River Heights Veterinary Hospital, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner

We started coming to River Heights 3 months ago after being recommended by 2 acquaintances of ours who RAVED about the care their pets received here. Even though we have only been clients for a short time, we have multiple pets who have had medical issues & we have literally been seen here at least 10 times. Then we just adopted 2 kittens from a litter that they were fostering, so the staff seems to know us well now & vice versa. It was obvious to me right away that this practice was different from others we've been to. I loved the separate waiting area & exam rooms just for cats. I was impressed by how high tech everything is, from online medical records to digital xrays & ultrasound equipment (no more costly trips to VCA for this). The staff was very professional, friendly & competent. It was very apparent after having a 50 min conversation with Dr. Juriga (during what was suppose to be a 15 min re exam) that this atmosphere of dedication, compassion & excellence in treating animals & their owners, comes from the top down. My husband had a similar experience with Dr. Juriga during a consult for dental work that turned into a 45 min chat. He came home raving about how impressed he was with him & that I will love him when I meet him. He was right. Our pets have been seen by all five doctors in the practice & they were all wonderful but I have to say that Dr. Juriga & Dr. DeVold are our favorites. Their passion & dedication for what they do come through & that is something very rare to find these days. We are so grateful to have found River Heights & expect to be longtime clients of theirs. :) more

I can't say enough about River Heights Veterinary Clinic. We live in Chicago, and when our 7-year-old Chihuahua's face started swelling, we went straight to our vet. The verdict was a fractured tooth and infection, so they referred us to Dr. Juriga in Oswego, and we are so happy they did! I called them at 8pm on a Thursday, and they got us in at 8am the next morning (despite having a full day of back-to-back patients!). After an examination, Dr. Juriga and his team sat down with us to go over exactly what was going on with our pup's dental issues, why things cost what they did, and what to expect during and after surgery. After such a great first experience, we recently went for a second visit to have a teeth cleaning for our other Chihuahua. Despite having a full day of patients, Dr. Juriga spent almost an hour with us just talking to us about the importance of dental care and proper diet. Then while our pup was under for the cleaning he noticed that he had a lot of wax build up, so he cleaned his ears and made sure we had the proper medication to treat what ended up being an ear infection. He then called twice to follow up the next few days. You just can't find this level of care anymore, so despite having to travel an hour both ways to see him, Dr. Juriga is well worth it. On a side note, the compassion is shown in the details: they offer a Keurig cup of coffee while you're waiting; they have a map of the area ready for you with shopping destinations highlighted; they give you a $5 coupon for a local coffee shop; and the post-op rooms look more like mini-lounges with chairs and couches. These people obviously care about the pets AND their owners! 5 stars hands down! more

I traveled with my working Search Dog down from McHenry County because of Dr. Juriga's reputation. I was not disappointed! My dog had a mysterious condition, and Dr. J. took the time to discuss it in detail and lay out all the options. He consulted with other vets around the country and world to help find a solution. When emergency surgery became necessary, he opened his clinic on New Year's day to help save my dogs' life. My dog recovered quickly and even worked a search for a missing woman several days later. It's six months later and my dog is doing great and none the worse for wear! A big Thank You to Dr. Juriga, Verena and the staff at RHV. Jenni more

I simply cannot say enough good things about Dr. Stephen Juriga! (and his assistant, Verena!!) I have had occasion to take two of my dogs for dental work and have GLADLY driven 3 hours round trip each time to do so. I had initially taken my pup to a veterinary dentist closer to my home.....someone I had taken a prior dog to. I couldn't have been more disappointed with her lack of interest and lack of a specialty approach. So, after a little more research, I found Dr. Juriga and could not be happier!! He provided cutting edge dentistry for my pup, then 5 mos. old, that was a complete success! He is proactive, extremely knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about what he does. He has my respect and trust. more

