Emergency Care

Your pet’s safety is our priority.  Just like in human hospitals, the most life-threatening problems in veterinary patients are treated first. Examples of emergencies in pets include trauma, shock, poisoning/intoxication, severe burns, difficulty breathing, persistent seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, loss of consciousness, excessive bleeding, obstruction of the urinary tract, prolapsed organs, heat stroke, bloat, open wounds exposing extensive soft tissue or bone, and difficult labor.  

If your pet requires emergency care during our hours of operation, proceed immediately to the clinic.  If possible, call ahead to advise of your arrival and the nature of the emergency.  That will help our team to prepare for your pet. When you arrive at the veterinary hospital, the staff will make a rapid assessment of your pet’s physical condition and assign priority of care to each problem. They will ask about the current situation and a brief medical history.  

The priority of our care team will be to stabilize your pet.  Our veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness in our treatment area. After your pet has been stabilized and initial emergency treatment begun, the veterinary staff will ask you additional questions about your pet’s medical history and further details of the current situation. Be prepared to provide more detailed information on your pet’s past medical problems, medications, drug and food sensitivities, date of last vaccinations, and any other pertinent details. 

Once your pet is stabilized, our veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination including listening to your pet’s heart and lungs, checking their abdomen for pain, and examining their limbs and joints for pain or swelling. Our veterinarian will discuss with you the problems found during the examination and the best tests and treatments for your pet to help determine the extent of their health concerns. Samples of blood and urine may be collected for immediate testing in our in-house diagnostic laboratory. X-rays may also be recommended to assess for internal injuries or broken bones.  All this information helps to identify specific problems and to determine a diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring plan.  The results of these tests will be shared with you quickly once they are available. In consultation with you, a treatment plan will be made to help your pet return to health as quickly as possible. Rest assured that you will be updated on your pet’s health status and prognosis regularly during their time at the hospital.  

 

If your pet requires emergency care outside of our hours of operation, contact the Metro Animal Emergency Clinic at (902) 468-0674 and proceed immediately to their location: 

 Metro Animal Emergency Clinic

201 Brownlow Avenue Suite 

Dartmouth, NS 

B3B 1W2