We are here to keep your pet healthy and well.

Sometimes, your pet becomes ill or injured. What should you do if your pet needs treatment? Please come in to see one of our veterinarians. We see pets 6 days a week, appointments are preferred but we will accept walk-ins. To best serve your pet in an emergency, please call us before you arrive so we can prepare our staff and facility for your pet’s needs.

What should you do if you have an emergency after hours?
Please call, then immediately take your pet to:
Veterinary Emergency Center • 3312 West Cary Street, Richmond • (804) 353-9000 • MAP

or

Virginia Referral & Critical Care • 1596 Hockett Road, Manakin-Sabot • (804) 784-8722 • MAP

or

Veterinary Emergency Center South • 2460 Colony Crossing Place • (804) 744-9800 • MAP

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Life Threatening Emergencies

Severe Bleeding
Broken Legs
Pets hit by cars
Continuous Seizures
Inability to Deliver Puppies or Kittens
Contact us if labor contractions last for longer than one hour or if there is more than 15 minutes of labor with the fetus or membrane showing.

Gastric Distention (Bloat)
Bloat is typically seen in large, deep-chested breeds. Signs include a distended (large and swollen) abdomen, drooling due to difficulty swallowing, and an inability to get comfortable. This condition can rapidly lead to shock and death if not treated immediately.

Urinary Blockage
Usually seen in male cats, but can occur in male dogs and, less commonly, in female dogs and cats. Animals strain to urinate frequently with little or no urine produced. This emergency can lead to kidney failure, bladder rupture, and death, if not treated quickly.

Pyometra (infection of the uterus)
Signs include discharge from the vagina, excessive urination and drinking. By the time signs are visible, infection is already present and she may already be experiencing kidney failure and other serious changes. Emergency surgery is frequently necessary.

Poisoning
Anytime you suspect your pet has swallowed poison, you should contact us immediately. Some common household items that are poisonous to pets are: antifreeze, rat and mouse poison, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and chocolate. If you pet has ingested something not intended for consumption, please contact us immediately.

Non-Life Threatening Emergencies
This type of emergency comprises most cases seen at emergency clinics and is very long and diverse. Often the first sign in these types of emergencies is a behavior change. If you believe a significant change in behavior has occurred, seek veterinary attention soon. It is better for us to determine nothing is seriously wrong than for a true emergency to go untreated.

Prevention
Remember that most pets are inquisitive and that young, teething pets frequently put foreign objects in their mouths. Attend obedience class and keep your pets controlled and away from traffic; spay and neuter all non-breeding animals; keep poisons away from pets and try and keep your pet calm before and after eating.