Yes. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your family veterinarian is likely to be open during normal business hours, but if they are not, you can always bring your pet to CARE Center for an emergency.
Who will see my pet?
Our clinic is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by experienced emergency veterinarians and nursing staff. There is always AT LEAST one doctor on duty at CARE Center.
Are specialists available on an emergency basis?
CARE Center’s board-certified specialists are available for consultation with our emergency veterinarians whenever our ER vets feel it appropriate. In cases where that specialist’s expertise is required immediately, they will come in. So, for example, if your pet came in at 2a.m. and required surgery on his back immediately, one of our surgical specialists would come in to do the surgery. If that pet needed a cardiology consultation, but was stable, that consultation would occur during typical appointment hours the next day.
Will I have to wait long?
We certainly hope not. But this will depend largely on the number of other emergency cases that have presented at that time. And, as stated above, since we must fulfill the role of both ER and ICU, other patients in the hospital may also have some impact on your wait. Every effort is made to keep your wait to a minimum, and to make it as comfortable as we possibly can (free WiFi is available in our lobby, for one example).
If my pet is admitted to the “hospital” what does that mean?
It means we will be admitting your pet to our facility. You need not travel to another location for hospitalization. CARE Center is the area’s first and largest 24-hour critical care/emergency hospital. So if admission is recommended, you can be assured your pet is in excellent hands, and will receive not only the best of care, but also constant monitoring.
Do I need to pick up my pet in the morning?
No. Our facility never closes, so it is never necessary for you to pick up your pet first thing in the morning. You may do so, of course, if you want to transfer your pet to your family veterinarian for continued care. We always recommend that you call your family vet to make sure they know you’re on your way.
Can I visit my pet?
Yes, you can absolutely visit your pet. Sometimes our Emergency/ICU patients are in hospital for extended periods of time. Even those here for only a day or two are of course missed by their owners. We feel strongly that visitation is of enormous benefit to both you and your best friend. We encourage families to visit if they feel comfortable doing so. We have no strict visitation hours, but we do request that owners do not visit from 8am-9am or 4pm-5pm, when we are changing personnel. We also ask that owners limit themselves to 30 minute visits in an exam room, and 15 minutes in the ICU. We strongly suggest waiting to visit patients receiving anesthesia until the day after the anesthetic was given, as they are usually too groggy to appreciate their family’s presence, or may even become agitated by it.
In all cases where you wish to visit, we recommend calling before you come, to make sure we will not have to keep you waiting. We make every effort to provide you and your pet with an exam room in which to spend some quality time. During very busy times, there may not be such a room available.
Will you communicate with my family veterinarian?
Your pet’s entire medical record will be faxed to your family veterinarian and be waiting for them by 8a.m. the next day. If your pet has been admitted and will need further care and evaluation, we will call your vet that day to discuss where that care will take place, be it at CARE Center or your local vet’s hospital. We believe strongly in coordinating all care with the person (besides you) who knows your pet best: your vet.