Daytime Emergency Care
During our regular hours, call us as soon as possible if you are an existing client and your pet is experiencing an emergency. If we are not able to provide care, we will direct you to the emergency operator number listed below.
OPEN:
- Monday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Tuesday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Wednesday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Thursday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Friday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Saturday:Closed
- Sunday:Closed
Call: (705) 949-4222
After Hours Emergency Services
The team of veterinary professionals at Animal Hospital offers care for pets in emergency situations, when possible, to existing patients during our regular business hours. If your companion has an emergency during our operating hours, call us as soon as possible.
Pets are our passion and we provide care when our patients need it most whenever we can.
After-Hours Pet Emergency Steps
If you are experiencing a veterinary emergency, follow the steps below.
- Call (705) 949-4222 Immediately - You will be redirected to VetWise, or you can call our unique VetWise line directly at (888) 243-1411. You will speak to an RVT who will triage your pet. If telemedicine is recommended, they'll set up a consult for prescriptions and advice. For critical calls, you'll be directed to the on-call hospital.
- Follow Instructions Provided - After calling the operator, a Sault Ste. Marie vet will call back to assess the situation and give instructions for first aid or comfort. Follow these carefully. Care might be immediate or within hours, depending on urgency and availability.
- 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 at risk! Safely bring your pet to the Sault Ste. Marie veterinary clinic given to you by the on-call emergency veterinarian you spoke with previously.
VetWise Virtual Support
VetWise is a virtual service that triages urgent health issues affecting our patients and provides veterinary advice and emergency referrals.
If your pet is experiencing an emergency outside of our operating hours, we recommend calling VetWise.
You can also book an appointment on their website.
Call: (888) 243-1411
Emergency FAQs
Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an emergency appointment at Animal Hospital.
- Do I need to call ahead?
Animal Hospital aims to provide emergency and urgent veterinary care to our existing patients during our regular clinic hours when we are able.
When possible, call us at (705) 949-4222 as soon as you can to determine whether or not we can provide care to your pet.
If we are closed, we advise you to call (705) 482-9066. to speak with an on-call emergency veterinarian.
- When is your clinic open?
Our veterinarians strive to treat emergency cases when possible during our regular business hours:
- Monday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Tuesday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Wednesday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Thursday:09:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Friday:09:00 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 Sault Ste. Marie 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 are able to provide emergency care for your dog or cat.
If we are unable to fit an emergency appointment into our schedule we recommend that you (705) 482-9066. . Depending on availability and urgency, care may be available immediately or in a few hours.
Contacting VetWise
Using VetWise virtual services during a veterinary emergency:
- Call VetWise After Hours - Outside of our hours, either call VetWise using the number listed above or visit their website to book an appointment. You will be connected with an RVT who will be able to triage your pet.
- Follow Instructions Provided - After being triaged by one of the VetWise on-call RVTs, you will either be connected with one of their veterinarians for urgent but non-life-threatening care or referred to an emergency hospital in our area for immediate attention.