Royal Treatment Veterinary Center

I came to Royal with my 7 y/​o dog after several attempts with our usual vet to resolve stomach issues. the other vet was pretty conventional and i am very holistic, so I thought Royal would be a good fit. I have to say the vets i worked with and the staff are all friendly and really seem to love animals and their job, which was not true of the last place (the vet techs always seemed to be bothered). There is a bit of throwing remedies at every symptom rather than suggesting home remedies or telling you what to buy (most of their remedies are human remedies sold at Whole Foods, Merz Apothecary, etc) but they sell the remedies at a price at least double what it would cost elsewhere/​online. Several remedies have failed to resolve my dog’s issues, but that’s not even why I’m unhappy.
I recently began also bringing my new puppy, so now I was going with 2 dogs (meaning I spend a lot of money here) and on a recent rushed visit at the end of the day on Friday, i was sold 2 supplements at a cost of $ 40 (one for foot inflammation and the other for «dreaming» when i mentioned my puppy whines in her sleep). When i got home, i realized one was a homeopathic i already own, so i didn’t need theirs and the other supplement i just decided to wait on, seeing as so many of the other remedies never worked for either dog. I didn’t use or open either bottle and they still had shrink-​wrapped seals; I never even took them out of the bag. They refused to take them back, saying it’s their policy to not take back any medications because I «could have tampered with it» and «that it’s the law». I might be able to understand if I was a new, unknown customer. I spoke with the person at the desk, then the manager who spoke with Dr. Royal (who i have never seen. Don’t bother talking to the doctors who know me and know that I’m not going to poison the remedies and return them). In all the times i was there, spending lots of $$$, never did they tell me in advance or print on the receipt or post any sign that once you walk out with medications, there is no refund, even if they are sealed/​unopened. Rather than eat the $ 10 it probably cost them for the unneeded supplements, in order to keep an otherwise happy, paying customer, they were just fine when I said i was taking my business elsewhere and would write a poor Unilocal.That, to me, says money is bottom line. That’s very disappointing, but I’d rather pay less and have crabby techs. I can figure out my own remedies and maybe they will even work.

After spending thousands of dollars and 3+ years on my dog with no real results. We finally find a medicine that gives my now older dog (8 years old) relief, They have now declined to refill his prescription until I come back for another $ 300 visit.
Thanks I appreciate it!

Big, big fan! Smart, personalized diagnoses and continuing care. Our dog is very much a beloved family member and there is nobody else I would trust the extent that I trust Dr. Royal.

I finally found a vet that suits my dog’s and my holistic vet care needs! Dr Royal spent a lot of time with us at our check up. She was patient, kind and knowledgeable. And although I will not be taking out a second mortgage on my house to feed my dog the recommended raw food diet, I feel very good about Dr Royal and her practice. She doesn’t «upsell» or recommend unnecessary vaccines, medications, or procedures. Dr Royal is a great fit for us!

I have been taking my two dogs to Royal Treatment for just about two years now, and I am so happy I found them. It took me a long time to find a vet I trust in Chicago; someone who took time getting to know my dogs and understand their unique quirks – one has bad allergies and one has some behavioral issues.
Both my dogs are small and both have had bad reactions to vaccines in the past, and I appreciate that Dr. Stimac took this seriously! With my past vet, I expressed my concerns and wanted to discuss options, but all I was told was that it’s better to be safe than sorry and I should just treat the bad reactions after vaccinations. After meeting with Dr. Stimac, I found out that there were other options and that actually… all the vaccines I’d been giving my dogs weren’t all completely required or necessary based on where I live and where I take my dogs.
I have now had my dogs on a raw food diet for 2 years, and the allergies are gone, the dry skin is gone, and they even shed less. My dog with behavioral issues was referred to a trainer and a «leash aggression» course. The vets at Royal Treatment truly care about the whole well-​being of your pet, and I will be a lifelong client!

Dr Royal and her team have created the best veterinary center in Chicago. They provide expertise, dedication, and most importantly they care deeply about their patients and their families. They are committed and go above and beyond. We are fortunate and grateful that they have cared for our two golden retrievers.

