Are there any emergancy 24 hour vets in the USA?

Question

I'm curious. Here in the UK, regardless of the opening times of out vets, we know we can ring them and get an emergancy number to call for out of hours appointments to get our pets seen straight away.

Do you have the same system in the US?

I've seen so many posts that say "the vets isn't open". Does this mean that there isn't anything you can do?

Now, I don't agree with a certain something that goes on in the US (declawing) but I don't think that the US Government or animal associations would be cruel enough not to allow pets to be seen unless it's between the hours of 9am and 5pm.

Someone, please clear it up for me!

Answer 1

Most vets in the US have one of two things  in most urban and suburban areas there is at least 1 Emergency vet clinic that is open when the regular vet is closed. Every clinic I know of will have the emergency vets number on the answering machine after hours.    In rural areas or in other areas where no emergency vet is available or even with some clinics that do and and emergency vet available the normal veterinary clinic will have an emergency contact number or answering service so you can reach someone after hours and they will respond out if an animal needs immediate treatment.  

Answer 2

In the US many communities have emergency vet services but not necessarily all do.  In some communities you will have a vet clinic that is primarily emergency and serves the whole community.  In some areas you will have all the local vets doing a rotating schedule providing emergency services for the whole community but in their specific offices.  I suspect that the posts saying 'vet isn't open' may be in rural areas where vet services are few and far between.  Alternatively, the poster may simply not know of the emergency services available.  

Answer 3

My vet clinic has 4 different vets. There is an apartment in the clinic and someone stays there 24/7. I live in a small rural area in the US.  I think lots of times that's a cop out on here. People want free advice so they play the "vet isn't open" card and don't realize we aren't vets and could give them wrong info. Before I let my cat suffer or die in an emergency situation, I would call the vets at home.  Every one has their name listed on their clinic ad in the Yellow Pages and their home number isn't hard to find. There's just really no excuse for not getting to a vet for an emergency.

Answer 4

Yes, in my area (central new york) we do. I agree with you, animals should be seen at all hours. My closest vet near me opens at.... 7 AM and closes at 9:00pm.

Hope this helped=)

Answer 5

WE do have emergency pet care here in the u.s. they are usually seperate buildings and the call them emergency hospitals. they charge a whole lot more just to walk in the door like a regular vet does but they are set up to do and treat just about anything... thousands of dollars later, but we are greatful they are here

Answer 6

Oh, yes - emergency vet care is available *if* a person is willing to make some phone calls.  Some vets handle their own emergencies, and they have instructions on their answering machines as to how to contact them in an emergency.  Other vets participate in regional emergency vet clinics - these instructions and the phone number to call are also available after hours on the vet's answering machines.   I'm sure there are some very rural areas that don't have any kind of emergency vet, but those are really very few and far between.  

It's all a matter I guess of what your priorities are.  So many people would rather post here looking for a cheap way out, than actually picking up the phone, finding the emergency vet, and taking the cat there.  

Answer 7

In my area (southern California) there are separate emergency veterinary clinics, and the other vets refer emergencies to them so they can get some sleep at night.  

Answer 8

Most people just don't have an emergency plan for their pets, so when something comes up they don't know what to do. There are a lot of 24 hour (or overnight only) clinics that people can bring their pets to. I keep the number, address, and map of one nearby in my cats' special drawer, so at least I'll be prepared if need be! I suggest everyone else with pets do the same.

Answer 9

We have them. Just not many it seems.

The one nearest me, I have to go over the mississippi to get to