What To Do In An Emergency
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY call your regular veterinarian. Many area veterinary hospitals refer emergency calls to us in the evenings and on weekends and holidays.
*Please call 610-666-1050 before coming.
Even in a dire emergency the ES team may be able to suggest immediate first aid measures and give you specific travel directions to the hospital. In addition the team will be able to prepare for your animal’s arrival and care based on this initial estimation of your pet’s situation. To aid our team in swift, accurate diagnosis, our facility is equipped for blood analysis, radiology, cardiac EKG’s, as well as many routine diagnostic procedures.
About Our Emergency Specialty Department
Our emergency services are available every day of the year 365 days a year, 24 hours a day . We offer our veterinary clients the highest-level emergency veterinary medicine, surgery and critical care for their pets.
Like a human emergency room, we work on a triage basis to decide which patients are in most immediate need of care. Unfortunately, like the ER there is often a wait. Our patients are triaged upon arrival. We see patients based on the life threatening nature of their problems. It is possible that patients who arrive after you will be seen first. It is possible that patients who are seen before you may not appear to be injured or sick. However, there are often things happening to these patients that require immediate attention. This is why we triage.
What To Expect
- We get an initial estimation of your pet’s situation from your phone call to us.
- If your pet is not in an immediate crisis situation, we will ask you to complete our Admissions Form. One of our nurses will assess your pet as quickly as possible.
- Pets with life-threatening conditions are brought immediately into our treatment area. We understand that separating you from your pet may be very upsetting. We ask for your patience while we begin treatment. In these cases, the doctor will stabilize your pet before discussing the condition with you. Clients are not allowed into the treatment area during this time.
Communication
It is essential that we keep you updated on the progress of your pet and that we be able to reach you in an emergency situation. Our emergency doctors will call you twice daily (once in the morning, once at night) to give you an update on the status of your pet. You are also welcome to call the nurses up to twice daily between 9:00 am – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm through 6:00 am. Please have only one family member make the calls. That person can pass on the information to all of the other concerned family members.
We are a 24-hour emergency facility. The staff members caring for your pet may change as our doctors and nurses change shifts. When you call the doctor, they may be attending to another emergency, in surgery, or speaking with another client. They will respond to your calls as quickly as possible.
Your pet’s family doctor is considered an important part of the team. With your permission, we will call your family veterinarian once daily to discuss the status of your pet. A copy of the discharges and laboratory work will be faxed to your pet’s regular doctor after the visit to help provide a continuity of care.