This is what a vet practice should be like in 2014. Pushing the benefits of high quality dog food, questioning the need for vaccines, and taking advantage of natural treatment options rather than jumping to antibiotics and Rimadyl as a solution for everything. The vets here don’t think you’re a bad owner if you don’t feed your dog raw food and you give your dog vaccines. There’s no right or wrong answer. You simply get «holistic» opinions and options here that you won’t get at other vets. You can decide for yourself which way you want to go. My dog is getting older and arthritic and Dr. Royal has offered unique treatment options such as natural anti-​inflammatory, joint injections, and water therapy. Overall I feel like the doctors here expect a higher quality of life for dogs and I’m on board with that. I’ve bounced around different vets for years and I feel confident in Dr. Royal’s experience and approach to animal care.

Just got off phone with royal treatment. I left message the day prior to find out if cats with a history of kidney stones and a dog with Gi issues are even candidates for a raw diet. The receptionist called back today to make appt. ok, this place left a bad vibe.
I asked her if a vet could call me back, with an opinion to the above question, before I make an appointment. can cats with a history of stones and a dog with a history of GI issues … Are they even candidates for a special diet raw food or other? She said they won’t even call me without a consult and examining my pets. I said these are generic questions and if the answer is yes then great we can continue. But if the answer is no… There’s no point. Car rides & Vet appointments can be stressful to animals and why would I put them through that for no reason? She said they don’t call people without appointments.
Seriously!!! That tells me this place is all about money. And FYI — I would have been their DREAM client cause I would spare no expense when it comes to my pets’ well being. But hell, at least give people the impression you care before they open their wallets blindly to you. And from the other reviews I’ve read, that’s pretty much what you’re doing.
As someone who’s been in pet care for the past couple decades, I don’t tell people that call me with behavioral or special needs questions that I can’t speak to them while they’re off the clock. In fact, that’s a great way to lose both current & potential clients. Show you care and people will trust you!
I know docs have liability issues, but these were generic questions. Nope — won’t go here.
Maybe this was an isolated incident? Maybe the receptionist didn’t know if she gave a message to a vet that they would call back? That’s the only reason giving 2 stars instead of one.

very knowledgeable
i walked away feeling confident i had a great plan in place for the continued health of my senior cat. i was presented with options i hadn’t tried before and was pleasantly surprised with the results. i feel confident my senior cat will grow old gracefully with good, sound medical advice from the center.

I am very pleased with the approach to vaccinations, holistic medicine and the overall level of care. There is no doubt they love animals and genuinely care for their welfare.
However, they are zealots when it comes to the raw diet. I do not appreciate being lectured about how terrible a dog owner I am (if I was so bad, why would I be going there?) and how I am feeding him all the wrong foods. For the record, I am feeding my dog a raw/​kibble diet based in part on their recommendation.
They are also quite expensive. I paid $ 400+ for an exam, bloodwork and an off-​putting lecture on my many failings as a dog owner.
I moved out of the city and therefore, will not be returning. I would recommend this clinic to those who: are looking for a great vet, do not want to over vaccinate their pets, and want a holistic approach to veterinary care.

Our little boy has a neck injury. Our Vet Dr. Stimac is fabulous. Dr. Royal also stepped in to help. Dr. Royal is very pleasant and such a caring touch. What a great team at Royal Treatment. The massage therapist Pam fell in love with our little boy. Pam made our little boy so calm and Pam’s reiki skills are tremendous. I am so grateful to have a team with in driving distance. I have been to other holistic vets that are not as attentive and would NEVER call to check on how our fur babies are doing after a visit.

This is a great practice. Dr Royal and her team are committed to wellness.
They have great vet techs that really care about your pet. Michelle is one of the kindest people I have met and I know when my dog is in her hands she is safe and cared for. If you have a pet with chronic illness this is the place for you.

