Urgent Care

• Eyes: swelling, discharge, redness 
• Nose: running, crusting, discharge 
• Ears: discharge, debris, odor, twitching, scratching, shaking 
• Coughing or sneezing 
• Vomiting (minor or occasional)
• Diarrhea (minor or occasional)
• Straining to have a bowel movement 
• Change in urine color, frequency, or amount 
• Change in amount of food or water intake 
• Change in behavior (depression, anxiety, sleepiness) 
• Evidence of worms, or fleas 
• Wounds or bite marks (minor) 
• Lumps 
• Facial swelling, licking, or scratching 
• Lameness/limping 
• Recent ingestion of minor foreign material or toxin (if no clinical signs present) 

Our highly skilled ER team is well prepared to provide life-or-limb-saving care for companion animals. Patients requiring emergency care have a high likelihood of needing to be admitted to the hospital for intensive care and may require the involvement of other veterinary specialists (e.g. surgery, critical care, internal medicine, etc.). 

Conditions considered to be medical emergencies include (but are not limited to) the following: 

• Trauma (e.g. hit by car, falls, gunshot) 
• Head or eye injuries 
• Irregular breathing, shortness of breath, prolonged or heavy panting 
• Severe or sudden onset of pain 
• Weakness or paralysis 
• Blood loss 
• Broken bones 
• Open wounds 
• Repeated vomiting, especially with possible exposure to toxins 
• Possibility of having eaten a foreign body (e.g. toy, sock, etc.) 
• Diarrhea of sufficient intensity or duration to cause dehydration 
• Hyper- or hypothermia (heatstroke or frostbite) 
• High fever 
• Serious burns 
• Seizures or other neurologic signs 
• Inability to urinate or defecate 

The good news is that the VVC’s Urgent Care Service and Emergency Service operate within the same conveniently located, state-of-the-art facility! Our team of skilled medical professionals will work together to help ensure your pet receives the appropriate level of care.  Important – A patient seen by Urgent Care requiring emergency care will be transferred immediately to the Emergency Service.