Emergency Veterinary Care

Emergency Veterinary Services

If your pet is experiencing any symptoms or behaviours that you are concerned about, contact our office right away. 

The team of veterinary professionals at Kitimat Veterinary Hospital offers medical care for pets in most emergencies. We take pride in trying to provide care when your pet needs it most.

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

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

• Call Ahead If Possible - During regular business hours, call us right away. If you are a registered client, feel free to call us after-hours as well.
• Follow Instructions Provided - When you call to let us 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 careful around your pet. When a pet 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 Kitimat 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 Kitimat Veterinary Hospital. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Kitimat Veterinary Hospital provides emergency and urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs during our regular clinic hours and after hours to our registered clients. It's always best to contact us in advance if you can, but we understand that in emergencies that's not always possible. 

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see emergency cases during our regular business hours or after-hours if you are a registered client:

  • 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 Kitimat 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.

• What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?

  Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. At Kitimat Veterinary Hospital we provide overnight care for animals in need.

  If we are unable to provide overnight care for your pet we will help you arrange for appropriate overnight veterinary hospitalization so that your pet continues to get the urgent care they need.

  While in our care, our dedicated team will treat your pet as if they were our own.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our emergency veterinarians are mostly experienced with cats and dogs but will see other small animals, such as birds and rodents, in serious situations.