Dr. Maria VonderHaar is an amazing vet! My partner and I have raised dogs prior to our new puppy. So we know the importance of finding a vet who reflects similar views to your own. Dr. VonderHaar is fun and a great communicator who clearly loves dogs.
We had a phone consult before our 1^st visit and Dr. VonderHaar answered our questions about her approach to puppy care & vaccines. We’re thrilled with her responses having done our own research on best practices.
Dr. VonderHaar is an experienced vet. That’s evident by watching Dr. VonderHaar diagnose and clean our puppies ear from a yeast infection. And then clip his nails without any reaction! This visit our puppy couldn’t wait to get on her lap again! When she gave him a vaccine, he didn’t move a muscle or make a peep! She’s the puppy whisperer!
We saw through our senior girl dog how amazing raw food was for her energy levels. Dr. VonderHaar is not only supporting our decision to transition our puppy to a raw food plan. We LOVE her suggestions on how to make the transition smoother on his digestive system.
My partner and I feel truly blessed to have found Dr. Maria VonderHaar — a knowledgeable and supportive vet with the BEST bedside manner!
I’m also very impressed by the Dr Royal’s section on Raw food in her book «The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets». I purchased a copy for my iPad so i could do quick searches on specific topics.
The Royal Treatment Veterinary team all reflect this similar and forward-​thinking approach to animal care which I find SO refreshing!

Dr. Royal and her staff are great, thorough, opinionated and overall, very helpful. I came with my two healthy dogs for an annual checkup for the first time and everything was very personable. The individual rooms are awesome and you’re immediately taken care of by Dr. Royal’s assistant who takes a history and discusses some of the problems you’re having. Dr. Royal comes next and she’s great with the dogs. They have extreme hopes for a ‘raw’ diet with dogs (?!?) and had a lot to say about how I’m overfeeding my dogs (even though they’re not overweight) and how dry dog food is sort of like devil food for dogs (ugh!!!). On to shots — I love their approach. They take a blood test right off the bat to see whether the animal actually needs to be vaccinated or whether the last shot is still in their system. Sounds like a money saver to me if they don’t need all of these yearly shots that I’ve been getting at VCA Lakeshore! Of course, after a 2-​hour visit for both dogs, shots and a lengthy discussion about why feeding ½ cup of food per dog per day wasn’t going to starve them (!!!), we left feeling healthier and happier. That was, of course, until they gave me the bill. $ 907 for two healthy dogs to get an annual checkup! $ 907!!! I almost had a heart attack and did cry a little afterwards. I came here initially because a friend had told me they were cheaper than the traditional vet (VCA always charged me $ 250 per dog and I just thought that was outrageous!) and I would save money by not having to get all the shots, etc. Boy, were they wrong! Dr. Royal’s office should really warn someone when they’re making an initial appointment that the consultation itself is going to be $ 145 and the shots they do get are going to cost more (double in some cases) as other clinics! They also sent me home with homeopathic meds (for ease into new foods) for the pups that came to $ 65… I appreciate homeopathic meds to ease food transition but not for $ 65! And, I asked them to clean my pup’s ear (it was getting smelly) and they charged me $ 35 for that. Why does a cotton ball and a swipe of cleaning solution cost $ 35?!?
I gotta say, I had high hopes for this clinic. I still might come to get my older dog’s teeth cleaned (no anesthesia, $ 250 total), but other than that, I warn people on a budget to talk extensively with this office beforehand about how much it’s going to cost. And question the homeopathic meds they send you home with… is it something you ‘really’ need? They just gave it to me without informing me of what it’s really supposed to do and how much I’m really investing in. Too bad, really… I thought that maybe I had found my new vet. Instead, I have to postpone my upcoming vacation to pay for this vet visit. Ugh…

We just started coming here (transferred from Roscoe Village Animal Hospital) and so far — I’M IMPRESSED. Out dog was having neurological «episodes» and in a lot of pain. Our former vet gave him pain meds, which helped, but after 2 weeks, it wasn’t stopping. We were on the verge of making decisions — it was that bad. We decided on a second opinion and came here. The first visit, they did a complete analysis and said «you know he has an ear infection — I can smell it». Huh? Well two days later he snapped out of it. So relieved. We will investigate his diet next as they are a big raw food high protein promoters. Try this place out. It’s different.

