Emergency veterinary care can be a life-saving service for your pet.  Its availability should be an important consideration in the selection of a veterinarian.  However, emergency service is expensive compared to routine hours visits.  Additional facility overhead for extended service, overtime pay for employees on call and at work, and greater costs of performing individual diagnostic tests on an emergency basis contribute to the increased costs. 

Seeking emergency veterinary service can be an unnecessary expense if the condition does not truly warrant emergency care.  Conversely, not seeking emergency service when appropriate can cause complications and unnecessary expenses later or even threaten the life of the pet.  Not eating a meal, vomiting, diarrhea, skin problems, and parasites are generally not true emergencies.  So, what is an emergency?

Common True Emergencies

Signs of a true emergency include bleeding, loss of consciousness, impaired vision, severe pain, or moderate to severe difficulty in breathing.  You should seek emergency veterinary care if your PET:

Cannot stand or refuses to walk Does not respond normally to being called by its name Faints or has a seizure Bumps into familiar objects as if it cannot see Repeatedly attempts to urinate without producing urine Is bleeding from a wound or the nose or mouth Vomits blood or vomits clear liquid more than once Has blood in bowel movements Has acute severe breathing problems Demonstrates signs of pain (whining, shaking, lameness) that prevent it from walking normally or desiring to eat Is known to have ingested a poison

Do not be reluctant to call for advice about a possible emergency.  You know your pet's normal appearance and activity better than anyone. You should also seek emergency veterinary care for your pet, if YOU:

Will be unable to eat or sleep normally due to concern for your pet's health

Be Prepared

Emergency services should be discussed with your veterinarian before the need exists so you both understand your desires and expectations and your veterinarian's emergency service availability and capabilities.   Obtain the emergency phone numbers and post them in a prominent location near your home phone and your pet's quarters.  Record the number in your cell phone's autodial.  Be sure you will directly contact a person connected with the emergency service.  Do not use the Internet, e-mail, or voicemail.  A list of first aid tips is available from the American Animal Hospital Association at http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=81&sid=1 which can be posted near your veterinarian's emergency numbers.

For more information, contact your local veterinarian or the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital 573-882-7821 or visit http://www.vmth.missouri.edu/

C.B. Chastain, DVM
Professor, University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine