What to Expect at Emergency Veterinary Hospitals for Pets
Emergency veterinary hospitals usually open between 5 to 7 pm and close between 8 to 10 am on weekdays. Most are open 24 hours on weekends and holidays.
Your pet's regular veterinarian, like most regular veterinary practices, has regular business hours, usually opening sometime between 7 to 9 am and closing somewhere between 5 to 7 pm. During these hours, your regular veterinarian is available to provide emergency treatment for your pet if needed.
However, if your pet emergency occurs after-hours, your pet may need to visit one of the emergency veterinary hospitals in your area.
Just as in human emergency hospitals, these facilities operate on a first-come, first served system. However, if your pet emergency is life threatening, your pet will be treated immediately.
Most emergency veterinary hospitals for pets are staffed by several competent veterinarians, veterinary technicians and assistants. Some have additional veterinarians and specialists on call should the need arise. Many clinics have state of the art equipment; some have only basic emergency room necessities.
Although your regular veterinarian may allow you to stay with your pet during routine office visits and other treatments, some emergency veterinary hospitals may request that you remain in the waiting room while your pet is receiving treatment. Some pet owners may feel uncomfortable leaving their pet in the hands of someone they do not know. However, the emergency treatment of your pet should be your most important concern.
Depending on the nature of the pet emergency, most pets will be able to return home with their owners after their treatment. However, if the pet emergency is critical or life-threatening, some pets may need to be hospitalized at the facility. If this is the case, these pets, along with their patient charts, must be transferred to their regular veterinarian offices in the morning hours when they close.
Payment for services at most emergency veterinary hospitals is required immediately after treatment, and most accept cash, checks and major credit cards. Some hospitals may also require a deposit for hospitalized pets.
Do you know the locations of the emergency veterinary hospitals in your area? If not, do a Google search or ask your regular veterinarian to recommend one. You never know when a pet emergency will happen.
For emergency veterinary hospitals in the Atlanta area, see Emergency Veterinary Hospitals in Atlanta
Published by Sunshine Wilson
Sunshine is a freelance writer, a certified professional dog trainer and an electrical engineering consultant. View profile
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23 Comments
Post a CommentThanks for sharing this important information
This is really good and for us especially being animal rescuers. Great info Sunshine.
Great information, Sunshine!!
Thomas Jefferson University has a great Vet hospital. I remember calling them once, years ago, on a Friday night because my cat had a big what appeared to be boil on her neck. They talked me through bathing and breaking it, and I found that she had swallowed a needle and thread. I still remember the feeling I had pulling it out. Besides the disgust factor, that is. I felt like a God who had saved her life! I no longer have pets, and I sure do miss them. But they're just too much work and responsibility for me now.
Thanks, good work!
Great work as usual!
the emergency clinic here for animals is not very good their idea is just to put your pet down no treatment. It is a shame because I ended up having the put down my service dog because of their lack of treatment and incorrect diagnosis and treatment medications. I now will not use an emergency clinic in this city but use vets from across the river in Washington.
Good advice to have the name, location, number of the emergency vet on hand.
We've had to use one more than once. I'm so glad these places exist. One of them saved the life of our German shepherd when he had a gastric volvulus.
Good report, always scary to get the bill after!