We now offer home delivery for most prescription refills. Call the office and we can take care of you directly or email your prescription request (for current clients only) to acclv@sbcglobal.net. Coming soon, we will have online payment available through though Paypal.

"compassionate medical care and personalized service"

Losing A Beloved Pet

When The Time Comes To Say Goodbye…

• The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Pet Loss Helpline
• Companion Animal Related Emotions Pet Loss Helpline
• Grieving: Types and How To Deal
• The Rainbow Bridge: A Poem To Help

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The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Pet Loss Helpline

The CVMA sponsors a Pet Loss Helpline and Support Group for grieving owners. "Wings," our support group, meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30PM at the CVMA office 120 East Ogden Ave, Hinsdale, IL 60521

For help and support, call (630) 325-1600

(No reservations needed, no charge, but donations are accepted) For further information or directions call the CVMA office at (630) 325-1231 or visit their website

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Companion Animal Related Emotions Pet Loss Helpline

C.A.R.E. is a confidential telephone service offered through the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. People who are either grieving the loss of a companion animal or are anticipating a loss are encouraged to call. If you need a compassionate, understanding person to talk to, we are here to listen and to support you.

We are here Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7-9 pm Central Time. Our toll-free telephone number is: (877) 394-CARE (2273)

If you are in the Champaign, Illinois area, our local telephone number is (217) 244-CARE (2273). You can also visit our website.

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Pet Loss and Grief

The death of your companion animal may be one of the most significant losses of your life. With this profound loss comes grief and its associated emotional and physical manifestations: sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, helplessness, crying, fatigue, or changes in appetite and sleep patterns. It is important to know that these feelings are normal, and that grieving is a necessary part of the healing process.

Anticipatory grief: This form of grief is experienced before the actual loss of your companion animal. Anticipatory grief is typically brought about by the diagnosis of a pet's terminal illness and/or the decision to euthanize. The decision to euthanize your companion animal may be one of the most difficult to make. It involves ending the life of your beloved companion and changing the unique bond that you share with your animal. However, the decision to euthanize also involves a very gentle and caring way to end the life of your animal friend.

Grieving: Grieving is the natural way that your mind and body adjust to a loss and heal your emotional wounds. We strongly encourage you to allow yourself to grieve in a way that gives you the most comfort. Allowing yourself to feel the sadness, anger, anguish, and loss will aid the healing process. Conversely, repressing your feelings may actually prolong your sadness and the time for recovery. During this time you may need the emotional support of family, friends, your veterinarian, and perhaps a grief counselor.

The amount of time required to heal varies considerably, ranging from days to years. Although you may feel that you have finished grieving, feelings of sadness may re-emerge with a holiday, your pet's birthday, or the anniversary of your pet's death. For this reason, some experts suggest that you give yourself, at a minimum, one year to grieve.

Family: No two people grieve alike, even within the same family. Many families find it helpful to share their feelings of grief with each other and seek ways to memorialize their pet. Creating a scrapbook, holding a memorial ceremony, or even planting a tree in honor of a beloved companion animal may help bring a sense of closure.

Children: It is important for your children to see and experience your grieving process. Being truthful with your children will also aid in their healing. If your pet is going to be euthanized, avoid using phrases like "put to sleep", "is very sick", or "is going away." These can be difficult concepts for children to understand. "We are helping Fluffy to die because we love her very much and do not want her to suffer" is a more truthful and less ambiguous statement. Make your pet's death more meaningful by asking your children how they would like to memorialize their animal friend. Feel free to call us for additional ideas on memorializing your companion animal.

People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens: Dealing with a service animal's death can be particularly difficult for people with disabilities. Service animals perform many valuable functions for their owners, as well as providing companionship. The grieving process may not be complete until after a new service animal is acquired, thus making it more difficult to bond with the new animal.

Animal companionship can improve health and provide a sense of order and routine for older people. Senior citizens who live alone and who have lost many friends and family can be especially saddened by the loss of their companion animals.

Saying Goodbye...: The loss of your companion animal can create an immeasurable void in your life and, understandably, in your heart. It may be difficult to imagine a time when you will not be filled with feelings of hurt and sadness. Whether you find yourself struggling with your feelings of grief, or you would simply like a compassionate, understanding person to talk to, please call us at the C.A.R.E. Helpline. We can also provide you with specific information on grieving, euthanasia, children and pet loss, and meaningful ways to memorialize your beloved animal friend.

