Emergency Veterinarian

The following situations are considered emergencies and will require immediate veterinary care.

• 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 nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in 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

If your pet has an accident or is experiencing any of the symptoms below, bring them into our emergency veterinary office as soon as possible.

At the emergency department of The Regional Veterinary Referral Center, we offer state-of-the-art emergency veterinary services for your four-legged family members.

We are equipped to provide diagnostics, a comprehensive range of surgical services, and critical care when required. 

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Medicine is a veterinary specialty that can save a pet’s life. Should your pet become injured, or suddenly develop an acute, life-threatening disease, he or she will require prompt emergency care. In addition to the initial emergency treatment, in some cases, many days may be needed for the disease process to run its course before recovery occurs.

During this time, close monitoring and advanced life support measures in the critical care unit (CCU) may be needed. Much of what happens in the critical care setting is initially planned for and started in the emergent phase of the disease.

A vigilant team led by a veterinarian who is specially trained in emergency and critical care medicine will improve the quality of care your pet receives during this crucial time, resulting in a greater likelihood that he or she will survive. Critical care clinicians communicate daily with pet owners and involve the referring veterinarian in the ongoing management of their patients.

While veterinary critical care and emergency services have some overlap — both deal with seriously ill or injured animals — there are some important differences between these two services. 

Veterinary emergency services treat pets that are suffering from serious and acute illness or injury that requires intensive and immediate care. 

In comparison, veterinary critical care services also deal with serious illness and injury, but do so in cases where animals require 24/7 monitoring, complex treatments and crate rest in a medical environment to help them recover. 

So, while veterinary emergency services at our clinic may transfer our patients to critical care after initial triage and treatment, not all emergencies will require critical care. Likewise, in situations where a pet has undergone major planned surgery, they will require critical care to remain stable and begin their recovery without every having been a veterinary emergency case. 

If you can, it's always best to call us ahead of your arrival, but we understand emergency situations can develop very quickly and that this is not always possible. 

If your pet's condition does not allow time for you to call ahead, that doesn't mean you can bring them in for care. Don't hesitate to bring your companion into our emergency facility for immediate veterinary medical attention. 

It is always best to call us ahead if you can, but we understand that in emergency situations that's not always possible.

We are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

Our critical care services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

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 the status of your pet.  

Yes! As you leave the hospital, you will be given a copy of your pet’s record including all X-rays and results of diagnostic tests. The attending doctor will contact your regular veterinarian upon discharge to notify them of your visit, and we remain available to them even after your pet’s stay with us is completed.

We understand that it takes much more than just medical skills to fully care for animals. It takes compassion and dedication – something to remember as you consider the kind of care you want to give your pet. We care about that one special pet – yours!