You want the best for your pet

We feel the same way. We make every effort to provide the best care possible, whether it's a yearly checkup or a necessary surgery. Continuous education and training allow us to bring improvements and advancements to your pets' care.

Our staff is driven by a passion to care for the animals who love and trust us unconditionally. We care for their emotional health as well as their physical well-being.

Compassionate

Your pet's emotional well-being is a critical part of their overall health. A trip to the veterinarian should not be a source of anxiety for your pet or for you.

That is why, from start to finish, our certified staff uses Fear Free techniques to offer both pet and owner a comfortable, low-stress visit. Many of our patients enjoy their appointment so much that they don't want to leave.

Cost-Effective

We apply modern advances in medicine to keep your pet healthy for a full and active life. Our Preventive Care Packages offer substantial savings on services while providing optimal care for your pet at all life stages.

Packages include physical examinations, parasite screenings, vaccinations, and dental care. The puppy and kitten packages also include spaying/neutering and microchipping.

Full-service

Our in-house laboratory, radiology suite, and other resources allow us to rapidly evaluate sick or injured patients so that treatment can be started as quickly as possible.

We treat a wide range of internal medicine and surgical cases as well as provide dental care. When circumstances warrant, we refer extremely critical cases and those requiring specialized diagnostic or treatment regimens to specialty practices in St. Louis.

A comfortable, low-stress visit for your pet

New approach, better results

Visits to the veterinarian can be stressful and even frightening for some pets. This isn't good, because diagnosis is more difficult when symptoms are masked behind the physical and behavioral changes caused by anxiety. And you know, we just don't like it when our patients are scared.

We wanted a more compassionate approach to veterinary care, and we found a better way in the Fear Free program. Founded by Dr. Marty Becker, it's designed to reduce fear and stress in pets. The Fear Free program trains, tests, and certifies veterinarians and their staff.

Now, our certified professionals have special training to make visits to the vet something pets and their owners can both look forward to.

How we go above and beyond

A Fear Free visit starts when you call for an appointment. We ask you a handful of questions to find out if your pet finds visits frightening so we can plan how best to calm their fears. For example, we will:

  • Use non-slip surfaces to make tables and scales feel safer.
  • Go slowly, with non-threatening body-language.
  • Give your pet a chance to explore the room and become familiar with the staff.
  • Use pheromones and music to provide a calming atmosphere.
  • Feed a variety of tasty treats to calm, distract, and even train your pet during procedures.

We want to promote your pet's emotional health as much as their physical health.

Training services

For intense fear and anxiety

While Fear Free strategies are designed to significantly lessen the anxiety of a veterinary visit, some pets experience fear and anxiety so strong that they will struggle to avoid the care they need.

But it doesn't have to be that way. We can provide individual training aimed at lessening a pet's fears and making them more comfortable with medical and husbandry procedures. If your pet pulls away, struggles, cries out, or even bites, they can be helped with our training.

We accomplish this by using the same positive methodologies relied on by assistance dog trainers and zoos to produce real results. Using both classical and operant conditioning, we can help your pet become an active participant in their healthcare.

For puppies

We also provide puppy socialization classes for pups under 14 weeks old. In class, pups will learn to play nicely with other dogs and start becoming comfortable with a range of people, sights, and sounds. As a new owner, you will learn how to teach your puppy some basic life skills.

Our in house trainer, Lisa Flaum, is a graduate with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy, and is also Fear Free Certified.

Preventive Care Packages

Stop illnesses before they get started. Preventive care is an important factor in your pets’ well-being. Our Preventive Care Packages include a complete set of services to help ensure your pets health and well being while providing you with valuable savings.

Compassionate

Your pets are valued members of your family. They bring you laughter, play with you, and offer you comfort. You want to provide for their health needs just as you do any member of your family. But pets also represent a significant financial responsibility. The costs of health care, food, toys, and grooming can add up.

We want to make pet care readily accessible, and that's why we offer a variety of bundled healthcare services to help ensure your pets' well being.

Complete

Our Preventive Care Packages include physical examinations and vaccination against common diseases as well as screening for parasites. The Puppy and Kitten Packages also include spaying or neutering and microchipping for lifelong positive identification to ensure your pets' return if lost. The Adult and Senior Packages provide annual dental care and and age appropriate laboratory evaluations to screen for a variety of diseases.

Practical

The Packages make complete care more affordable with 15% savings. And with a package, you know right from the start that everything will be taken care of.

