Emergency Veterinary Care

After-Hours Emergency Care

If your pet is experiencing an after-hours emergency, contact one of the emergency animal hospitals listed below.

IMPORTANT: Please be sure to call the emergency clinic before arriving to ensure a veterinarian is on-site to assist you.

If you suspect your pet consumed something poisonous, call the Pet Poison Control Helpline at (800) 213-6680.

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. After hours, 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 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 towards anyone trying to help and could bite or scratch.
• Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself or your pet at risk! Safely bring your pet to our Madison veterinary clinic or the after-hours emergency vet location above.

Emergency FAQs

Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an emergency appointment at Best Friends Animal Hospital. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Best Friends Animal Hospital provides emergency and urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs during our regular clinic hours on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us to see if we are able to accommodate your pet. 

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

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see emergency cases during our regular business hours:

  • Monday:07:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Tuesday:07:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Wednesday:07:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Thursday:07:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Friday:07:00 am - 05:00 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 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 Madison 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. Please call ahead to find out whether we are able to 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 visit one of the 24/7 animal emergency hospitals detailed above. 

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

  Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. If your pet requires hospitalization we will refer you to one of the after-hours hospitals listed above and coordinate with the hospital to ensure your pet receives the best care possible. 

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our emergency veterinarians are able to treat cats and dogs in emergency situations.