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The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them; who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross The Rainbow Bridge together…

Useful Links

• Pet Emergencies
  What to do if you need immediate care.
• Losing A Beloved Pet
  Get support while dealing with your loss.

Forms & Health Info

• New Client Form [pdf]
  Bring it in on your first appointment!
• Surgery Consent Form [pdf]
  Dont forget this when you bring your pet in for surgery.
• Dog Forms Guide: Dog Owners Guide: New Puppies -------------------------------- How To: House Training How To: Brushing Teeth -------------------------------- Airline Travel Allergies Anal Sac Disease Anemia Aural Hematoma Baby to Dog Bladder Stones Blastomycosis Bloat Bone Diseases Bordetella Breeding Cesarean Section Coccidia Collapsing Trachea Corneal Ulcers Coronavirus Cruciate ligament disease Cushings Disease Cystitis Demodectic Mange Dental Disease Diabetes Diarrhea Diarrhea Questionnaire Dilated Cardiomyopathy Disk Disease Distemper dog dental chart Ear Infections Ehrlichia infections Endoscopy Esophagostomy Flea Allergy Flea Control for dogs Food Allergy Gastrostomy Tube Feeding gentling the puppy Giardia Grief in Children Heart Failure Heartworm disease Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis Hepatitis Hip Dysplasia Hookworm Infection Hypothyroidism Icterus Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inhalant Allergy Introducing new pets Kidney Failure Leptospirosis Lick Granuloma Lumbosacral Syndrome Luxating Patella Lyme Disease Mitral Valve Disease & Heart Failure Orphaned Puppies Pancreatitis Parvovirus Infection Prostate Diseases Pyometra Rabies Ringworm Roundworm Sarcoptic Mange of Dogs Seizures Staph Dermatitis Subcutaneous Fluid Administration Surgical Discharge Tapeworm Infection Tartar Prevention Tonsillitis Ultrasound Examination Understanding your pets blood work Vaccination Failure von Willebrands Disease Whipworms Wobbler Syndrome
• Cat Forms Guide: Cat Owners Guide: Introducing New Pets Guide: Litter Training Guide: New Kittens -------------------------------- How To: Breeding/Raising How To: Brushing Teeth -------------------------------- Airline Travel Allergies Anal Sac Disease Anemia Asthma & Bronchitis Aural Hematoma Bladder Stones Blastomycosis Bridge Busipirone for Elimination Problems C-Section Cardiomyopathy Cat Dental Care Cat Scratch Disease Cholangiohepatitis Chronic Nasal Discharge Chylothorax Coccidia Corneal Ulcer Cruciate Rupture Cryptococcosis Cystitis Cytauxzoonosis Dental Disease Diabetes Diarrhea E-Tube Feeding Ear Infections Elimination Disorders Endoscopy Fatty Liver Disease Feline Imunotrophic Virus Feline Infectous Anemia Feline Infectous Peritonitis FeLV Diseases Fight Wound Infections Flea Allergy Flea Control Food Allergies Geriatric Cats Giardia Infection Grief in Children for lost pets Heartworms Histoplasmosis Hookworms High Blood Pressure Hyperthyroidism Icterus Inflamatory Bowel Disease Kidney Failure Megacolon Neutering/Castration Pancreatitis Pyometra Pyothorax Rabies Rainbow Bridge Ringworm Roundworm Seizures Spay Ovariohysterectomy SubCcutanous Fluid Administration Surgical Discharge Tapeworms Thyroidectomy Tocoplasmosis Ultrasound exams Understanding Blood Work Upper respiratory infections Vaccine Failure Vomiting

Our Facility

Phone: 847.356.VETS (8387)
Address: 101 S. Milwaukee Ave.
Lake Villa, Illinois 60046-8593 [ MAP ]

Office Hours

Note: Doctor's hours by appt. only

Mon	8am - 6pm
Tue	8am - 6pm
Wed	8am - 6pm
Thur	8am - 6pm
Fri	8am - 6pm
Sat	8am - 1pm
Sun	Closed

Affilliations