I've taken my cat Lucy to River Heights Veterinary Clinic many times. From illnesses to exams and dentals, I've been really happy with the level of service and care that Lucy has received. She can get in pretty quickly and the staff is extremely friendly. Because she has chronic dental issues, Lucy needs the care of a vet dentist, and Dr. Juriga is the best! When I lived in Naperville, this clinic was convenient. But now that I live in Milwaukee, not so much. I went to another vet dentist in the area and was very disappointed in the experience compared to previous ones at Riverside. Lucy was out of it for days and problems came back within weeks. So I called Dr. Juriga and arranged for Lucy to have a dental over a day visit. It was the best decision I've made. Dr. Juriga and his staff were thorough in finding the causes of her bad breath and pain. Lucy had all of the teeth on her right side--including canines--pulled, and the difference in recovery was like night and day. She wasn't groggy, didn't seem to have residual discomfort or drooling, and bounced back right away! She's eating both wet and dry food without problems. The staff took excellent care of her, walked me through her pain management and the things I might expect from her in the coming days, and even followed up over the phone and email to ask how Lucy was. Also, expect to take time going over x-rays with the staff...it is invaluable to know exactly why they do what they do! On another note, I took Lucy to many vets over the years, depending on the area of the country I lived in. And dentals really can be expensive. But from someone that took her cat in for many dentals that didn't offer x-rays and other care, I soon realized how much time, money and anesthesia I could have saved had I gone to the right kind of clinic right away to diagnose the problem, vs. just doing a cleaning. Problems with your teeth impact all other areas of the body, so don't just wait until too many problems arise. I spent over six hours in a car to bring Lucy to Oswego, and I will do it again. I was even given a token for a free coffee at a local shop so that I wouldn't have to wait at the vet's office. Wonderful people. Wonderful doctor. Wonderful staff. No question...best veterinary experience out there. more

I went to River Heights Veterinary Clinic because my dog had a problem with her teeth and my regular vet said that Dr. Juriga was the go to guy for advanced dental care. I really love my regular vet and I felt really scared going somewhere else especially because it was quite a drive for me and my little girl to make. But, I trust my vet and I want the best for my dog, so I called to make the appointment. I was a little worried because I couldn't get in for an exam for almost a week and a half, but it wasn't like this issue was bothering her at all, it was just bothering me. We got to the appointment early so my dog could get used to the smells, and I wasn't sure what the paperwork situation would be like, and I was awfully nervous. Well, they were running a little late, which is fine. The ladies at reception were nice and kept me updated on the delay. Our appointment went well. Dr. Juriga was very informative and gave me an estimate and told me that I should have my dog's teeth fixed in the next few weeks. I explained I'd have to check our finances and then make the appointment, although I guess sometimes they can do procedure the same day (which I love). But it took me 3 weeks to get the funds together for the dental and I noticed some changes in my dog's problem teeth, so I put a call in to check and see if I should come in for another consult or if I could arrange a consult and procedure on the same day, and I didn't get a callback. Fair enough, messages get lost, so after a week I put another call in, and two days later I still haven't heard anything. I really like this place, so when I do get my answers I will get my dog in as soon as it is possible for Dr. Juriga to see her. This place is great. Expect the best but do yourself and them a favor: and have most funds ready prior (probably need a credit card because I don't know how you would know what the procedure would cost), schedule your procedures ASAP- at the time of consult if possible, and I don't know what you do if you have questions and need to get a hold of someone, because their callback system is not efficient in my experience. Other than not being able to make an appointment, I am beyond happy with my experience. more

I have brought my pets to River Heights for nearly 18 years. During that time, they have cared for my three dogs and seven cats. The service they've provided has been first rate. Whether it's been examining a puppy for the first time, or showing me how to take care of a diabetic cat, they've been thoughtful, informative and compassionate. The front desk staff is professional and friendly. I'm always greeted warmly.....as are my pets for that matter! I really have appreciated how helpful they've been. The hours of operation are wonderful. I can make an early morning, evening or Saturday appointment. Even though they are a very well known and busy clinic, the staff is very accommodating in providing appointments that work for me! I have so much respect for the Veterinary staff. They are knowledgeable and compassionate. They truly care for your pet's well being. When a health issue has arisen, the Veterinarians have taken the time to carefully explain the problem/diagnosis with thoroughness and sensitivity. What I appreciate the most is that I am given a spectrum of options so that I can best make a decision regarding my animal's care. I have never felt that I was being pushed into extensive and/or expensive treatments. Lastly, a huge part of my satisfaction with the clinic lies with the Vet Technicians. Their fondness for animals shows during every appointment. They have always been so friendly and sweet to me (shout out to Amy G.!). They have warmly welcomed my new pets and hugged me when I've had to say goodbye to my dying pets. I cannot convey my appreciation for the thoughtfulness they have shown me over the years. If you're in need of a new Vet, I would highly recommend River Heights to anyone. The expertise provided from the Veterinary staff is top notch and there is no doubt in my mind that my pets are receiving the best possible care in their hands! more

