About this service
When you adopt a pet into your family, you commit to providing them a lifetime of love, care, and comfort. Responsible pet owners are committed to finding the highest-quality medical care for their pets, but sometimes there can be an overwhelming amount of options. This is especially true if you live in a large city. Or better yet, what if there is an emergency and your pet needs care immediately?
Why We Created This Tool
The animal lovers at The Pets created the Vet Clinic Finder tool because we understand what it feels like to need to find a vet clinic that provides quality care. If you just moved to a new area, or just want to browse around for a new vet, simply enter your zip code and the Vet Clinic Finder tool displays clinics closest to you. There may even be one right around the corner!
Many responsible dog and cat owners buy pet insurance plans, which is an important thing to have when it comes to owning a pet. If you have a pet insurance policy for your four-legged family member, it can sometimes be frustrating to try to find a veterinarian within your network. Our comprehensive list of veterinary clinics displays offices far and wide so you are never low on options to choose from.
The clinic information is researched across platforms such as Yelp and Google, so you can read reviews that other pet owners have written which can help aid you in making a decision. The hours of operation are also displayed as well as the address and phone number, so you can call ahead with any questions you may have.
Even if you are traveling with your dog or cat, we make it easy to find a reputable vet clinic, should you need one. If that is the case, you will more than likely be seeking out an emergency clinic.
It is especially important to be able to locate a vet clinic that can service you and your pet in case of an emergency. It never hurts to know where the closest emergency clinic is to be prepared should a problem ever arise. If your pet falls ill in the middle of the night and you need to get them to an emergency vet as soon as possible, this tool can help you locate one.
What is an Emergency Vet Clinic?
Traditional veterinary clinics are only open for a set number of hours, but what happens when your pet gets injured or sick after that? Much like how there are emergency rooms at hospitals for people, an emergency vet operates similarly.
Sometimes regular clinics are open on Saturdays but are typically almost always closed on Sundays and holidays. Emergency clinics are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and state-licensed veterinarians will be on-call.
Where are Emergency Vet Clinics most common?
If you live in a large city or a surrounding area, it should not be too difficult to find an emergency vet clinic that is open during all hours of the day or night. According to Emergency Vets USA, many cities in the United States with a population of over 100,000 have at least one vet clinic that is open 24 hours. It should not be difficult to find one in a major city.
That same website lists the following cities as the top ones for emergency vet clinic volume:
- Atlanta, GA
- Dallas, TX
- Delray Beach, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Mobile, AL
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Sandy Springs, GA
- Spokane, WA
- Tampa, FL
The top states listed are Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas. No matter where you live in the United States, our Vet Clinic Finder feature can help you find a trusted vet clinic closest to you.
When to take your Pet to an Emergency Vet
Nobody likes to see their dog or cat get injured or sick. When this happens, your first order of business should be to assess the situation and determine if it is an emergency and your pet needs medical attention. Every pet parent has a different judgment, but most vets agree that owners should seek immediate care for their pet if they experience the following:
- Being injured in an accident or attacked by another animal
- Heavy bleeding
- Seizures
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, especially if blood is present in the vomit or stool
- Avoiding eating or drinking for more than a full day
- Ingesting a foreign object
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal bloating
- High fever
If you live in a rural area, you may need to drive for quite a bit to get to the nearest emergency clinic, but the conditions listed above are serious and require medical attention.
What to Do at an Emergency Vet?
Since traditional veterinary offices typically operate by appointment only and are only open for a set number of hours, emergency veterinary offices operate a bit differently.
Call Ahead
One very important note is to call the clinic before you arrive. The veterinary professional will ask you questions about your pet’s condition so they can do what they need to do to prepare for their arrival. If their condition is life-threatening, it is best for them to know so they can have the equipment that they need to care for your pet as soon as they get there.
For example, if you have a large dog who is injured, the office might have a special contraption to help carry them inside more quickly and efficiently. If they know when you are arriving, they can meet you outside and be ready to go.
Bring Medical Records With
Another excellent tip is to provide the emergency vet with your regular vet’s contact information as well as your pet’s medical records. This should include records of their vaccinations also. You should also clarify any pre-existing conditions your dog or cat may have.
What to Expect?
Potentially Longer Wait Times
Similar to an emergency room for humans, you can expect the clinic staff to treat the animals with the most serious conditions first. A dog who was attacked by a wild animal is going to have priority over a dog with a laceration that just needs a stitch or two.
Speaking of that, if your pet is bleeding, the veterinary professional can give you instructions over the phone about how to try and stop the bleeding if you call ahead. They will do their best to talk you through it.
Higher Costs
Unfortunately, the cost of emergency veterinary care is higher than what it would cost at a normal office. This is due to the specialized care that they provide, and sometimes at a higher volume. It can be a highly stressful environment, but these clinics want to do all they can to help you and your beloved furry friend.
From Your Friends at The Pets
We hope that using our Vet Clinics Finder tool helps to give you and other pet parents the peace of mind that you deserve. We understand that vet visits can be stressful, especially in emergency situations. Our main goal is to provide an endless number of options that are within your location, network, and meet your standards.
Every pet deserves the highest-quality veterinary care available to them, so hopefully, this tool helps you to find just that. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and contact us for more information.
