Urgent Care

It's frightening when you're faced with an emergency and your pet needs immediate veterinary care. That's why we offer extended hours - we're open when most veterinary offices are closed - providing life-saving services 7 days a week. If your pet is in need of urgent veterinary care please call us immediately. If it is after 8pm on weekdays or 6pm on weekends please call an open emergency pet care provider.

Veterinary Emergency Group at (925) 718-7771
Ironhorse VetCare (925) 556-1234
Sage Veterinary Center (925) 574-7243

​​​​​​​Helping Your Pet in an Emergency

Call Ahead
Please call ahead if your pet needs urgent care. Calling ahead will alert our staff to the nature of your pet's condition and symptoms and help us prepare to meet you when you arrive, saving valuable treatment time when every minute counts.
Our staff may also give you instructions on how to assist your pet if they are in distress, helping them stay safe and comfortable en route to the hospital, or provide you with directions and guidance to the nearest Pet Emergency Office in the area.

Please call to confirm that our team can assist our pet and that we are not at capacity for Urgent Care and emergencies.

Use a Pet Carrier or Leash
Please keep your pet—and everyone else—as safe as possible. Please use a carrier if you're bringing in a cat or other small animal or a leash if you're bringing in a dog. If you do not have a leash or carrier, we will provide one for you before entering the hospital.

Drive Safely
You'll be safer, and it will minimize the stress on your injured or sick pet. Most of all, breathe! We understand that it's a stressful time. We'll do all we can to make you and your pet comfortable.

Parking
Our hospital has a dedicated parking spot near the front entrance door reserved for emergencies only. If you are bringing your pet in for an urgent matter, please park in the spot marked with the Emergency Parking sign. Our staff will assist you in getting your pet into the hospital quickly and safely.

What to Expect When You Arrive

Arrival
Now that you have called ahead, our staff is prepared and expecting you. You will be met by the reception staff or our medical team members.

Assessment and Triage
Your pet will immediately be triaged, and depending on their condition, you and your pet will either be seen by one of our veterinarians in an examination room or, in the event of a potentially life-threatening emergency, your pet will be immediately taken to our treatment area, to be assessed by our emergency medical team.

Wait Times
Pets with a life-threatening situation will be treated immediately. However, your wait time may be lengthy if we have other pets that are in need of critical emergency care before you arrive. Please call ahead so we can provide you with an estimate of the wait time.

Fees
The examination fee for an emergency is $150. Your pet's treatment plan and cost of care will be discussed with you after your pet's initial exam.

Visiting Your Pet
We encourage you to ask questions and talk with our staff about visiting your pet if hospitalized. We have regular visiting hours each day, but we will work with you if these times are not convenient so that you and your family can visit with your pet.

Urgent Care vs. Emergency: How can you determine the difference?

When your pet is sick, injured, or just off enough that you know that something isn’t quite right, it can be difficult to tell whether the situation requires immediate medical attention. Of course, some signs are clearer than others—think bleeding, open wounds, or continuous vomiting—but not all conditions are as obvious.

So, what’s the difference between urgent and emergency care? The answer isn’t always clear-cut, but emergency care is generally required for any life-threatening injury or illness requiring immediate hospitalization. Urgent care falls between emergency care and regular vet visits, in the somewhat nebulous area of “I know something’s wrong with my pet, and it needs to be checked out by a vet ASAP.”

If you’re ever in doubt about what qualifies for urgent versus emergency care, just contact us, and we’ll help you figure it out. In the meantime, read on for a working list of pet ailments that can help you make a decision about care.

Urgent Care
Again, urgent care should be sought for issues that need immediate medical attention but aren’t necessarily life-threatening. These may include:

• Bite wounds

• Diarrhea or vomiting

• Bloat

• Constipation

• Limping, weight-bearing

• Dehydration

• Itchy skin or rashes

• Wound treatment

• Hair loss

• Pain or limping

• Overgrown nails

• Wounds or lacerations

• Changes in behavior

• Loss of appetite or overeating

• Cuts and abrasions

• Scooting

• Eye issues (tearing, redness, discharge)

• Ear infections

• Pale gums

• Runny nose, coughing, or sneezing

• Worms, fleas, ticks, or mites

• Urinating blood

• Urinary changes

• Toxin ingestion (both poisons and food not suitable for your pet)

• Consuming a foreign body (toy, rawhide, etc.)

• Difficulty in walking or moving