What To Expect In An Emergency

• If your pet is determined to be stable, they’ll be returned to you in the waiting room. Our client care representative at the front desk will ask for your name and your pet’s name to begin a record of your visit.
• A veterinary technician will then bring you and your pet to an exam room to take a complete medical history. The technician will leave to share the medical history with the emergency doctor, then they’ll come together to the exam room to discuss your pet’s illness or injury, and any care that may be needed.
• If your pet is very ill, the client care representative may ask you to sign an emergency stabilization form that will allow our team to start treating your pet immediately. A doctor will then come to the waiting room to speak with you as soon as possible after tests and/or treatments have been started.

All of our patients are evaluated and treated by triage. Through this process, our Emergency Service objectively decides which patients should be treated first based on how severe their illness or injury is. Patients with critical or life-threatening conditions are given top priority.

While your pet is under the care of our emergency service, he or she will be cared for by a team of veterinary professionals that includes:

• An emergency veterinarian who will lead your care team
• A licensed veterinary technician who is specially trained in emergency care will monitor your pet’s condition
• A veterinary assistant who will provide supportive care for your pet
• Additional team members include board-certified specialists as well as client and patient advocates

We work hard to provide prompt care, but non-critical patients may experience a wait. Your wait time would depend on several factors:

• The nature of your pet’s condition (how severe it is)
• How busy the Emergency Service is when you arrive
• The number of pets requiring immediate treatment for serious conditions

After your pet has been seen by a veterinarian, you will likely need to wait for test results or further treatment.

Your veterinary care team will discuss your pet’s discharge plan with you. Specific instructions for follow-up care will be provided in writing along with any needed prescriptions and/or medications. Your family veterinarian will receive a copy of your pet’s medical record. You’ll also receive a bill for services rendered at the time of discharge, and payment is due at that time.

We know an emergency visit can be stressful and it’s easy to overlook things, so before you leave our hospital, please make sure you have:

• Written discharge instructions
• Prescriptions and/or medications, if needed
• All your questions were answered!