What Pet Owners Should Expect When They Arrive at the Pet Hospital in an Emergency


Bringing your pet to a veterinary emergency hospital can be a very scary experience! Here are some tips on what to expect so that you can be best prepared when a veterinary medical emergency arises for your pet.

NorthStar VETS technicians race to help an incoming pet suffering a medical emergency

NorthStar VETS technicians race to help an incoming pet suffering a medical emergency

Barbara Maton, DVM, DACVECC says, “Pet owners should expect to have their pet’s vital signs taken, and a brief assessment of why they came in through Emergency. If their pet is unstable, ideally urgent treatments should be started with owner permission.”

Bring your pet’s latest medical records if you can. Have the contact information for your family veterinarian. Bring proof of your pet insurance and/or a method of payment. Pet hospitals will require payment at the time of service.

Know any medication your pet is on. It’s important for your attending doctor to be aware of any possible side effects or interactions. Be as clear as possible about your pet’s symptoms and actions. The more information you can provide the better.

We recommend putting this information together as well as pre-registering your pet and visiting your nearest emergency pet hospital before you need it. If you do need emergency medical care for your pet, it’ll be a little easier knowing how to get to the hospital.

Barbara Maton, DVM, DACVECCBarbara Maton, DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Maton is originally from Florida, where she earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of North Florida, and studied veterinary medicine at the University of Florida, obtaining her DVM in 2006. She completed a rotating internship focused on emergency medicine at SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center in Virginia, then moved to Pittsburgh where she worked as an emergency veterinarian for two years and completed her residency in the specialty in 2012. After helping to start a critical care service at an established veterinary referral hospital in Delaware, she joined NorthStar VETS in 2014. Her clinical and research interests include trauma, electrolyte derangements, anticoagulant therapies and CPR medicine.


The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.

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