will recommend that others do the same. read more

The vet staff here are compassionate and knowledgeable. My cat Mo went here and they are hands down the best animal care I have gotten for her. They gave me constant updates during her visits when I needed to drop her off. She always received lots of love here. As a senior kitty and a rescue she had wellness visits and dentals here. Her vet was caring and the techs were great with her. I would recommend whether you have a cat or a dog to bring your fur baby here. read more

Our family has utilized Blum since 2006 and they've been our vet for several of our past and current furry family members. Unfortunately, the number of vets leaving the practice and the customer service care technicians have markedly changed. The most poignant change occurred over the last two months when one of our cats was seen twice for an ear hematoma which the vet suggested, if this last appointment didn't remediate the problem he would prepare a surgical estimate, and to contact him telephonically if that was required. After the hematoma remained, we contacted the vet about a week later and left three subsequent messages to no avail. We subsequently took our cat to another vet for the surgical procedure, which was successful. Now six weeks later, we contacted Blum for another medical issue, and, the clinic advised they were working on a draft of the original surgical proposal which had still not been submitted. I have an annual exam for our 12 year old dog scheduled in August of 2022 and I am weighing whether it is an advantageous time to locate another vet. I am sad and believe I've been holding onto Blum based on a wonderful history of professional and caring veterinary care we've experienced for over 15 years. It is unfair to judge their overall business by a few months of poor care. Especially, when it seems vets are understaffed. We said we would wait until our last dog passes before finding another veterinary clinic but not sure that idea is feasible. I am giving Blum three out of five stars because they were five stars prior to being corporatized by VCA. This vet has never been the cheapest so now that they are still pricey, it may be worth your while to look for decent vet, decent prices, and better service. read more

(edited) I've been going to Blum Animal Hospital for years now. In the last 6 months or so it has drastically changed. The receptionists are not anywhere near as nice as before, and often seem annoyed with me for errors on their part. I've noticed they are also charging more and adding on more expenses to a single service or appointment. My cat vet left and since then it's never been the same. read more

This establishment is amazing. I was dreading taking my kitten to the vet based on how much I know cats hate the vet, but they have cracked the code and figured out how to make trips to the vet a treat. My review is pretty focused on the cat experience, but I'm sure the dog experience is very similar. I recently adopted a kitten and decided on Blum based on its proximity to my home. We're able to take our kitten to the vet in less than 10 minutes walking, which was absolutely the selling point for us. When you arrive, there are two doors that take you into either a cat waiting section and a dog waiting section. The past two times I've visited there were a fair amount of dogs and only one or two cats. There was clearly a lot of thought put into making the waiting room for the cats as pain-free as possible. The divider between the two sections is tall enough that Sophie probably didn't even realize there were dogs so close, but humans can easily see over. There are small cat carrier sized tables between the seats allowing you to sit right next to your kitty and they also provide towels with calming spray to cover the carriers of the more nervous cats. The first time we visited the vet we went for a regular first time check up to make sure she was in good health. We went at 1:20 on a Saturday, which was a very busy time. Apparently there were a few dog emergencies in the morning so they were a little backed up. We didn't mind waiting because Sophie was being such a good sport. We waited about 40 minutes (felt like no time at all) until we were taken back into the exam room. Our vet (Dr. Melissa Cresswell) and her assistant were awesome and very gentle with her. New people were a new concept to her, but they made her feel at home. Dr. Cresswell was very thorough and very fast. It was a very easy process because Sophie was in perfect health. They gave her a "high-value" treat of tuna and she ate the entire thing while they examined her. She probably didn't even know she was being checked out. Because we waited for so long, Dr. Cresswell told us our examination was going to be free. Absolutely excellent service! We were checked out in no time and Sophie was back home running around like her normal maniac kitten self. Second time we went just for a vaccination, and we were in and out in under 15 minutes because they weren't backed up this time around. Another great experience. All the employees are incredibly nice and clearly really valued Sophie. We even got a hand written Christmas card from them! I will recommend Blum Animal Hospital to all my friends with pets. Outstanding service and a wonderful, pain-free experience for pets and owners alike. read more

Our last visit at Blum Animal Hospital was so great. The coordinators and Dr Yohanna went above and beyond. We were greeted on the sidewalk. We recently adopted an English bulldog named Fiona. She comes from a puppy mill and has terrible anxiety. She also has plenty of medical issues. The coordinator was able to keep her calm and get her inside without any major issues. Dr Yohanna was amazing. He fit her in between appointments. He answered all of our questions and got a full history. He summarized her treatment plan and rated all of her issues in terms of importance. He was completely honest and up front about costs. He also gave us many different options in terms of her care. He followed up with us again today. He was super honest again and eased all our worries. He gave us plenty of options in terms of her treatment. He also offered advice. He is kind, intelligent, and a great vet. We will be back! I would recommend him to anyone looking for a vet. -Liz read more

