Daytime Emergency Care
Contact West Coast Veterinary Services
OPEN:
- Monday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Tuesday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Wednesday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Thursday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Friday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Saturday:Closed
- Sunday:Closed
Call: (709) 283-3002
After Hours Emergencies
West Coast Veterinary Services offers after-hours and emergency assistance in partnership with VetTriage.
When you have a pet health concern after regular business hours, VetTriage veterinarians are on standby 24 hours a day to assist. For a small fee, you will be connected to a vet on a live video chat. They will triage your pet, give you at-home care tips or refer you to a 24-hour hospital if needed.
Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency
If your pet is experiencing any symptoms or behaviours that you are concerned about, follow the steps below.
- Call Ahead If Possible - During regular business hours call us right away. After hours, call the VetTriage number listed above.
- Follow Instructions Provided - When you call to let the pet hospital know you are on your way, instructions may be provided to help you apply first aid or otherwise make your pet as comfortable as possible. 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 toward 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 our Stephenville veterinary clinic.
Emergency FAQs
Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an emergency appointment at West Coast Veterinary Services.
- Do I need to call ahead?
West Coast Veterinary Services provides emergency and urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs during our regular clinic hours. It's always best to contact us in advance if you can, but we understand that in emergencies that's not always possible.
If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule, we recommend that you call the VetTriage number listed above.
- When is your clinic open?
Our veterinarians see emergency cases during our regular business hours:
- Monday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Tuesday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Wednesday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Thursday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Friday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
- Saturday:Closed
- Sunday:Closed
- 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 24-hours
- 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 Stephenville animal hospital is just like a human doctor's office—it can be unpredictable and you may have to wait.
We cannot predict what cases we will see and when they will arrive. If possible, call ahead to find out whether we can provide emergency care for your dog or cat.
If we are unable to fit an emergency appointment into our vet's schedule we recommend that you call the VetTriage number detailed above.
- What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?
Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. In these cases, our vets will recommend an overnight pet hospital for you to bring your cat or dog.
- What types of animals do you treat?
Our veterinarians treat cats, dogs and exotic pets including small mammals, birds, and reptiles.