When Your Pet Needs More — Veterinary Specialists in Chicago, IL
Advanced, board-certified care that goes beyond general practice. Surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, imaging, oncology, neurology, and 24/7 critical care — working with your family vet and directly with you.
Advanced Care Across Specialties
Board-certified expertise for complex and serious conditions.
Care That Goes Beyond General Practice
What a board-certified specialty hospital brings when your pet needs more.
Board-Certified Specialists
Veterinarians with advanced training and board certification in their fields — the deepest expertise available for your pet's specific, serious condition.
Advanced Technology
CT, MRI, specialized surgery, and diagnostics a general practice can't offer — the tools to diagnose and treat what others can't.
A Team With Your Vet
We work alongside your family veterinarian, keeping them informed and involved, so your pet's care is coordinated and complete.
For the Cases That Need More
Most of the time, your family veterinarian is exactly the right person to care for your pet, and we have tremendous respect for the general practitioners who form the backbone of veterinary medicine. But sometimes a pet faces a problem that goes beyond what a general practice is equipped to handle — a complex surgery, a serious heart condition, a cancer diagnosis, a difficult internal disease, a neurological problem, or a critical emergency in the middle of the night. In those moments, your pet needs more: board-certified specialists, advanced technology, and a hospital built for exactly these challenges. That's what Kestrel Veterinary Specialists provides.
For twenty-one years, we've been Chicago's board-certified specialty and referral hospital, bringing together specialists in surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, oncology, neurology, and emergency and critical care under one roof. Our specialists have completed years of additional training and certification beyond veterinary school in their specific fields, and we've invested in the advanced diagnostic and surgical technology — CT, MRI, and more — that complex cases require. We work in two ways: on referral from your family veterinarian, who sends us the cases that need specialty expertise; and directly with pet owners who are seeking advanced care. Either way, we see ourselves as partners with your regular vet, not a replacement, communicating clearly at every step and returning your pet to their care with a plan, so your veterinarian stays part of the team. And through all of it, we never lose sight of the fact that behind every complex case is a beloved animal and a worried family. We pair the highest level of medicine with genuine compassion, honesty, and support, because when your pet needs more, you deserve both the best care and the kindest hands. That's the standard we've held for over two decades.
- ✓Board-certified specialists across 7 services
- ✓CT, MRI & advanced surgical capabilities
- ✓We partner with your family veterinarian
- ✓24/7 emergency & critical care
Built for Advanced Care
A modern specialty hospital with the technology complex cases require.
Getting Your Pet Specialty Care
Whether your vet refers you or you reach out directly.
Referral or Direct Contact
Your family vet refers you, or you contact us directly. We coordinate records with your veterinarian so we start with the full picture.
Specialist Evaluation
The right specialist evaluates your pet using advanced diagnostics, then explains the findings and options clearly, in plain language.
Treatment & Coordinated Follow-Up
We deliver expert treatment and critical care as needed, then return your pet to your family vet with a clear plan for ongoing care.
Trusted by Chicago Families & Veterinarians
When our dog was diagnosed with a serious heart condition, our regular vet referred us to Kestrel, and I'm so grateful they did. The level of expertise here is on another level — the cardiologist explained our dog's condition in a way we could understand, used advanced diagnostics our general vet didn't have, and laid out a treatment plan that has given our boy a wonderful quality of life. You can feel that these are true specialists at the top of their field, and yet they're warm and genuinely compassionate, never making a frightening situation feel cold or clinical. They kept our family vet fully in the loop the whole time too, which we appreciated. When your pet has a complex or serious problem, having access to board-certified specialists makes all the difference, and Kestrel is exactly where you want to be. They gave us more time with our beloved dog and treated us with such kindness throughout. I can't recommend their team highly enough for any pet facing a specialty or surgical need. Simply outstanding care from people who clearly love what they do.
Our cat needed a complex surgery that our regular vet wasn't equipped to perform, and they referred us to Kestrel's surgical team. From the first consult, we were impressed by the surgeon's expertise, honesty, and the advanced facility. They walked us through everything, answered every question patiently, and the surgery went beautifully. The critical-care team monitored our cat around the clock during recovery, and the communication was constant and reassuring. It's clear this is a hospital built for exactly these difficult cases, with specialists and equipment you simply won't find at a general practice. What struck us most was how they combined that high-level expertise with real compassion for both our cat and our anxious family. They coordinated seamlessly with our family vet for follow-up care too. Our cat has made a full recovery and is back to her old self, and we owe that to the exceptional team at Kestrel. If your pet needs specialty surgery or advanced care, this is the place. Skilled, cutting-edge, and deeply caring — everything you'd hope for when your pet needs more.
