I was so happy you saved his life I did the crazy happy dance.
Payton
Malvern, PA
How do I know if my pet is in an emergency situation?
You know your pet better than anyone, and if you believe he or she is sick or hurt, you could be right. Types of emergency situations include the following:
- Animal attack
- Bleeding
- Collapse episodes
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty urinating
- Dystocia
- Hit-by-car incidents
- Ingestion of medications, poisons, or objects
- Seizure
- Severe diarrhea
- Unresponsiveness
- Vomiting
If you are unsure whether your pet has an emergency, please do not hesitate to call and speak to a member of our staff.
Will you give me medical advice over the phone?
Medical advice can rarely be given over the phone; we cannot give meaningful advice without being able to examine the patient. If you have a concern about your pet, our advice is usually to bring him or her to the hospital so that you can meet with a doctor.
I think my pet may have eaten something potentially poisonous. Now what?
If you are concerned that your pet may have gotten into something poisonous, you should call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1.888.426.4435 for specific instructions. If they instruct you to bring your pet to the hospital, they will provide you a case number that will allow our doctors to contact them for further information on your individual pet. Be sure to bring this case number with you to Hope VS.
Are the emergency veterinarians at Hope VS specialists?
Our team of experienced emergency veterinarians is led by two board-certified emergency and critical care specialists, Dr. Donahue and Dr. Slensky. The emergency team works closely with specialists in cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine and surgery to ensure that each patient receives the highest level of care.
Why is the emergency service more expensive than regular veterinary care?
The emergency and critical care department is staffed with highly trained doctors and nurses 24 hours a day. Maintaining the staffing, equipment, and facilities necessary to provide emergency and critical care services 24 hours a day costs significantly more than running a routine veterinary practice.
We understand that emergency care is almost always an unforeseen expense and do everything we can to work within your budget to provide the best care for your pet. You should feel free to discuss your financial concerns with the veterinarian responsible for the care of your pet or with an employee of our business office.
Where do I take my pet for follow-up care?
We partner with your primary veterinarian to provide comprehensive health care for your pet. After each visit to the ER or to one of Hope VS’s specialists, we will send a full report to your primary veterinarian. Depending on your pet’s requirements, you may be asked to follow-up with your primary veterinarian or with our hospital
