24/7 Emergency Vet in Tucson

What To Do In A Pet Emergency

Knowing what you should expect at our emergency veterinary clinic will make the process easier for both you and your pet. 

STEP 1

Call Ahead If You Can

In an emergency, we understand you may not be able to contact us in advance, but it's always best if you can. If you have time, you can also complete our New Patient Form. 

STEP 2

Get To Our Hospital Right Away

You and your pet will be taken to an exam room, where we'll request that you complete a New Patient Form if you have not already done so. 

Each patient will be assessed by a veterinary technician and triaged based on need. The most ill or seriously wounded patients are treated first. A veterinarian will then complete a full physical exam of your pet. 

STEP 3

Determine Treatment

Once your pet has been examined, our highly skilled veterinarians will develop a treatment plan so we can provide your pet the best possible care. We will keep your primary care veterinarian updated regarding your pet's medical status and history to ensure seamless, integrated care. 

Animal Emergency FAQs

Animals in situations that require immediate attention or that could potentially be life-threatening should receive emergency veterinary care. 

• What is considered an emergency?

  The following situations are considered emergencies, and will need immediate care. If your pet has had an accident or is experiencing any of these symptoms, bring them to our hospital straight away. 

  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop 
  • Seizures and/or staggering
  • Choking, difficulty breathing or continuous coughing/gagging 
  • Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in urine
  • Inability to urinate or pass feces, or pain associated with urinating or passing feces
  • Injuries to the eye(s)
  • You know or suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s)
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea; more than two episodes in 24-hours
  • Unconsciousness
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
• What emergency services do you offer?

  Our emergency clinic offers state-of-the-art emergency care for your four-legged family members and is equipped to provide hospitalization, specialized diagnostics, and complete surgical services. Specifically, this can include:

  • Overnight monitoring, critical and intensive care
  • Advanced patient therapeutic and monitoring for emergency/critical care and surgery (including telemetry, oxygen and ventilator therapy)
  • Canine and feline blood donor program and banking, allowing us to provide blood and plasma transfusions when required
  • In-house laboratory diagnostics, which give us immediate blood test results
  • Complete and advanced medical imaging (MRI, x-ray, ultrasound, CT)
• How is an emergency hospital different from my primary care veterinarian's hospital?

  Unlike your family veterinarian, we provide only emergency and specialty care, and do not offer any routine or preventative care such as vaccinations, annual exams, etc.

  Depending on the day or shift, the emergency and critical care service at VSCT can be very fast-paced, which presents a unique set of challenges in working with a variety of pets and conditions.

  Clients are often emotionally upset due to the strain of worrying about their pet and the staff can have many demands on their time and skills. The variety in pace, unique caseload, and emotional reward of successfully treating an ill or injured pet is what sets these veterinary emergency and critical care professionals apart.

• Do I need to call ahead?

  It is always best to call us ahead if you can, but we understand that in emergency situations, this is not always possible.

  Please do not hesitate to bring your pet to our clinic for immediate attention if the situation does not allow time for you to call. 

• When is your emergency clinic open?

  We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 365 days a year to handle unexpected illness, injury and trauma. 

• What is triage? How long will we need to wait to see a vet?

  A veterinary emergency hospital is just like a human emergency department—it can be unpredictable. At all medical facilities, the most seriously wounded or most ill patients are treated first. This is known as "triage". 

  Sometimes, the most seriously ill patients don't appear that way to the untrained eye. Pets may have severe organ dysfunction, internal damage or heart problems. This triage process may not be convenient, but this is the way we must function in order to fulfill our obligation to your pet, you and your family veterinarian. 

  Cases will be prioritized based on medical need. You'll find a comfortable area for waiting and we will do our best to keep you updated regarding wait times and your pet's status. 

• Will you keep in touch with our primary care veterinarian?

  Yes, we will update your primary care veterinarian with your pet’s medical history and files to ensure seamless, integrated care.