I think Dr. Royal is a fabulous option for those seeking natural treatment options for their pets. She has really helped educate me on the best diet, healthy vs. unhealthy foods, vaccinations, etc. Royal Treatment has a great concept. I think everyone should try it, especially to learn about the best nutrition for your animal (s). They give very informative and valuable nutrition advice at the first exam!
I’ve recently gone to another clinic for a general exam, blood work, and dental work. I must say that the general exam at this other clinic was more thorough, less rushed, very informative, and less expensive.
Most likely I will continue at both clinics because I see the value at both. I will continue at the other clinic for annual physicals, bloodwork, and dental. It’s a lot cheaper and the quality is amazing for these services. Vaccinations, nutrition, natural medications, etc I will go to Dr. Royal.

I love Dr. Royal and everyone at the Royal Treatment Vet Center! I have been feeding my cats a raw food diet but the previous vet was not keen on that and really couldn’t seem to get past it. In the process of looking for a raw food friendly vet in Chicago, I found Dr. Royal who literally wrote the book on the benefits of a raw diet!
The pro-​raw was a plus, but what really won me over was watching her interact with my cats. Anyone who has taken a cat to the vet knows how traumatizing this can be for everyone involved. My normally calm, loving cat drew blood from the previous vet’s hand the first time I took all 3 lbs of her for her first visit as a kitten.
But the Royal Treatment Center is designed to not be traumatizing. The rooms are set up without the ominous metal table and with a bed on the floor plus some chairs to hide under. To help calm down my cat, Dr. Royal even threw a towel over one of the chairs so that my cat was completely hidden. And then (and this is truly the best part) she does the exams on her lap! All the while talking to my cat and soothing her. Amazing! This woman is like the cat whisperer! She made every attempt to not only not-​traumatize my cat, but to actually put her at ease. We’ve seen Dr. Royal several times now and my cat has not even made an attempt to bite her… which is really the best review a cat can give a veterinarian.

All hail Dr. Royal!
She set me, and my extremely ill GSD, on a healing path to the fabulous animal I have today.
I rescued my male German Shepherd at 7 months, and he was bone thin. This is common with rescues, so I figured I could beef him up right quick. I couldn’t, even after serving him home cooked chicken and rice four times a day. Everything just «came out». He was a paltry 63 pounds.
Long story short, he was diagnosed with Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It is a horrific Autoimmune Disease that is prevalent in GSD’s.
My regular vet at the time wanted to just fill him with Prednisone and a host of other meds, which not only didn’t work, but were costing me BIG bucks. Even with this treatment, he was still a very thin, sick animal.
I went to Dr. Royal for a second opinion, and am SO glad I did.
She spent a great deal of time with both me and my GSD, went over all his previous vet records, his meds, and the ingredient list of the crappy Iams food my former vet had recommended.
She explained that especially in young animals, proper nutrition can help the body heal itself. She suggested a raw diet and some other holistic treatments. I was skeptical but felt that all other avenues were exhausted.
Royal Treatment Vet Center is not cheap, but I was spending so much on meds that didn’t work. In the long run Dr. Royal was a bargain!
Low and behold, overtime his health improved vastly.
I am happy to report that he now weighs a healthy 95 pounds and is a happy boy.
He will never be «cured»; his disease still rarely manifests itself in one way or another, but he is at optimum health, considering.
Dr. Royal gave me hope and a treatment plan that worked, and for that I will be forever grateful!

Dr. Royal has been exactly what we were looking for. It’s wonderful to have a veterinarian that is not closed off to new approaches in caring for our lovely companions. The staff is always lovely and they understand that all animals don’t get along. The stable concept is a brilliant way to avoid issues, in comparison to many places thst just shove you in a waiting room and hope for the best.
One thing to know, it will be expensive, but if you work with her, she doesn’t focus on trying to keep your pet coming in time after time. In fact, they are very opinionated about the kinds of shots you shouldn’t get, how to improve diet and general health consulting that make a big difference. These kinds of insights are great because it has helped us come less frequently and our pup has been much healthier than ever.
Before she was starting to get a little extra chub and had some issues that our previous vet would just throw meds at and scoffed at our concerns for more generic diets. It’s awesome to have someone that understands and encourages our choice to go raw.