I recently brought my cat Maverick into River Heights Veterinary Hospital, it was our first visit there and we were both very pleased. I had heard about the clinic from a friend of mine who brings her dog and her bird there, and she always talked about how the staff really seemed to care about her pets. I never really paid any attention to what she said because I thought all clinics were like that. Boy was I wrong! From the moment I walked in the door the staff was so engaging and friendly and really seemed to care about Mav. From the receptionists that knew his name when we walked in, to the nurse or technician that introduced herself and then walked us back to the exam room, to the doctor who took the time to answer ALL my questions (and believe me I had alot, being a first time pet mom!), and the girl who checked us out asked how things went and seemed genuinely concerned as to how his exam was. Everyone was so friendly and personable, Maverick usually hates his trips to the vet and definitely voices his opinion when I bring him in but even he seemed to like it there, he took treats from everyone and even started purring at one point! Mav and I will definitely be going back there! Thanks for all your help you guys did a great job! more

Excuse the numbers, but I couldn't make paragraphs, so I used them to separate my main points. ...I've been going to River Heights for 8 years now and was surprised to see negative reviews here, so I thought I'd respond. 1.) The front desk staff are busy but very friendly -they know me and my dogs and are always very nice, but not chatty because they always have a lot going on with customers, phone calls, etc. 2.) Up until about a year ago I used to take whatever vet was available, so I've probably seen most of the vets there and the veterinary care I've gotten has always been top notch and friendly. They've always treated my dogs well and answered all my questions. 3) When my dog needed two teeth removed I came home with a packet of his x-rays and before and after photos of the inside of his mouth so I could see what was done. I was floored! A friend of mine who goes to another clinic got a referral to River Heights for her cat's dental because I guess they are the area specialists. They also have an endoscope and other specialty equipment that smaller clinics would have to refer you out for. I like the idea of being able to get everything done in a familiar setting for my animals. 4.) These upsides do come with a cost -I've compared costs with friends and found River Heights to be more expensive than most, but the tradeoff for cost vs care is different for everyone. So far I've been happy enough to stay. The only complaint I really have is that when I had an emergency at midnight one night I called and their recorded message told me to go to VCA Aurora. That's a long way away for me, I was lucky it wasn't life threatening. In a real emergency I'm afraid I'd lose my pet due to the distance from my home to the nearest emergency clinics. Pros: Friendly staff, quality and number of services offered Cons: price more

the staff is very nice and i enjoy going to this clinic Pros: kind staff more

As the owner of River Heights Veterinary Clinic and attending veterinarian of Mini?s visit on 6/20/06, I was quite concerned about this posting which appeared almost a full year after her visit. I have attempted to contact the pet owner multiple times to listen, discuss and address her concerns, but she has not returned my calls.\r \r River Heights Veterinary Clinic is an accredited veterinary hospital with the American Animal Hospital Association. We have a caring and experienced staff dedicated to providing the best medical care to our patients. \r \r In regards to writing prescriptions for heartworm preventative, yes we will although we do discourage the purchase from on-line pharmacies as this voids the manufacturer?s warranty. \r \r The confidence our clients place in us with the trust of their pet is something we hold in high regard. Overall, I welcome client comments and concerns and will respond to them personally. Clients or potential clients are welcomed to tour our hospital at any time, without an appointment, to see the facility and staff in action. I am sorry that ?Mini?s? experience was anything but positive. Our staff prides themselves on their kindness and professionalism.\r more

Money hungry clinic - rude office personnel, lots of tension in air, techs sloppy looking, doctors attitude high and mighty. Lack of understanding. more

I used to have a more detailed review up here and it wasn't nice, but neither was my experience. The doctor has been contacting me about my previous post...maybe its been hurting business I don't know. If you have a dog that is skittish at the vet or new places then don't bring them here. Also, in 2006 you had to buy your heartworm meds from them (no prescrip) and they were overpriced-Hopefully that changed. \r Cons: Worst Vet experience of my life. CON ARTISTS more