Pet emergencies can arise unexpectedly, causing stress and fear when seeing your beloved companion in pain. Making decisions about their health can be daunting as they are family members.
Responding promptly and calmly to a pet emergency is crucial for ensuring a positive outcome and the well-being of your pet.
Pet emergencies like being hit by a car or ingesting toxins demand urgent veterinary attention, but family veterinarians may not be available during the evenings.
Fortunately, CASE Hospital, an emergency vet near me, offers help 24/7, 365 days a year, ensuring immediate care for your pet’s needs.
What can you expect when you visit?
Emergency veterinary care offers prompt medical and surgical services when your regular veterinarian is inaccessible, serving as an extension of their healthcare.
Typically, emergency vets maintain staff presence round-the-clock to attend to sick or injured patients.
During an emergency vet visit, you can expect the following:
1. Triage
Upon arrival, a staff member will evaluate the severity of your pet’s condition to determine if immediate assistance is necessary. An admission form will be given to you to complete.
It is important to understand that pets in need of urgent medical attention will be seen immediately by the veterinarian, even if they arrive after you.
2. Physical Exam
A staff member will escort you and your pet to an examination room where vital signs will be taken.
The veterinarian will then conduct a thorough examination, asking relevant questions to ascertain the nature of the illness or injury.
If your pet is severely ill, the veterinarian will take immediate action to provide necessary care.
3. Treatment
The veterinarian will suggest the most suitable treatment plan and provide an estimate of the associated costs. If hospitalization is required, you may be asked to make a deposit of around half of the estimated amount.
Throughout your pet’s treatment, your veterinarian will keep you informed of any significant changes in the treatment plan, your pet’s condition, or the estimated cost of care.
4. Fees and Payment
Emergency veterinarians typically charge assessment and exam fees for each patient, which include the initial consultation and examination. Additional diagnostics, treatments, and services incur extra charges.
Before proceeding with any further diagnostics or treatments beyond the emergency assessment and examination, you will receive an estimate from a staff member outlining the anticipated costs.
5. Patient Transfer
In many instances, emergency veterinarians will transfer pets back to their regular veterinarians once they reopen, typically the following day. However, this transfer will only occur if the pet is stable enough to travel.
If your pet is critically unwell, they may need to remain at the emergency clinic for several days until their condition improves.
What Happens Next?
Once your pet is deemed stable, the staff may request to take them to the treatment area for further examination by a veterinarian.
Unlike human emergency medical insurance, pet insurance typically requires upfront payment, even if coverage applies.
If your pet is stable, all that is left is to wait for the doctor’s assessment, with the wait time varying based on the current caseload and emergencies.
