Pets can become ill or injured at any time – so where do you take them when they need to see a veterinarian right away, but your family vet isn't available?
If your pet is experiencing a pet emergency and the situation can’t wait, there may be two options available to get them care as soon as possible:
- Urgent care clinics for minor illnesses and injuries
- Emergency hospitals for critical or life-threatening conditions
Understanding the differences between the two can help you confidently get your pet the care they need based on their situation.
When should I take my pet to an urgent care vet?
If your pet’s condition is not life-threatening but you believe they need prompt care, an urgent care clinic may be your best option.
Here are a few factors to consider:
- Do I want my pet to be seen today, even if my family vet isn’t available?
- Is my pet medically stable without concern of a critical condition?
- Can I most likely take my pet home the same day? (i.e., Do they need overnight monitoring?)
- Is this a fairly straightforward concern that wouldn’t require advanced diagnostics or surgery?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, then urgent care is likely your best route of care.
When should I take my pet to an emergency vet?
If your pet’s condition is life-threatening or you believe it’s escalating to that level, you should take them to an emergency vet immediately.
If you aren’t sure, ask yourself:
- Is my pet experiencing emergency-level symptoms?
- Is there a chance my pet will need overnight monitoring, advanced diagnostics or surgery?
- Did my pet ingest a toxic substance or foreign object?
- Has my pet recently experienced physical trauma like an accident or attack?
If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, your pet likely needs immediate care at an emergency vet hospital.
What’s the difference between emergency and urgent care?
Emergency hospitals and urgent care clinics share a common goal: to help your pet feel better quickly when they’re experiencing a timely medical concern.
While the two environments are both advanced medical facilities, they have several differences, including:
Injuries and illnesses treated
The biggest difference between veterinary urgent care and emergency hospitals is the types of cases they treat.
The ER sees the most severe and time-sensitive cases, including:
- Ingesting poisonous or toxic substances
- Severe allergic reactions
- Heatstroke or hypothermia
- GDV (sometimes referred to as bloat in dogs)
- Severe or frequent seizures
- Broken or protruding bones
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Trauma like hit-by-car accidents or animal attacks
- Severe head and neck wounds
- Excessive or uncontrollable bleeding
- Breathing problems like choking and trouble getting air
- Inability to urinate
Urgent care clinics treat conditions that should be seen quickly but aren’t life-threatening or highly complex.
Common urgent care conditions include:
- Skin conditions, itching and sneezing
- Irritated ears or eyes
- Minor wounds and controlled bleeding
- Minor infections (like ear infections)
- Visible masses or abscesses
- Limping (without suspected trauma)
- Broken, torn or overgrown nails
- Ticks, fleas, worms and mites
- Non-emergency vomiting or diarrhea
If you’re not sure whether your pet’s condition is an urgent care or emergency level concern, call ahead and ask for guidance on where to take your pet and next steps.
Hours of operation
Urgent care clinics aim to create accessible care when most family veterinarian clinics are closed. That means they’re often open on nights and weekends but closed during traditional business hours. They typically don’t treat cases that require ongoing care or hospitalization.
Many emergency hospitals are open 24/7 for a few reasons:
- ER vets treat severe and life-threatening cases that can happen any time.
- Hospitals typically have critical care units with 24-hour staffing and monitoring.
- They’re available when your family veterinarian and after-hours urgent care clinics are closed (e.g., in the middle of the night or on holidays).
Before taking your pet to any veterinarian, double check their hours to make sure they’re open.
Facility and equipment
Because emergency and urgent care vets treat different conditions and levels of concern, their facilities may have a few distinct differences, like the equipment and technology they use.
Urgent care clinics often look similar to your family vet’s office. They have exam rooms and treatment areas, and some have on-site laboratories.
Emergency hospitals also have these features, along with equipment and technology to treat highly complex or severe cases, like:
- Surgery suites
- Intensive care units (ICUs)
- Advanced diagnostic imaging like CT or MRI
- Wider selection of medications to treat emergencies
Generally, emergency hospitals are larger than urgent care clinics due to the nature of the cases they treat and the additional spaces and staffing needed.
What are the other types of care my pet may need?
Emergency and urgent care both play important roles in your pet’s ability to receive timely and accessible care – and they are just two of many types of veterinary facilities.
It’s a good idea to become familiar with other types of veterinary care so you know your options when your pet is ill.
Primary care
Your family veterinarian is your main point of contact for your pet’s care.
They offer services like:
- Wellness examinations
- Vaccines
- Parasite prevention and testing
- Spaying and neutering
- Surgeries like lump removal
- Dental cleanings and extractions
- Diagnostic care
- Management of ongoing concerns and chronic illnesses
If your pet becomes sick or injured and the situation isn’t an emergency, start by contacting your family veterinarian. In many cases, they can treat urgent care level concerns in-office if your pet needs care during their operating hours.
Most family veterinarians require appointments, whereas emergency and urgent care clinics accept walk-ins.
Specialists
Veterinary specialists focus on specific areas of medicine, and many of them are board-certified in their disciplines.
These specialties include:
If your pet’s condition is chronic or complex, your pet’s veterinarian may refer you to a specialist for follow-up or ongoing care.
Like human medicine, specialists often work in the same hospitals as emergency veterinarians. So, if your pet comes in as an emergency patient and needs the expertise of a specialist, they may be transferred to a specialty team under the same roof.
How do I find my closest urgent or emergency vet?
If your pet becomes ill or injured, you’ll want to be prepared so you can confidently seek the appropriate care. Save the contact information for your local urgent care clinic and emergency hospital in your phone so you always have their phone number, hours of operation and address on hand.
Your family veterinarian can recommend where to go for emergencies or when their office is unavailable. If they don’t have this information or you can’t reach them, do an online search to get immediate directions and discover your closest emergency veterinarian's hours of operation.
If you’re going to the urgent care clinic or ER, remember to call in advance and let them know you’re coming.
Knowing where to seek care when your family veterinarian isn’t available and your pet’s needs are time sensitive or critical can help ensure your pet gets the care they need in any scenario.
