If your pet needs medical attention outside regular veterinary clinic hours, understanding the difference between emergency care and urgent care can help you make an informed decision about where to take your four-legged friend. Our Companion Veterinary Clinic team explains the difference between these two types of specialized care.

Emergency Veterinary Care

Emergency veterinary care involves treatment for life-threatening or critical medical conditions that require immediate attention to save or stabilize a pet’s life. Emergency veterinary facilities are open 24/7 to provide advanced care for critically ill or injured pets. Conditions that require emergency veterinary care include:

  • Excessive or uncontrollable bleeding — Excessive bleeding or bleeding that can’t be stopped after holding pressure on a wound for five minutes is considered an emergency. Cover the wound with a clean bandage or towel and apply pressure en route to the emergency veterinary clinic.
  • Traumatic injuries — If your pet is hit by a car or falls from a high elevation, they need emergency care. Even if they seem OK, they should be evaluated because they could have internal injuries.
  • Fracture — If your pet has an obvious fracture or dislocation, they need emergency veterinary care to stabilize their condition and alleviate pain.
  • Respiratory distress — Your pet needs oxygen to live, and if they experience respiratory distress, they need emergency attention. Signs include excessive panting, increased respiratory rate and effort, abdominal movement during breathing, pale or blue-tinged mucous membranes, noisy breathing, and holding the head close to the ground.
  • Suspected toxin ingestion — If you know or suspect your pet ingested a toxin, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and seek immediate emergency veterinary care. 
  • Sudden collapse or unconsciousness — Numerous issues can lead to sudden collapse or unconsciousness, and your pet should be assessed by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
  • Acute abdominal pain or distention — Bloat is a common condition in large-breed dogs and requires immediate veterinary attention.
  • Heatstroke — Heatstroke can quickly lead to life-threatening bodywide consequences. Signs include lethargy, excessive panting, thick, ropey drool, red mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea, and collapse.
  • Difficulty giving birth — If your pregnant pet’s birthing process doesn’t proceed as expected, they need emergency veterinary care.

Urgent veterinary care

Urgent veterinary care refers to medical conditions that require prompt attention but are not immediately life-threatening. These situations may develop gradually or be non-critical emergencies that require timely evaluation and treatment to prevent complications or alleviate discomfort. Examples of urgent care situations include:

  • Persistent vomiting or diarrhea — One bout of vomiting or diarrhea is not necessarily a cause for concern, especially if your pet seems fine otherwise, but if they have multiple bouts or show other signs, such as lethargy or lack of appetite, they should be evaluated on an urgent care basis.
  • Ear infection — Ear infections can be extremely painful and can lead to serious complications if not treated. Signs include head shaking, pawing at the ear, and ear discharge and odor. 
  • Eye abnormalities — Eye issues can quickly worsen, putting your pet’s vision at risk. Seek urgent veterinary care if your pet’s eye is swollen, tearing, or appears abnormal, or if they seem to have sudden vision loss. 
  • Urinary tract issues — If your cat starts urinating outside their litter box or your dog strains while trying to eliminate, they need urgent care to rule out a potentially serious health problem.
  • Skin conditions — Skin conditions, such as hot spots and excessively itchy skin, should be treated on an urgent care basis to help prevent complications and to alleviate your pet’s discomfort.
  • Limping — If your four-legged friend starts favoring a limb, they should be evaluated by a veterinary professional to determine the cause and provide pain management.
  • Allergic reactions — If your pet is stung by a bee or hornet and they develop hives or facial swelling, they need urgent veterinary care.

Companion Veterinary Clinic is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. to provide urgent care for dogs, cats, and exotic pets. Contact us if your pet needs urgent care or during regular business hours for other health care issues.