What is an Emergency?

If you feel your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, please bring your pet to the closest 24/7 emergency hospital. Your pet should be brought in immediately if they are experiencing major bleeding, breathing problems, consistent seizures, are unresponsive or limp, had severe trauma (dropped, kicked, crushed, or run over), or collapsed. Other situations needing immediate attention include blood in the urine or straining of a male cat or dog, a bloated abdomen, a snake bite, fluid in the lungs or around the heart, and unproductive retching. 

Here at MASH, we use a triage system to quickly determine which pets need immediate attention, especially when times are busy. This system is color-coded to easily show what is prioritized. Lower urgency may mean wait times to be seen will be longer. We may ask questions about your pet's symptoms and injuries or illness to determine the level of urgency. 

If you think your pet has ingested poison or eaten something toxic contact the ASPCA pet poison hotline at (888) 426-4435. They will ask questions to identify the risk factor and may have you seek veterinary care for your pet. Please call to inform us if you are on your way and provide your case number. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has good resources for any animal poison-related emergency.

We know everything can feel like an emergency when our pets are in distress or pain. It is important to keep in mind that we want the best for your pet too. We will need to examine your pet to determine the level of urgency so we can provide the best care that they need.

Wait times for non-critical patients may vary. This is why we ask for patience as we care for and triage your furry friends. Wait times are usually increased by cases that would benefit more from being seen by a primary veterinarian rather than the emergency room.

Please call to let us know why you are coming in, so we can prepare to care for your pet when you arrive.