What To Do In Case Of Emergency
When faced with an emergency situation, there are three steps you should follow to ensure the comfort and safety of you and your pet.
STEP 1
Call In Advance Whenever Possible
Understandably, you may not be able to give us a call before arrival when dealing with an emergency, but it is in you and your pet's best interest to try to and call us before arriving for triage. Our staff can prepare for your arrival to make sure any urgently required treatment is ready to go in advance, and also provide you with advice on how to handle your pet's emergency prior to your arrival at the clinic.
STEP 2
Follow Instructions And Get To Our Office As Quickly As Possible
Do not endanger yourself, dogs and cats often don't understand what is going on when they are suffering a health crisis, and might respond to attempted aid with aggression. The member of our staff who answered your earlier call may give you specific instructions on how to care for your pet, make sure you follow them as closely as possible. When you arrive, a veterinary technician will triage your pet, making sure they receive any urgent care they require. A veterinarian will perform a full exam as soon as they can, though there may be a wait if other patients are in more dire need of attention.
STEP 3
Treatment and Care
Once the assessment of your dog or cat is complete, our highly trained emergency and critical care veterinarians will determine the best course of treatment. At all stages, we will keep your primary care veterinarian updated for seamless, high-quality veterinary care. Your pet may be required to stay with us overnight for examination or treatment. In these cases, you can count on us to look after them until you can return the next day. Alternatively, you and your pet may be sent home with a prescription.
Animal Emergency Veterinary Care FAQs
Emergency veterinary care involves the treatment of animals in potentially life-threatening situations that require immediate medical attention. A situation does not need to be life-threatening to be an emergency.
However, if your pet is in great distress, it is always better to error on the side of caution and contact us if you are unable to consult with your regular veterinarian
- What is considered an emergency?
These situations are considered emergencies and will require immediate care. If your pet has had an accident or is experiencing any of these symptoms, bring them to our emergency office straight away.
- 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 remove 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
- What emergency services do you offer?
We offer state-of-the-art emergency care for your four-legged family members. Our onsite lab provides us with specialized diagnostics tools, while our onsite pharmacy is stocked with potentially life-saving medication should your pet require it. We also are equipped for supervised 24-hour hospitalization and emergency surgery when required.
- Do I need to call ahead?
It is best practice to call us ahead of your arrival whenever possible, but we understand emergency situations often develop quickly and may render this impossible.
Even if your situation does not afford you the luxury of calling in advance, please show no hesitation in seeking immediate veterinary medical attention at Inland Valley Veterinary Specialists.
- When is your emergency clinic open?
We are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- How long will we have to wait to see the vet?
Like any other emergency medical service, our veterinary emergency room has unpredictable wait times. Patients are seen according to the severity of need, we assure you that one of our vets will be with you and your dog or cat as soon as they are able. Because we cannot predict the volume or severity of emergency cases we will see on any given day, we are not able to provide you with an estimate on the wait time. We can, however, assure you that you and your pet will be provided a comfortable space while waiting for examination.
- Will you keep in touch with our primary care veterinarian?
Yes, we will keep your primary care veterinarian abreast of any developments in your pet's health, as well as any treatments or medications prescribed by our emergency veterinary staff.
Meet Our Emergency Veterinarians
Our emergency veterinarians are equipped and qualified to provide attentive emergency care 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.