24 Hour Emergency: Handling Emergencies

Handling Emergencies

Some emergency situations that should be seen:


  • Trauma
  • Shock
  • Respiratory distress
  • Seizures, change in mentation/behavior
  • Bleeding (internal/external)
  • Hyperthermia or hypothermia
  • Abdominal distension
  • Fainting
  • Allergic reactions
  • Snake bites
  • Eye injuries
  • Toxin/poison
  • Straining to urinate/defecate
  • Vomiting/diarrhea
  • Fractures/dislocations
  • Trouble giving birth
  • Paralysis
  • Any time you're in doubt!

What to Expect

All emergencies are different and each year we treat thousands of patients. Sometimes, minutes matter when an emergency occurs. That's why we have protocols in place to efficiently treat the seriously ill or injured animal and meet our high standards of care. Here's what you might expect on an emergency visit:

  • A technician will triage your pet to assess stability
  • Severe cases will be immediately transferred to the intensive care unit to be stabilized
  • Just as in human medicine, you will likely be required to stay in a waiting area or exam room while the emergency team focuses to stabilize your pet
  • As soon as your pet is stable a doctor will be there to speak with you
  • You'll need to fill out some paperwork if we haven't seen your pet before. We're interested in your pet's health history and your contact information
  • We're committed to getting a record of your pet's emergency visit to your regular veterinarian. In that way your regular vet has this emergency episode as part of your pet's record for follow-up if needed.
  • No one likes to tangle with finances in an emergency. Please understand that payment is due at the time of the service. Unplanned emergency care can get expensive. Visa, MasterCard, and CareCredit are accepted

Useful Links

ASPCA Animal Poison Control: www.aspca.org
Pet Poison Helpline: www.petpoisonhelpline.com
Veterinary Partner: www.veterinarypartner.com

Injured Wildlife

We're unable to accept wildlife cases on an emergency basis. If you find ill or injured wildlife, consider contacting:

Colorado Division of Wildlife 303.297.1192
Wild Bird Rehabilitation 303.758.7575