Although it’s never pleasant to think of your pet in distress, it can help to have a clear understanding with a plan of action if the need presents itself. First and foremost, your general veterinary practitioner knows you and your pet best! They know that she prefers cheese treats over peanut butter treats, what she dressed up as for Halloween, and that you just had knee surgery! They not only know you and your pupper, but they have a relationship with you and them. However, in a distressing situation, they may likely be closed in the evenings and on the weekends. They deserve to have their time off, and do trust that the weekend warriors have veterinary care covered temporarily.
That being said, if your pet’s situation presents during your regular veterinary clinic’s hours, it is best to contact your regular veterinarian first. Most veterinary clinics have appointment times reserved for urgent care and/or emergency visits daily. It is wise to familiarize yourself with your preferred and established veterinary clinic’s hours and after-hours care.
If your regular clinic is closed-this is where it’s time to decide which is best: a veterinary urgent care center or a veterinary emergency care center? Which should you go to?
The veterinary urgent care movement has come from the human medicine arena. Just like you may have suddenly gotten a fever or cough, and you’d prefer to get it tended to soon by an urgent care center and not wait for relief or treatment. Veterinary urgent care utilizes the same concept. A veterinary urgent care center has veterinarians and veterinary nursing staff to identify problems, create and perform a treatment plan, and get you and your pupper out the door. These urgent care problems can be anything from your pupper’s itchy ear or skin, to having accidents in her crate that started yesterday. Simply put, issues that have your pet acting abnormally with a sudden onset or presentation. Your pet can breathe, walk, and there is no active bleeding. These issues are not life-threatening. Veterinary urgent care centers, for the most part, do not keep your pet overnight and have plans to provide information to your established veterinary clinic that night or the following day.
Veterinary emergency care centers are staffed by veterinarians and veterinary staff with a focus or specialty in treating life-threatening emergencies. An emergency visit is necessary for airway or breathing issues, active bleeding, ingestion of a toxic substance, trauma to a limb, to name a few. Your pet’s life is suddenly and/or clearly in danger. These emergency hospitals are prepared to stabilize, hospitalize, admit overnight, and potentially perform surgery if needed, and have veterinary specialists on staff. Both sets of urgent care and emergency veterinarians and their staff members are highly trained individuals and ready to provide relief from pain and stress relief to you and your sweet pupper in a distressing situation. They are a valuable asset to your puppers’ wellness and well-being!
By Brigette Dean-Hines, DVM
Derby City Veterinary Services: Mobile and House Calls
502-758-5558
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