Emergency Services

Business hours are 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays. We recommend that pet owners call ahead for guidance so that we can prepare for your arrival. If we determine through our conversation that your emergency cannot be treated at our clinic, we may send you directly to the emergency care clinic.

Contact us or the VCA Animal Emergency Hospital if you notice any of the following:

In General

• Any problem that persists longer than 24 hours
• Any problem that worsens over several hours
• Any systemic problems such as lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness, fever
• Body temperatures less than 100℉ or greater than 104℉

Gastrointestinal Problems

• Frequent bouts of vomiting or diarrhea resulting in loss of large volumes of fluid
• Inability to drink or keep water down
• Blood or black material (digested blood) in the vomit or stool
• More than three to four episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in a puppy or in a dog older than 8 years
• Vomiting following suspected ingestion of foreign material (toys, garbage, rocks, etc.)
• Suspected poisoning
• Suspected bloat

Bleeding

• Bleeding from nose, mouth, or anus
• Bleeding accompanied by bruising of the skin, especially on the abdomen
• Bleeding that cannot be stopped by applying pressure
• If blood loss is excessive
• Weakness, difficulty breathing, or reluctance to move after a bleeding episode

Lameness

• Obvious fracture of a limb
• Non-weight-bearing lameness persisting for more than 12 hours
• Swollen, painful joints, or a gait that appears as if “walking on eggshells.”
• Paralysis of one or more limbs
• Lameness that initially improves but does not resolve in 24–48 hours

Other Emergencies

• Trauma
• Venomous