As a general-practice veterinarian, I refer my complex and critical cases to Kestrel with complete confidence, and my clients consistently come back grateful for the care they received. What I value as a referring vet is their expertise across specialties, their advanced diagnostic and surgical capabilities, and — critically — their communication. They keep me informed at every step, send thorough updates, and return the patient to my care with clear guidance, so I stay part of my client's team rather than being cut out. Their specialists are excellent and their emergency and critical-care service means I can send an unstable patient at any hour knowing they'll be in expert hands. My clients tell me how kindly they were treated during stressful, frightening situations, which reflects well on my practice too. A great specialty hospital makes every general vet in the area better, and Kestrel is that hospital for us. For any colleague deciding where to refer, or any pet owner whose vet recommends specialty care, I can vouch for this team wholeheartedly. They've earned the trust of the whole veterinary community here.
Our dog collapsed late one night and we rushed him to Kestrel's emergency and critical-care service, terrified. From the moment we arrived, the team took over with calm expertise, quickly stabilized him, and ran advanced diagnostics that identified a serious internal problem. Their internal medicine specialist and the critical-care team worked together through the night and the following days, keeping us informed and involved every step of the way. Having board-certified specialists and 24/7 critical care available in one hospital, at the worst moment of our lives, was everything. They didn't just save our dog's life with their skill and technology — they carried us through it with genuine compassion, patience, and honesty about what we were facing. They also communicated with our regular vet so his ongoing care was seamless. Our dog is home and thriving now, and we will never forget what this team did for our family. If your pet ever faces an emergency or a complex illness, you want a hospital like Kestrel and a team like theirs. Extraordinary medicine delivered with extraordinary heart.
Specialty & Referral Care FAQ
Do I need a referral from my regular vet?
Not always — we work both ways, and either path is welcome. Many of our patients come to us on referral from their family veterinarian, who identifies that a pet's condition would benefit from specialty expertise, advanced diagnostics, or a procedure beyond what their practice offers, and sends the pet to us along with the medical records. This is the most common route and it works beautifully, because it means we start with the full picture of your pet's history and we can coordinate seamlessly with your regular vet. However, you don't have to have a formal referral to reach us. Pet owners can also contact us directly if they're seeking advanced or specialty care, want a second opinion on a complex diagnosis, or are facing an emergency. If you come to us directly, we'll still work to obtain your pet's records and communicate with your family veterinarian so that everyone stays coordinated and your regular vet remains part of your pet's care team going forward. And of course, our emergency and critical-care service is available 24/7 to any pet in crisis, referral or not. So whether your veterinarian sends you, or you find us on your own because your pet needs more advanced care, we're here to help. If you're unsure which path fits your situation, just call us and we'll guide you. Our goal is simply to get your pet the specialized care they need, as smoothly as possible.
What does it mean that your veterinarians are board-certified specialists?
It means our specialists have completed extensive additional training and certification well beyond veterinary school, in a specific area of veterinary medicine. After earning their veterinary degree, a specialist completes a demanding multi-year residency in their field — such as surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, or neurology — under the mentorship of other specialists, conducts and publishes research, and then passes rigorous board examinations to earn certification from the relevant specialty college. In other words, a board-certified veterinary specialist is to a general-practice veterinarian roughly what a specialist physician, like a cardiologist or surgeon, is to a family doctor in human medicine. This depth of training means our specialists have concentrated expertise in diagnosing and treating the most complex, serious, and unusual conditions in their area. When your pet has a difficult problem — an advanced surgical need, a serious heart or neurological condition, a cancer diagnosis, or a puzzling internal disease — that specialized knowledge, combined with our advanced technology, can make a real difference in the diagnosis, the treatment options, and the outcome. It's the highest level of expertise available in veterinary medicine, and it's what a specialty hospital like ours exists to provide, working hand in hand with the excellent general-practice vets who refer to us.
What specialties and services do you offer?
