FAQs | PAWS Chicago

For any animal at the Lurie Clinic for spay/neuter, we offer optional basic annual preventive services including vaccinations for Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella. We also offer canine heartworm testing, feline FeLV/FIV combo testing and microchipping. After surgery, every pet receives a complimentary nail trim and ear cleaning prior to waking up.

We offer a Vaccine Clinic for pets who have already been spayed or neutered. This clinic is available by appointment only on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting at noon. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, please contact our Customer Service Representatives by phone Sunday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (773) 521-7729.

Unfortunately, no. PAWS Chicago is not a full-service animal hospital. We do not see sick or injured pets. In the event of an illness or injury, please see your private veterinarian for treatment as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, no. We can only perform surgeries on healthy animals. If your animal is sick, he must be treated—and completely finished with any prescribed antibiotics—prior to the appointment.

You can contact the Brighton Park Animal Hospital at (773) 254-1111. They are located at 3779 S. Archer, Chicago, IL 60632.

We offer basic products, such as Frontline Plus for flea and tick prevention, Heartgard Plus for heartworm prevention and Revolution for heartworm, flea and parasite prevention

Yes. We understand that cost may be a barrier, and we are committed to making spay/neuter surgeries available to all. We offer different tiers of pricing depending on factors such as location and financial need. If you live in a PAWS Chicago Targeted ZIP code and/or have a medical card (public assistance), you may qualify for reduced-cost surgeries. Please note that at this time we do not accept disability, Medicare or SNAP cards for discounts.

We require that the person whose name is on the front of the medical card (same side as the address) is the person who brings in the animal for the appointment. On the day of the surgery, that person must supply a current copy of the medical card and picture ID with matching name and address to qualify for any discounts.

Different animals require different resources. The Lurie Clinic may assess additional fees in certain circumstances. 

Yes. Cardboard cat carriers are available for $5 each.

The Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic accepts cash, money order, MasterCard and Visa. We accept personal checks, but your address and phone number must be printed on the upper left-hand corner of the check and you must have a matching picture ID. Full payment is due at the time of check-in on the morning of surgery.

In order to ensure there are enough appointments to meet demand, we ask that each eligible client schedule no more than five pets at any given time for the low-cost or free surgery program. Feral cats are limited to five per customer per day. (See Feral/Rescue Information for more details.)

We do not feel that declawing cats is a humane option for curbing your cat from his natural desire to scratch. As a courtesy, we trim nails during your pet’s surgical visit. Please consult our information on scratching and positive alternatives to declawing.

Due to potential breed-specific complications, we do not perform surgery on sighthounds (including greyhounds, miniature or Italian greyhounds, whippets, Afghan hounds, Irish wolfhounds, Russian wolfhounds), English bulldogs or French bulldogs. Doberman Pinschers need to provide negative results of a von Willebrand’s test or proof of previous surgery.

All breeds of cats are welcome for surgery.

PAWS Chicago performs surgeries on pets eight weeks of age and older who are two pounds or greater. Find out more about the importance of early spay/neuter for puppies and kittens. 

Age limitations for spay/neuter are the same for any surgery requiring general anesthesia. A pre-surgical blood panel is required to assess health issues or risks for pets 6 years old and older. The results will be available same day. If there are any medical concerns, you will need to authorize that we proceed with spay/neuter after understanding the risks. In the event your pet’s blood levels are not within a normal range, our veterinarians may elect to cancel the surgery for your pet’s safety.

The surgery itself will not cause your pet to become fat or lazy, nor will it cause a negative change in your pet’s personality. In fact, your pet may become easier to live with. Learn more about the benefits of spay/neuter. 

Yes. We can still perform spay surgery on pets that are in heat. However, there may be an additional charge due to additional complications and costs. When scheduling your appointment, please let us know your pet is in heat so we can provide an accurate quote.