Animals: Large and Small

Most veterinary offices are only open during the day, so if your pet has an emergency medical condition that needs treatment in the middle of the night, you will need to take them to a veterinary emergency room. Hopefully you never find yourself in this situation, but if you ever do, it will be helpful if you know what to expect. Keep reading, and that's just what you will learn.

Expect to get faster service if you call ahead.

If you were to just show up at the veterinary ER, they would let you in and treat your pet. However, it is better to call ahead. You can call from your car when you are on your way. This way, the veterinary ER will know you are on your way, and they will get a chance to prepare for your arrival. If your pet is in truly bad shape, this can allow them to get faster treatment, which helps increase their chances of a good outcome.

Expect your pet to be whisked away from you.

You're probably used to staying with your pet when they receive treatment at the normal vet's office. However, things operate a bit differently at a veterinary emergency room. In many cases, your pet will be whisked away from you when you step in the door. You will be taken to the side and asked to fill out paperwork. This approach simply allows the vets to get to work on your pet faster. Once the vets have evaluated your pet and made sure they are stable, you will generally be allowed to see your pet again.

Expect to have to make quick decisions.

Once your pet has been evaluated, the vets will give you treatment options. You may have to quickly make a decision whether to have your pet undergo surgery, to euthanize them, or to take them home and wait to see the normal vet in the morning. The vets will do their best to offer you guidance in this decision, but it will be your decision, and it's not always an easy one. So, if you think you may struggle to make such decisions for your pet, consider calling a friend or family member while your pet is receiving their initial treatment. This person can come join you at the veterinary ER and help you make these tough decisions.

You should now have a better idea of what to expect if your pet ever ends up in the veterinary emergency room. These facilities offer excellent care for pets in bad health.

To learn more, contact a resource like the Animal Emergency Clinic.