VCA Blum Animal Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Blum has been our vet since moving here from NYC. Staff is always so kind & friendly. We order our dogs special prescribed food from here and it's always a breeze for pick up. Miss the days of being able to go inside but understand and appreciate the Covid measures taking place to protect not only us but the Blum team as well! Thank you for being one of the best vet offices we have taken our schnauzies to! read more

VCA Blum Animal Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dr. Sheehan was awesome! Super friendly and walked my fiancé through everything we need to do for our dog! We will definitely be bringing our other dog back to her and so happy we found her!!! Thank you so much! Bowser says thank you too! read more

This place went downhill when Dr. Georgesen left. We had to switch vet care after 9 years of being with a great dr when they nicked my furry sons vein when they were taking blood and they said oops that happens sometimes. When I approached the new dr about the incident she was very unaffected. UNACCEPTABLE!! read more

Dr. Gage is the most kind hearted vet we have ever met! She has a palpable love for animals that goes above and beyond the norm when meeting vets. She instantly got on the floor with my pup and told her how beautiful she was and started giving her the sweetest greeting to put my dog at ease. The entire time we were speaking about my concerns, she kept my dog involved and included her in the conversation. She kept checking in with her and giving her so much love. She gave incredible medical advice and introduced us to innovative new treatments. She spent so much time explaining everything to us and made sure we felt comfortable with all the options. I can't say enough amazing things about her, vets like Dr. Gage are hard to come by and she is truly one of a kind! read more

I'd think twice before choosing this place as your vet. The docs and techs are good, but the management is more money- than care-oriented. Everything is set up to maximize billable time, not to be considerate to you or your pet. The internal workings are awful: it took 5 days to get a prescription authorization for pedmeds.com, which is much cheaper for prescriptions than what this vet's pharmacy charges. Simple requests get lost internally. When my last prescription got mislabelled (what another client's and another dog's name) we gave up and found new providers. The front desk staff is very hit or miss. read more

I am relatively new to Chicago and had no idea where to take my cat when she began having issues. My friend recommended Blum because they were charismatic and provided great service. They have separate entrances for cats and dogs. My cat is super anxious and she was having a fit in the lobby. They have towels that are sprayed with calming spray for cats that are complimentary! When we got into our room, my cat was anxious again and the assistant was so nice with letting her out of the cage to explore to get more familiar with her environment. She even gave my cat tuna which helped a ton! The doctor came in and spent a lot of time getting to know my cat and asking questions about her. I was surprised by the bill at the end because we were expecting to pay a lot more for the services provided. They are fairly priced for their services! People who complain about expensive rates: having a pet is a huge cost within itself! It's not really news to anyone so be prepared to pay if you have problems. A few weeks later, the vet sent me a card to check up on my cat. Great service, clean business, I will be back and recommend to other people! read more

I was hesitant to write this review for a year now as I thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie (pun somewhat intended) but I think potential customers should know what they're getting into. PROS: Very knowledgeable, very friendly staff who are truly concerned for the safety of your pet and the owners' satisfaction that they are getting the best care. The clinic is clean and well designed, and everyone who comes in is treated very warmly. You will get the best care for your pet at Blum. CONS: If you are not financially prepared to pay for the best care, Blum may not be for you. Shop around and you'll find competitors rates to be a fraction of what you will be charged at Blum. Case in point - I paid almost $700 for a routine spading operation for my healthy cat. They did a great job, but seriously? I could have had this procedure done for 1/3 of that almost anywhere else. I like the idea of Blum Animal Clinic and the people who work there so I'm sorry to give a less than stellar review. If the rates weren't so astronomical, I'd give them 5 stars over and over. read more

Professional staff and they know how to work with my nervous baby. Also, when Bonnie had a GI problem, her doctor Sheehan can be reached any time during the day and called me by evening to give me the solutions for the emergency situation. Defiantly recommended. read more

VCA Blum Animal Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I take my cats to see Dr. Sheehan and Dr. Cresswell and really trust both of them. I've also had a great experience with Dr. Baker and Dr. Hudson for urgent situations/when my cats' usual vets haven't been available. I moved further away from Blum this year but I still make the drive to see them because I trust the expertise here. Admittedly the invoices I get...sting, but I think they are fairly consistent with Chicago veterinary pricing. One other thing to note is that the lobby can sometimes feel a bit bustling/busy (barking dogs, etc.), which can be a concern for anxious pets. They do make a real effort to calm pets - there are separate sides of the lobby for cats and dogs, they provide pheremone-scented towels/bandanas, etc. But if your pet is especially anxious, maybe try to avoid peak hours so for a quieter lobby. read more

Highway robbery. I rarely leave reviews at all but Almost $1000!!!!! ($963 was the low estimate) to get a normal, healthy kitten neutered. I'm honestly in disbelief after I got my bill. The only positive is that they sent me the estimated amount ahead of time so I had time to cancel before I went through with it. Kind people, excellent customer service, love the no fear atmosphere they provide, and I feel very safe leaving my pet there, BUT (this is a HUGE but) if you are a normal person who is not extremely wealthy there is NO reason to spend $1000 on neutering a cat. I'm sure the expense for dogs only goes up from there. I read reviews that said it was expensive here but had no idea it was going to be this bad. You could neuter multiple cats for this price elsewhere. Save yourself a shock and go somewhere else unless you've got some serious cash to blow. read more