my 13 year old Pinscher has Wobbler’s and was dependent on meds. Since he cant have surgery, i tried to look for an alternative to get him to be well without meds. i so wanted this to work. BASED ON THE GLOWING REVIEWS on THIS site (i am still baffled), i chose to go there. upon the 1^st visit, a dietician explained that switching to raw food is absolutely necessary for the treatment to work. i told her that it takes a lot of time for the body to start improving with diet change. her response AND the doctor’s response have consistently been «no, not necessarily. it works quickly». i was surprised by this answer.
upon leaving, i got the nice $ 350 bill which included «holistic meds» which were not mentioned to me BEFORE i got the bill. do you know how much time the Dr spends with you for $ 80/​session? no kidding: **2 minutes**. it consists of 1 shot, sometimes 2 or 3, that’s it.
fine. if that helps, then i am willing.
4^th visit: my dog was still very dependent on meds. even ONE missed dose of pain killer would get him right back to where he was before we went there. so i asked the dr why isnt he AT LEAST surviving one missed dose of pain killer, if acupuncture is helping. her response: «well you havent switched him to raw food». FINE. so i went to get this raw food the same day. my dog since then had been on raw diet for 2 weeks.
6^th visit: she decided that my dog was much better (she just wanted to make me feel that her treatment was working) and recommended we take him off meds. VERY stupid idea.
the minute i took off the med that day, my dog was in intense pain. i had to give him all the meds again and actually INCREASE the dosage to what it was BEFORE we went to Dr R.
i called the center to speak with her. Alas, Dr R is not blessed with great communication/​interpersonal skills. she doesnt connect well with patients/​parents. She is reserved, expresses herself with short dry sentences and is often defensive. She always seems to be telling u that she can charge you but she doesnt owe u explanation and that she doesnt care much about how u feel about what she does (even when you dont question it).
the question i had was:
you told me that my dog was not improving not because acupuncture doesnt work, but because he wasnt on raw diet yet and you said the raw food helps pretty quickly. now that he has been on raw food for 2 full weeks, what is the reason why he is deteriorating, IF treatment is helpful? i am NOT expecting him to recover, i am only asking for him to AT LEAST be stable.
i repeatedly ASKED to speak with the dr, and the dr refused to talk and repeatedly sent assistants to call.
the last one said the doctor prefer$ to $ee me and my dog at the center. and of course, be charged more $ lol.
i call the next day and ask why did i not get a call from the dr instead? later in the afternoon, i get a call and if shooting someone could be done with words, that would be it: «hi. it’s dr Royal.» that’s it. She is calling to communicate, yet she shoots the minute you pick up the phone. i was shocked. i asked my question, and… her response?
«well it takes some time for raw food to start helping the system». i responded that this is not what she had told me repeatedly earlier, and if acupuncture is helping AT ALL, just a LLLITTLE BIT, then why is my dog deteriorating? her response: «i have 10 years experience… holistic medicine works»??? i told her i need an argument and that i never said holistic medicine doesnt work. if i ask why acupuncture doesnt work, she blames the diet. and when he is on the right diet, she says it takes time, and that it may take more time and $essions.
SO i told her that since yesterday, my dog has been refusing raw food. i asked «now that he is no longer on the raw food, does it mean we should stop acupuncture? since the diet is so important?»
her response? lol «not necessarily, the acupuncture helps with this and that etc… «lol
u see, she wants to have it both ways: Acupuncture only works if you use the raw food (by the way she appeared on tv promoting some brand$ which they recommend on their list). and if you dont give your dog raw food, you should still use acupuncture. but dont expect results!!! LOL
she was COMPLETELY unable to give sensible arguments. those people take FULL FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE of those with sick or disabled dogs because they know we dont have much choice, and that they have very little competition.
i have NO idea how other reviewers are saying good things. maybe she’s good at the basic stuff, like a lot of other vets. but i noticed NONE of those she supposedly helped «walk again», have written any reviews. strange.
But when u are selling ABSURD ideas to desperate people, the least you can do is learn how to deal with humans.
AND GUESS WHAT: YOU DO OWE THEM EXPLANATIONS. THEY ARE PAYING YOU, FYI.
apparently, 10 years of experience have not been enough for her to learn the basics of decency and ETHICS.
shame on her, she is a ROYAL SCAM.