We bring together a range of veterinary specialties and advanced services under one roof. Our surgery service handles advanced soft-tissue and orthopedic procedures beyond routine surgery. Our internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage complex, chronic, and multi-system diseases affecting the endocrine, gastrointestinal, kidney, respiratory, and other systems. Our cardiology service diagnoses and treats heart disease using advanced echocardiography and cardiac care. Our diagnostic imaging service offers CT, MRI, ultrasound, and other advanced imaging that general practices typically can't provide. Our oncology service delivers expert, compassionate cancer care with accurate staging and treatment plans tailored to each pet and family. Our neurology service diagnoses and treats disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system, supported by advanced imaging. And our emergency and critical-care service operates 24/7 with intensive monitoring and specialist support for the sickest and most unstable patients. Underpinning all of this is close coordination with your family veterinarian. Whether your pet needs a specific specialist, advanced imaging to reach a diagnosis, a complex surgery, or round-the-clock critical care, our team and technology are built to provide it. If you're not sure which service your pet needs, contact us and we'll help direct you to the right specialist.
Will you keep my regular veterinarian involved?
Yes, absolutely — partnering with your family veterinarian is central to how we practice, and we see ourselves as an extension of your regular vet's care, never a replacement. General-practice veterinarians are the foundation of your pet's health, and when they refer a case to us or when you come to us directly, we make communication with them a priority throughout. Before your visit, we work to obtain your pet's records so we understand the full history. During your pet's care, we keep your veterinarian informed of our findings, our recommendations, and our treatment. And when your pet's specialty care is complete, we return them to your family vet with a clear summary and a plan for ongoing care, so your regular veterinarian can seamlessly continue managing your pet's health. This coordinated approach benefits everyone: your veterinarian stays fully in the loop and remains your pet's primary doctor, you get the specialized expertise your pet needs without losing the trusted relationship you already have, and your pet receives complete, connected care. Referring veterinarians tell us that our communication is one of the things they value most, because it lets them confidently send their complex cases knowing they'll stay part of the team. So whether you were referred or came on your own, rest assured we'll keep your regular vet involved every step of the way.
Do you handle emergencies?
Yes — we operate a 24/7 emergency and critical-care service, and it's one of the most important things we offer. Emergencies and critical illnesses don't keep business hours, and when your pet is in a life-threatening situation — collapsing, struggling to breathe, badly injured, or suddenly and severely ill — you need immediate access to advanced care. Our emergency and critical-care team is available around the clock, staffed to stabilize and treat the sickest and most unstable patients, with intensive monitoring and, crucially, the backing of our board-certified specialists across surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, and more. That combination is powerful: a pet who arrives in crisis can be stabilized by our emergency team and then, if needed, have a specialist involved in their care immediately, all in the same hospital. You do not need a referral to bring your pet to our emergency service — if your pet is in crisis, come to us or call us right away at (312) 555-0175, at any hour. For pets with complex or serious conditions, having emergency and critical care available in a hospital that also has specialists and advanced diagnostics under one roof can be lifesaving. And as always, we'll coordinate with your family veterinarian on follow-up once your pet is stable. When the worst happens, we're here, day or night, with the expertise and technology your pet may urgently need.
How do I refer a patient or request a consult?
It's easy, whether you're a pet owner or a referring veterinarian. Pet owners can call us at (312) 555-0175 or send the form with your name, your pet's name and species, which specialty you think you need (or let us advise), and a brief note about what's going on; if your regular vet referred you or you have one, let us know so we can coordinate records and care. Referring veterinarians can contact us directly to refer a patient, discuss a case with a specialist, or arrange advanced diagnostics for their client — we make the referral process smooth and keep you informed throughout, returning your patient to your care with clear communication. For emergencies, don't wait to fill out a form: call us or come in right away, as our emergency and critical-care service is open 24/7. We serve Chicago and the surrounding communities, including Evanston, Oak Park, Naperville, Skokie, and beyond, and pet owners and veterinarians travel to us because advanced specialty care is worth it when a pet needs more. Our whole team is dedicated to providing the highest level of veterinary medicine with genuine compassion, both to the pets and families we treat and to the veterinary colleagues we partner with. When your pet, or your patient, needs more than general practice can offer, reach out — we're here to help, and we'd be honored to care for them.
When Your Pet Needs More, We're Here.
Board-certified specialists, advanced technology, and 24/7 critical care in Chicago — working with your family vet and directly with you. Refer a patient or request a consult today.
Refer a Patient or Request a Consult
Tell us about your pet and which specialty you need, and our referral team will be in touch promptly. For an emergency, call us now — we're open 24/7. Serving Chicago and the surrounding communities.
- Visit us2200 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60647
- Call us(312) 555-0175
- Email usreferrals@kestrelvetspecialists.com