First and foremost it is important for you to remember that you know your pet better than anyone else.
If you believe your pet is having an emergency, then you are probably correct and your pet should be seen immediately.
Guideline to recognizing an emergency:
Excessive vomiting and/or diarrhea
Bleeding from any site that won’t stop
Sudden weakness
Collapse
Seizure
Toxin ingestion (for example. antifreeze, household cleaners, rat poison, prescription medications). If possible, bring in any packaging from the toxin
Any unproductive vomiting or retching, especially in medium to large breed dogs
A belly that has suddenly gotten large and tense
Inability or difficulty in passing urine or defecating (especially male cats)
Breathing difficulty
Wounds that are deep or large
Puppies, kittens, and toy breed dogs that aren’t eating or drinking
Significant trauma, including being hit by a car, jumping from a moving car, excessive bite wounds/punctures, any bite wound to the abdomen, projectile (i.e., bullet, arrow) injury, being stepped on or kicked by a large animal such as a horse.
In the event of an emergency: Please have your pet seen by your veterinarian or bring them to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as soon as possible.
It is a good idea to call your veterinarian's clinic or the VMTH prior to departing or while in route so that they can be prepared for your arrival. The VMTH does not require that you call in the case of medical emergencies.
What to expect when you arrive at the VMTH:
Enter through the Emergency Entrance
Check in with the receptionist, or call on the Emergency Telephone at the entrance if no receptionist is present
A veterinary professional will come to assess your pet to identify whether it is stable
Any animal that is unstable will be taken to the emergency veterinarian immediately
Similar to an Emergency Room for people, we see the most critical patients first and do not make appointments.
After your pet has been assessed a member of the veterinary team will talk with you and examine your pet in a private location.
The veterinarian on duty will discuss a testing and treatment plan with you for your pet and provide a financial estimate for your approval.
We try our best to provide rapid service, but since emergencies are unpredictable, sometimes the emergency service can be very busy.
Our Fees:
There is an emergency examination fee of $125.00. This is the fee for the veterinarian to do a physical examination on your pet, and to provide a plan for any testing or treatment. The veterinarian will provide a written estimate for any additional services needed.
The estimate varies depending on what the veterinarian finds during the physical examination, what kind of tests are recommended to make a diagnosis, what treatment is prescribed, and whether your pet needs to be hospitalized or can be treated as an outpatient.
