After-Hours Emergency Veterinary Care in Fort Pierce
If your pet is experiencing a veterinary emergency in Fort Pierce after 8pm, make sure to contact one of the 24-hour hospitals listed below for urgent and critical care.
IMPORTANT: Please be sure to call the emergency clinic before arriving to ensure a veterinarian is on-site to assist you.
What To Do During a Pet Emergency
The process will be easier for both you and your pet if you know what to expect at an emergency veterinary clinic. Here are the steps you should follow:
STEP 1
Let Them Know You're on Your Way
While calling ahead isn't required when bringing your pet in to an emergency clinic, if you call in advance, they will be ready to receive your pet much quicker.
STEP 2
Get To Their Office ASAP
One of the emergency team members will show you to an exam room. If you have not already done so, you'll likely be asked to complete a New Patient Form. A veterinary technician will triage your pet, then a veterinarian will perform a full exam.
STEP 3
Determining Next Steps
Once your pet has been assessed, your veterinarian will develop a treatment plan, delivering the best possible treatment for your pet. They will keep your primary care veterinarian updated with your pet's medical history to ensure seamless, integrated care that meets your dog or cat's needs.
Animal Emergency FAQs
Emergency veterinary care involves the treatment of animals in situations that require immediate medical attention or could potentially be life-threatening.
- What is considered an emergency?
The following situations are considered emergencies and require immediate examination by a veterinarian. If your pet has had an accident or is experiencing any of these symptoms, bring them to an emergency clinic straight away.
- Obvious signs of extreme anxiety or pain
- Bleeding that hasn't stopped, or severe bleeding
- Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
- Injuries to the eye(s)
- Pain associated with passing feces or urinating, or inability to pass feces or urinate
- Bleeding from their nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in their urine
- Staggering and/or seizures
- Severe lameness, fractured bones, or inability to move their legs
- You know or suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
- Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea; more than two episodes in 24-hours
- Heatstroke or heat stress
- Unconsciousness
- What emergency services do you offer?
Our skilled veterinarians at Sunrise City Animal Hospital make every effort to accommodate the urgent care needs of your pet. If your pet is in need of urgent or critical care after 8pm, contact one of the emergency hospitals listed on this page.
- Do I need to call ahead?
If you are bringing your pet in to see an emergency vet for urgent care, calling ahead isn't necessary.
With that being said, they will be ready to receive your pet quicker if you are able to take some time to call ahead of your arrival.
It is always best to call ahead if you can, but their team will understand that in emergency situations that's not always possible.
- How long will we have to wait to see the vet?
A veterinary emergency hospital is very similar to a human emergency department — the pace can be unpredictable and you may have to wait.
They will not able to predict which cases we will see and when they will arrive, but they will prioritize cases based on medical needs.
- Will they keep in touch with our primary care veterinarian?
Yes, your emergency vet will keep your primary care veterinarian updated with your pet's medical history and files to ensure your pet receives seamless integrated care.