For puppies
  • 4 Physical Examinations
    help provide assurance that health problems can be detected and managed early
  • 4 Distemper Complex Vaccinations
    prevent common infectious diseases
  • 2 Kennel Cough Vaccinations
    minimize risk of communicable respiratory infections
  • 1 Rabies Vaccination
    prevents infection
  • 2 Intestinal Parasite Exams
    detect worms and other parasites
  • Heartworm Test
    at 8 months identifies infection
  • 2 Dewormings
    eliminate worms and other parasites
  • Avid™ FriendChip™
    facilitates your pets' return back to you if they become lost
  • Puppy Socialization Class
    to ensure your puppy is comfortable with strange people, sights, and sounds
  • Neuter/Spay Surgery
  • Complete Blood Count and Age-Appropriate Chemistry Panel
    screen for hidden signs of disease
For kittens
  • 3 Physical Examinations
    help provide assurance that health problems can be detected and managed early
  • 3 Distemper Complex Vaccinations
    prevent common infectious diseases
  • 2 Feline Leukemia Vaccinations
  • 1 Rabies Vaccination
    prevents infection
  • 1 Feline Leukemia and Immunodeficiency Virus Screening
    to rule out infection with fatal retroviruses
  • 2 Intestinal Parasite Exams
    detect worms and other parasites
  • 2 Dewormings
    eliminate worms and other parasites
  • Avid™ FriendChip™
    facilitates your pets' return back to you if they become lost
  • Kitten Socialization Class
    to ensure your kitty is comfortable with strange people, sights, and sounds
  • Neuter/Spay Surgery
  • Complete Blood Count and Age-Appropriate Chemistry Panel
    screen for hidden signs of disease
For dogs
  • 2 Physical Examinations
    help provide assurance that health problems can be detected and managed early
  • 1 Distemper Complex Vaccination
    prevent common infectious diseases
  • 1 Kennel Cough Vaccination
    to minimize risk of communicable respiratory infections
  • 1 Rabies Vaccination
    prevents infection
  • 1 Intestinal Parasite Exam
    detects worms and other parasites
  • Heartworm Test
    identifies infection
  • Dental/Oral Examination and Cleaning
    promote oral and overall health
  • Complete Blood Count and Age-Appropriate Chemistry Panel
    screen for hidden signs of disease
For cats
  • 2 Physical Examinations
    help provide assurance that health problems can be detected and managed early
  • 1 Distemper Complex Vaccination
    prevent common infectious diseases
  • 1 Rabies Vaccination
    prevents infection
  • 1 Intestinal Parasite Exam
    detects worms and other parasites
  • Dental/Oral Examination and Cleaning
    promote oral and overall health
  • Complete Blood Count and Age-Appropriate Chemistry Panel
    screen for hidden signs of disease
For senior dogs
  • 2 Semiannual Physical Examinations
    help provide assurance that health problems can be detected and managed early
  • 1 Distemper Complex Vaccination
    prevent common infectious diseases
  • 1 Kennel Cough Vaccination
    minimizes risk of communicable respiratory infections
  • 1 Rabies Vaccination
    prevents infection
  • 1 Intestinal Parasite Exam
    detects worms and other parasites
  • Heartworm Test
    identifies infection
  • Senior Dental/Oral Examination and Cleaning
    promote oral and overall health
  • Complete Blood Count, Urinalysis, and Age-Appropriate Chemistry Panel
    screen for hidden signs of disease
For senior cats
  • 2 Physical Examinations
    help provide assurance that health problems can be detected and managed early
  • 1 Distemper Complex Vaccination
    prevent common infectious diseases
  • 1 Rabies Vaccination
    prevents infection
  • 1 Intestinal Parasite Exam
    detects worms and other parasites
  • Senior Dental/Oral Examination and Cleaning
    promote oral and overall health
  • Complete Blood Count, Urinalysis, and Age-Appropriate Chemistry Panel
    screen for hidden signs of disease

Visit us

Phone number

(618) 281-7161

Our address

201 McCrosky Professional Park
Columbia, IL 62236

Phone number

(618) 281-7161

Business hours

Important! See vacation notice at top of page.

Mon and Tues 7a - 7p
Wednesdays 9a - 5p
Thursdays Closed
Fridays 8a - 4p
Sat
Medication pickups only
9a - 11a
Sun Closed

Emergencies

You may reach Dr. Flaum after hours through his answering service at (877) 570-6272 for guidance in an emergency, including locating emergency care.