What To Do In An Emergency
Knowing what to expect from your experience at our 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic will help make the process easier for you and your pet. Here are the steps you should follow when experiencing a veterinary emergency:
STEP 1
Call Ahead If You Can
While we know that in an emergency, you may not be able to call us in advance, it's always best to do so if you can.
If you have time, you can also complete our Emergency and Critical Care Patient History Form before you arrive.
STEP 2
Get To Our Office Right Away
One of our team members will show you to an exam room. If you have not already done so, you'll be asked to complete our New Patient Form. A veterinary technician will triage your pet, and then an emergency veterinarian will perform a full exam.
STEP 3
Determine Treatment
After your pet has been assessed, one of our highly trained emergency veterinarians will develop a treatment plan to ensure your pet gets the best possible care.
We will keep both you and your primary care veterinarian updated on your pet's medical needs after treatment to make sure your companion gets seamless and integrated care.
Animal Emergency FAQs
Our emergency vets treat animals that require immediate medical intervention in situations that may be life-threatening.
- What is considered a veterinary emergency?
These situations are considered emergencies and will require immediate care. If your pet has had an accident, or is experiencing any of these symptoms, bring them to our emergency office straight away.
- Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea; more than two episodes in 24-hours
- Obvious signs of extreme anxiety or pain
- Pain associated with passing feces or urinating, or inability to pass feces or urinate
- Bleeding that hasn't stopped, or severe bleeding
- Staggering and/or seizures
- Choking, difficulty breathing or continuous coughing/gagging
- Injuries to the eye(s)
- Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in urine
- Severe lameness, fractured bones or inability to move legs
- Heatstroke or heat stress
- Unconsciousness
- You know or suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
- What emergency services do you offer?
At our emergency clinic, we offer 24/7, state-of-the-art emergency care for cats and dogs.
We are equipped to provide specialized diagnostics, a complete range of surgical services, and hospitalization.
- Do I need to call ahead?
If you can, it's always best to call us ahead of your arrival, but we understand emergency situations can develop very quickly and that this is not always possible.
If your situation or pet's condition doesn't allow for you to call us ahead of time, don't hesitate to still bring your companion in to us for immediate medical attention
If your situation does not allow time for you to call, please do not hesitate to bring your pet to our clinic for immediate veterinary medical attention.
It is always best to call us ahead if you can, but we understand that in emergency situations that's not always possible.
- When is your emergency clinic open?
Columbia River Veterinary Specialists is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help provide emergency and critical care veterinary services to your pet.
- How long will we have to wait to see the vet?
A veterinary emergency hospital is very similar to a human emergency department — the pace can be unpredictable and you may have to wait.
We are not able to predict which cases we will see and when they will arrive, but we will prioritize cases based on medical need.
You will find that we offer comfortable areas for waiting and will do the best we can to keep you updated about wait times for your pet and their condition.
- Will you keep in touch with our primary care veterinarian?
Yes, we will keep your primary care veterinarian updated with your pet's medical history and files to ensure your pet receives seamless, integrated care.
Our Emergency Veterinarians
Our emergency veterinarians are equipped and qualified to provide attentive emergency care to your pet when they need it most.