Urgent or Emergency?

Any sick animal may be an emergency. If behavior is significantly altered, associated with vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, difficulty breathing, seizures, inability to urinate or defecate, lethargy, not eating, abnormal movement — all may be significant. Best to call to see if it is a problem.

Mild abnormalities associated with normal attitude and behavior may not be a problem that needs addressing as an emergency. Common sense applies: if the animal throws up once and seems fine otherwise, it can probably wait until regular business hours to call. But when in doubt, contact the clinic.

What Is An Emergency?

Some conditions require immediate attention. Call us if your pet displays the following symptoms:

• Respiratory distress

• Seizures that don't stop within 5 minutes, or seizures that recur

• Sudden collapse

• Severe vomiting or diarrhea, or both

If your pet displays highly unusual behavior that you cannot figure out, call us. Be prepared to talk about:

• What the animal ate or drank recently

• Encounters with other animals

• Encounters with other humans

After Hours Emergency: Instructions for Reaching Emergency Care Providers

To provide better care to your pets after regular business hours, we will be referring you and your pet to local emergency services.

If you have a question or concern regarding your pet or its medications, until 10pm, you may call us at 540 552-6800 and leave a message. A doctor will return your call.

Local Veterinarians in Case of Emergency

• Veterinary Teaching Hospital at VA Tech
  Blacksburg
  540 231-4621

• Town and Country
  Christiansburg
  540 382-5042
  http://www.tcvccares.com/

• Emergency Veterinary Services of Roanoke
  540 563 8575
  http://www.evsroanoke.com/index2.php

Whether emergency or routine care, the pet owner's ability to describe the home environment directly affects our ability to diagnose. The information here is not intended to provide diagnosis or treatment, or to replace personal contact with your veterinarian.

When to Bring Your Pet In

Preventive care and routine appointments can be scheduled during office hours. We are open:

• Monday and Wednesday, 7:30 am -7:30 pm

• Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 7:30 am - 6 pm

• Saturday, 8 am -1 pm

• Sunday, 5-5:30 pm for boarding pick up or drop off only