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From the worried looks in the waiting room to the sighs of relief in the recovery ward, this hospital was no different from any other hospital preparing for another long night. Surgical packs were ready, nurses were soothing frantic clients and patients, and doctors were doing their best to save lives. The only difference...this is an Animal ER!
Emergency care for pets has certainly evolved over the last several decades. More recently, dedicated emergency clinics are open and pet owners have access to these during nights and weekends when their regular veterinarians are closed.
Emergency centers and 24-hour critical care hospitals are becoming much more common and many large cities may have more than one. Staffed by devoted emergency veterinarians and team members, these after-hours hospitals are a blessing to people and pets. From the high tech medical equipment in the back to the various amenities in the waiting room, animal emergency facilities provide a similar level of care and compassion that you might see in a human emergency room. And these emergency rooms will be ready for you! From gunshot wounds and fractured legs to puppy parvovirus and cats with kidney failure, the animal ER is prepared for any disaster, big or small, that might come through the door. Beyond the care they provide to our pets, all night hospitals also allow your family veterinarians to get the rest they need to run their own busy office!
Each emergency hospital will vary in the equipment and facilities; 24 facilities are most likely to have access to the higher tech equipment and the ability to call in specialists for surgery, ultrasound, CT scans and other procedures for which a smaller emergency clinic may not have the resources. The ability to do in-house diagnostic blood work varies from hospital to hospital too. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the emergency clinics available in your area and feel free to explore their websites and call to ask questions so you will be prepared if an emergency strikes.
But, the financial aspect of all of this emergency care can be very challenging. While we might not think about the costs of our own tests done at a hospital, all of the x-rays, CT scans, and blood work for our pets do cost money. For many people, the costs of quality care could lead to heart-wrenching decisions. The good news is that an increasing number of pet owners say that they would pay almost any price for their best friend and new options for payment are available. For example, many facilities will offer credit via a third party company such as Care Credit. http://www.carecredit.com/
Emergency care for our pets has come a long way since the late night house calls of veterinarians. Keeping the number of the ER closest to you just might save you some time...and your best friend's life!
For those of you in the area covered by the paper, keep these numbers handy
VSH (Veterinary Specialty Hospital) 919-233-4911-patients can stay 24/7 http://www.vshcarolinas.com/
NCSU-CVM (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine)-919-513-6911-patients can stay 24/7 http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/appointments.htm#emergencies
After Hours Clinic of Wake County 919-781-5145 only open evenings and weekends http://www.afterhoursanimalclinic.com/
After Hours Clinic of Cary 919 462-8989 only open evenings and weekends no website found
Dr. Sara Lash runs Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com
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