If you've ever watched an emergency room show on television, you know that the ER functions like an independent wing of the hospital. In the emergency room, doctors and staff are prepared to deal with life and death issues without delay. The same is true for veterinary emergency clinics which might handle trauma cases, poisonings and a variety of medical emergencies.
Not all veterinary clinics offer emergency services. Make sure to check with your veterinarian on what you should do in case of emergency. While some clinics offer 24-hour emergency services, other emergency clinics are typically open during the times when general veterinary practices are closed.
Since emergencies require immediate attention, make sure you are very familiar with what you should do in case the need arises. Know who to call and where you'll be going. It just might mean the difference between life and death for your pet.
An emergency clinic will allow you to get the best possible care for your sick or injured pet outside of regular business hours. They also allow for the treatment of critically ill patients needing round-the-clock monitoring and care.
If you're not sure whether or not your regular veterinarian's office is open, call them first. If their office is closed, you will most likely get an answering machine or service with instructions to call the local emergency service. Some veterinarians may have pager service, and you may be able to page your doctor and obtain advice directly from him/her on your emergency. If you know your regular clinic is closed, or if the emergency is clearly life-threatening and you cannot wait for your regular vet to answer a page, you can call the emergency clinic directly. You can even go directly to the emergency clinic, although most clinics find it helpful if you can call ahead.
Not all general practices see emergency cases. If they do, many operate on a pager system, and you will need to have the doctor paged, have the page answered, then meet the doctor at the clinic - often this takes more time than the drive to an emergency facility. In a life-threatening emergency, this time lost waiting can be critical to your pet's recovery. Once you arrive at the emergency clinic, treatment can begin immediately.
A visit to the local emergency clinic will cost more on average than a typical visit to your regular veterinarian. But remember, most visits to the emergency clinic are not for 'typical' things. Your pet is more likely to require procedures that would cost more at any time of day. Most emergency clinics require payment at the time services are rendered, therefore it is important that you be prepared for emergencies with your pets. Many emergency clinics offer financing arrangements through third-party financing companies.
In most cases, the doctors at the emergency clinic address life-threatening conditions, stablize your pet, and then transfer your pet back to your regular veterinarian at the start of the next business day for continuing care. The emergency doctor will ask you about your pet's medications and medical history, similar to a human emergency room doctor asking you about your medical history and allergies.
Just like a human emergency facility, appointments are not an option. Emergency clinics function on a triage basis - that is, the most critical cases are treated first. Upon arrival at the clinic, your pet will be assessed by the triage staff. Any animal that is deemed to be unstable or critical will be taken directly to the treatment area for assessment and initial stablization by the veterinarian on duty, and the costs for the initial stablization will be discussed with you. The staff and veterinarian will do their best to communicate with you about your pet's condition during this process, but often a detailed explanation of what is happening with your pet must wait until your pet is stable. Be aware that the veterinarian understands how frightening this process can be for you, and know that they will speak to you as soon as possible about your pet.
An animal that is stable may have to wait until critical animals are stablized. Stable animals are treated on a first-come-first-served basis.
In any case, you will be asked to fill out patient information forms. Once the veterinarian has examined your animal, he or she will discuss your pet's condition with you, and an estimate for diagnostics and treatment will be prepared for your approval. Depending on your pet's condition, the veterinarian may recommend hospitalizing your pet, or may treat your pet on an 'outpatient' basis (give medications for treatment at home).
In most cases, if your pet is hospitalized, he/she will be transferred back to your regular veterinarian's care at the start of the next business day. You should be prepared to transport your pet to your regular veterinarian's office early that morning. Exceptions to this would be when your pet is not stable for transport, needs the care of specialists that may be available in the emergency clinic facility, or if your veterinarian requests that your pet's care be continued at the emergency clinic (if daytime care is available at that clinic). Note that the transfer of your pet's care to a specialist is the decision of your regular veterinarian, not the emergency veterinarian.
Most emergency clinics do not offer general veterinary services such as vaccinations, neutering, etc. These services should be obtained from your regular veterinarian.