What To Do In An Emergency
Knowing what to expect when seeing one of our vets for emergency first aid, triage, and/or stabilization will make the process easier for both you and your pet. The following are the steps you should take:
STEP 1
Call Ahead If You Can
We understand that in an emergency, you may be unable to call us in advance, but it's always best if you can. If you have time, you can also complete our New Patient Form before you arrive.
STEP 2
Get To Our Office Right Away
One of our team members will accompany you to an examination room. If you haven't already, you'll be asked to fill out our New Patient Form. Your pet will be triaged by a veterinary technician before being examined thoroughly by a veterinarian.
STEP 3
Determine Treatment
After assessing your pet, our highly trained veterinarians will devise a treatment plan to ensure that they receive the best possible care. We will keep your primary care veterinarian up to date on your pet's medical history to ensure that your cat or dog receives seamless, integrated care that meets his or her needs.
Animal Emergency FAQs
Emergency veterinary care involves treating animals in situations that require immediate medical attention or could potentially be life-threatening.
- What is considered an emergency?
These situations are considered emergencies and will require immediate care. If your pet has had an accident or is experiencing any of these symptoms, bring them to our emergency office straight away.
- Obvious signs of extreme anxiety or pain
- Bleeding that hasn't stopped, or severe bleeding
- Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
- Injuries to the eye(s)
- Pain associated with passing feces or urinating, or inability to pass feces or urinate
- Bleeding from the nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in the urine
- Staggering and/or seizures
- Severe lameness, fractured bones, or inability to move legs
- You know or suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
- Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea; more than two episodes in 24-hours
- Heatstroke or heat stress
- Unconsciousness
- What emergency services do you offer?
At our emergency clinic, we offer whatever emergency services are allowed by our general practice. If your pet's needs are severe, we will stabilize them for transfer to a dedicated emergency hospital. If the emergency is treatable through medication or minor surgery, we will perform the procedure in-house to relieve your pet's distress as quickly as possible.
- Do I need to call ahead?
We recommend that you call us ahead of your arrival.
If your situation does not allow time for you to call, please do not hesitate to bring your pet to our clinic for immediate veterinary medical attention.
- How long will we have to wait to see the vet?
A veterinary emergency hospital is very similar to a human emergency department — the pace can be unpredictable and you may have to wait.
We are not able to predict which cases we will see and when they will arrive, but we will prioritize cases based on medical needs.
You'll find a comfortable area for waiting, and we will do our best to keep you updated about wait times and your pet's status.
- Will you keep in touch with our primary care veterinarian?
Yes, if we are not your primary care veterinarian we will keep them updated with your pet's medical history and files to ensure your cat or dog receives seamless and integrated care. the same is true for transfer to a specialized emergency hospital if necessary.
Our Emergency Veterinarians
Our veterinarians can provide triage and stabilization of pets for transfer to specialized emergency vets when needed. In some cases, we can perform minor surgical procedures.
