Emergency Care

The most important thing you can do in any emergency situation is to stay calm.

The second most important thing you can do is have a plan AND a backup plan.

If an emergency occurs when Vetcetera is open (Monday and Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Surgery Days on Wednesday between 8:30 to 6:00 PM) call us at 570-345-3250. If you are having trouble getting through, text that number stating who you are and what your emergency is.

We are facing a time of unprecedented demand for veterinary care and a shortage of workforce. The veterinary field is faced with many technicians, receptionists, etc. leaving the field for higher-paying jobs. Finding new employees is VERY difficult.

We will make every effort to care for your pet’s emergency needs. There may be times and scenarios where we are simply not able to provide the level of care a particular emergency requires. In those cases, referral to a 24-hour emergency facility may be required. We have a list of facilities at the bottom of this page. We recommend you scroll down and program these into your phone ahead of time, so you have phone numbers and addresses at your fingertips.

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After-hours emergencies will require you to call one of these facilities.

If your pet is ill after hours or on weekends and you are not sure if it is a true emergency, you can text Dr. Steve at 570-345-3250. IF HE IS AVAILABLE, he will help guide you through that decision-making process. In rare cases, where there is a simple problem Dr. Steve may be able to see your pet after hours. Lack of staff makes what he can do after hours extremely limited. Dr. Steve also has personal obligations after-hours that limit his availability.

We are not a 24-hour facility and we do not have personnel in the building overnight.

Signs of An Emergency & What To Do

The best advice in most pet emergencies is to contact help immediately — either our office during regular hours or one of the 24 hour practices listed above. It is important not only to know when to call for help, but also what to do until help becomes available.

The following list displays some of the most serious and time-sensitive situations. Any one of these conditions may be life threatening, depending on severity:

  • Breathing difficulty
  • Cardiac / circulatory problems
  • Massive bleeding
  • Shock from any cause
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Penetrating wounds of the chest or abdomen
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Poisoning/exposure to toxins
  • Seizures
  • Burns
  • Heat stroke
  • Bite and fight wounds
  • Continuous vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Urinary obstruction (straining to urinate with no effect)

Animals, frightened and often in pain when found in emergency situations, should be moved with extreme caution. In addition to preventing injury to handlers, further injury to the pet must be avoided. Whether your own a pet or are assisting a stray, avoid getting bitten when attempting to help an injured animal. Failure to exercise caution could result in your own injury or exposure to rabies.

Normal Vital Signs for Pets

DogsCats
Temperature100.5-102.5°100.5-102°
Heart Rate80-130 bpm110-160 bpm
Respiratory Rate~22~26
Gum ColorPinkPink

For severe emergencies occurring at night, on weekends, or on holidays please contact one of the following:

Valley Central Emergency Veterinary Hospital
Phone: 610-435-1553
210 Fullerton Avenue
Whitehall, PA 18052
www.valleycentraler.com

Valley Central has a specialty practice with surgery and internal medicine specialties available Monday through Friday. Other specialties are available on a limited basis. The have 24 hour emergency care.

Eastern Pennsylvania Verterinary Center (EPVMC)
Phone: 610-904-1776
7042 SNOWDRIFT RD. ALLENTOWN, PA 18106

WWW.EPVMC.COM

Shores Veterinary Emergency
Phone: 717-798-8500
835 Sir Thomas Court
Harrisburg, PA, 17109
www.shoresvet.com

Shores is an emergency, urgent and critical care hospital only. There are no in-house specialists. Their services include emergency treatment, surgery, in house laboratory and diagnostics, oxygen therapy, transfusion therapy, as well as critical care and monitoring.

Blue Pearl Berks
Phone: (610) 775-7535
400 W. Lancaster Ave.
Shillington, PA 19607
www.baerc.com

BAERC  is a 24 hour emergency service.  Specialty services are limited to a surgeon 3 days a week and ultrasound capabilities two days a week. These services are often (but not always) available on an as needed emergency basis.They do not have other specialties at this practice.

Metropolitan Veterinary Associates
Phone: (610) 666-1050
2626 Van Buren Avenue
Norristown, PA  19403
www.metro-vet.com

Metropolitan Veterinary Associates is a specialty practice offering a wide variety of specialties including surgery, internal medicine, critical care, ophthalmology, radiology, cardiology, dermatology, etc. Monday through Friday. They have 24 hour emergency care.

Veterinary Referral Center
Phone: (610) 647-2950
340 Lancaster Avenue
Malvern, PA 19355
www.vetreferral.com

Veterinary Referral Center is a specialty practice offering a wide variety of specialties including surgery, internal medicine, critical care, ophthalmology, radiology, cardiology, dermatology, etc. Monday through Friday. They have 24 hour emergency care.

Blue Pearl Malvern
Phone: (610) 296-2099
40 Three Tun Rd.
Malvern, PA  19355
hopevs.com

Hope Veterinary Specialists is a specialty practice offering a wide variety of specialties including surgery, internal medicine, critical care, ophthalmology, radiology, cardiology, dermatology, etc. Monday through Friday. They have 24 hour emergency care.

Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital
Phone: (570) 208-8877
242 South River St.
Plains, PA 18705
www.northeast-vet.com

NVRH is a specialty practice Monday through Friday (surgery and internal medicine) with 24/7/365 emergency care.

If you suspect the emergency may be caused by exposure to poison, please call:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Phone: 888-426-4435
www.aspca.org