Urgent & Emergency Veterinary Care

Emergency Care in Virginia

Experiencing an emergency with your pet? Please contact one of the following animal emergency hospitals.

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

If you are experiencing a veterinary emergency, follow the steps below.

• Call Ahead If Possible - Call the emergency animal hospital listed above to let them know you are on the way.
• Follow Instructions Provided - When you call to let the emergency pet hospital know you are on your way, instructions may be provided to help you give first aid to your pet. Follow these instructions carefully.
• Remain Calm - Remain calm and be extra careful around your pet. When an animal is in pain they often react negatively towards anyone trying to help and could bite or scratch.
• Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Safely bring your pet to the after-hours emergency vet location above.

Emergency FAQs

Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about what to do if your pet needs urgent or emergency veterinary care. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Ruckersville Animal Hospital may be able to provide same-day urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs during our regular clinic hours. However, we do not accept emergency cases or walk-in visits. Please call ahead so our staff can provide you with further instructions. 

  If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule, we recommend that you visit the emergency vet location shown above. 

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians are unable to see walk-in emergency cases, but do see patients by appointment during our regular business hours. We may also be able to provide same-day urgent care for pets at these times:

  • Monday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Tuesday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Wednesday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Thursday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Friday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Saturday:08:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • Sunday:Closed

  We have phone-only consultations for existing clients on evenings and weekends.

• What situations require emergency veterinary care?

  The following situations are examples of emergencies that require immediate care:

  • Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
  • Fractured bones or severe lameness
  • Seizures and/or staggering
  • Bleeding from the nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in the urine
  • Inability to urinate or pass feces, or pain associated with urinating or passing feces
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea; 2+ episodes in a 24-hours period
  • Injuries to the eye(s)
  • Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
  • Unconsciousness
• How long will we have to wait to see the vet?

  Our Ruckersville animal hospital may be able to provide same-day urgent care for cats and dogs during our regular hours. Please call ahead for further instructions if your pet needs urgent care. 

  Note that we do not accept emergency cases or walk-in visits. If your pet needs emergency care, please call our referral hospital listed above. 

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our veterinarians are experienced with cats and dogs but will see other small animals, such as guinea pigs, in serious situations.