This is an update review for Blum. Recently our dog lost her life that, in my opinion, was precipitated by events that unfolded at Blum. In short, she contracted an immune disorder that resulted from a rabies vaccine shortly after an extended period of antibiotics that were prescribed to treat a UTI. I sent a letter to Dr. Marks, the Medical Director, to discuss the invoice sent shortly after she died and the circumstances leading up to her demise. Dr. Marks chose to forward the situation to their insurance provider rather than have a conversation with me. It would have been so simple had Dr. Marks simply reached out to me. Such a disgraceful way she chose to treat a long term client (25 years) and in so doing, violated the trust that necessarily exists between provider and patient. That saddens me almost as much as loosing Lily. Blum had always maintained a higher standard but their standards have declined in recent months. That was my point with Dr. Marks. To be blunt, I never felt Dr. Hudson - the vet treating my dog - did anything that would be considered below the standard of care. I just felt he could and should have done better. Particularly in light of the controversy surrounding vaccinations for pets and specifically in light of my dogs recent UTI and treatment. Dr. Hudson himself recognizes that the vaccine administered after an extended course of antibiotics contributed to the death of my pet. As relayed to me from Blum's insurance provider quoting Dr. Hudson: "In other words, there were no indications in her medical history that would have contributed to the ITP other than the rabies vaccine." I can only hope that Dr. Hudson and the rest of the staff at Blum will learn from my dog's situation and, with caution, treat subsequent similar situated cases with less of a cavalier approach. That was my message to Dr. Marks and remains so. There's plenty of research that supports my point of view with regard to Rabies vaccines and ITP. None the less, I'm not hopeful that Blum will learn anything from this experience due to the current culture within the practice. Chose Blum as your pet's healthcare provider with caution. After decades of trusted service, it's unfortunate that I feel it necessary to write such a review. read more

Awesome experience. We came in with our dog for an issue he is having with his paw. As soon as we were sat down in the room my dog (and his sister) were given puppy ice cream, hotdogs, and cheese to help relax him. The tech was so sweet to him and she really helped him to relax. We met with Dr Emily O'Reilly who really took the time to check our baby out and did a very thorough exam of his ears as well as his eyes and the paw that was bothering him. She walked us through everything she was seeing in understandable terms. I love that they gave us a few choices for ways we can go financially and helped us choose the most affordable path for us. A really awesome experience overall and the staff are kind friendly and welcoming. We will be coming here for routine care and more. read more

Blum goes ABOVE AND BEYOND for their clients!! The veterinarians and techs truly love what they do, and they treat the animals with nothing but kindness. My dog, Bonita, has such terrible vet anxiety. She suffered serious emotional and physical trauma at her first vet when she was a puppy (she is now 8). She is hard to handle, and we believed it would be impossible for her to see a veterinarian ever again. But the team at Blum proved us wrong! They have an amazing fear free program. Bonita is given a bandana sign calming pheromones, they distract her with tons of delicious treats while giving her vaccinations, and they are currently working with us so we can eventually get her comfortable enough to draw her blood. They make sure she is never uncomfortable or scared, which means SO much to me as a fur-mom! I know she is in the best of hands there. Her doctor is Dr. Sheehan and she is so wonderful. She is kind, patient, and caring. If your dog suffers from anxiety, I definitely recommend Blum and Dr. Sheehan. Bonita is so grateful for you all! read more

VCA Blum Animal Hospital - Bonita! - Veterinarians Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I agree with Stuart H's review. My 12 year old dog got ITP WHILE IN blum's care, was over-Vaccinated and finally died from it. A few years later, I brought my one year-old dog back to Blum and asked them to not give all vaccinations at the same time and to spread them out over three or four months. When the technician took the dog, she was rather insistent that all the vaccines be given at once. Ask any reputable vet, that isn't a wise thing to do. If you don't know what I TP is, Google it. And never, ever get multiple vaccines at the same time. If any vet tells you that that is OK, run for the hills. Bye-bye Blum. Unless you bring back Julia G, or bring Sheldon out of retirement, you are no longer a great neighborhood vet but now just an over-priced vet under the direction of a conglomerate. read more

Blum has it all. They take fantastic care of both my cat and dog, going on three years now. Every one there is helpful, knowledgeable, and caring. Since I started going to Blum, the level of care has only gotten better. Recent renovations are impressive. There is web functionality for scheduling and tracking appointments. Truly awesome is their "fear free" commitment, which helps my kitty stay as comfortable as possible during the visit. We love Blum! read more

Had the best experience here. Staff was incredibly friendly and informative. Truly went above and beyond in every way.

Dr Henriquez is the most competent and considerate Doctor I have known. He finally resolved a longstanding issue my dog was having and has spent much time following up and continuing in monitoring her progress and longterm well being. We both thank Dr Henriquez for the cure and the hand holding along the way! read more