Friendly tips from your friendly but tired ER veterinarian (a thread):
Before bringing your pet in, ask yourself “Is this something I would go to the ER for?” if the answer is yes, get your pet here.

If it’s something you would go to Urgent Care for, contact your vet first. With COVID a lot of of primary care vets are booking out weeks in advance, so if you need to be seen sooner, I gotchu.

If it’s something you would bring up with your primary care physician at your annual exam, please don’t come see me.

What’s considered emergent you ask?
Blue/white/grey gums! Gums should be bubblegum pink!
Respiratory distress!
Collapse!
Seizures!
Straining to urinate!
Vomiting but nothing is coming up!
Distended abdomens!
Facial swelling/hives!

Other emergencies:
Hit by a car!
Labored breathing!

Urgent things (meaning you may be waiting to hear from an ER vet- but that’s ok! Your pet’s not dying!):
Bloody urine!
Vomiting/diarrhea (sometimes even if it is bloody or black and tarry!)
Stable trauma-ramas like eyeballs hanging out, wounds, lamenesses!
Eating dumb things!

Other urgent things:
Not eating!
Painful eyes!
Shaking or acting painful!

If you’re ever concerned about your pet, you can always give us a call to see if it’s something that could wait or if it’s more urgent.

BUT we can’t give medical advice over the phone, so sometimes our answer will be vague.

ERs will ALWAYS be more expensive than your regular vet. Yes, we know we are more expensive and no, we don’t know how much the same tests will be at your vet.

We are open 24/7 so we have a higher overhead cost and work weird hours which is why our fees are more.