24 HOUR EMERGENCY

24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care

//24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care
24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care2017-12-27T17:42:56+00:00

Vets caring for cat with broken leg

We know that pet emergencies don’t just happen during business hours, and that’s why we’ve created a facility that provides comprehensive 24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care in Pittsburgh, PA for small animals. Board certified veterinarians and emergency doctors are staffed around the clock to give your pet expert medical care for trauma, allergic reactions, and more. If you do encounter an emergency with your pet, please call us immediately at 724-717-CARE (2273), or to visit us on location as soon as possible. No appointment is needed.

Common Veterinary Emergencies

The scope of veterinary emergencies varies greatly. Our 24 hour emergency vets see everything from pets that are uncomfortable from itching to pets that are critically ill. Common emergencies that we see include the following:

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions are a common problem in our pets. You may see your pet develop hives, act restless, or see vomiting and/or diarrhea. If you suspect your pet is having an allergic reaction please call or bring them in for evaluation. Most of the time treatment for allergic reactions can be started right away and give your pet rapid relief.

Breathing problems

Any time your pet appears to have breathing problems, or respiratory distress, they should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. This is always an emergency and can vary in severity. It is particularly urgent if you notice their gums or tongue appear blue or purple or if you have a cat that is keeping their mouth open while breathing. Loud noises while breathing can also be an indication that your pet needs help. If you have any question about if you pet needs help, please call or bring your pet in so that we can help.

Diarrhea

Most pets, like people, will have an episode of diarrhea from time to time. When diarrhea becomes more frequent it can become concerning and lead to dehydration. It can also be a symptom of a more concerning disease process. When blood is present in the diarrhea it can indicate a number of things but is often a sign that a pet should be seen immediately.

Ear infections

Just like with children, ear infections seem to never become a problem during normal business hours. Common signs of ear infections can include your pet shaking their head frequently, pawing at their head, or sometime even vocalizing. Ear infections may seem like a small thing, but we frequently see pets traumatize their ears or eyes trying to paw at their painful ears. The sooner a diagnosis is made and therapy is started, the sooner your pet can get relief from this painful condition.

Eye problems

Your pet’s eyes can go from completely normal to very abnormal in a very short period of time. If you notice that the appearance of your pet’s eye or eyes change or you notice your pet squinting or pawing at their eyes, then they should be evaluated. Common causes of eye pain can include corneal abrasions, ulcers, or glaucoma. Changes to the appearance of the eye can be cause by a variety of things including glaucoma, infection, inflammation, cataracts, bleeding disorders, and much more. If you have a concern about your pet’s eye, please call so that one of our staff can guide you.

Heart failure

As with people, pets can have problems with their heart and this is unfortunately a common cause of emergency room visits. Typical symptoms of heart failure can include coughing, inability to exercise normally, shortness of breath, or abnormal open mouth breathing (particularly in cats) but there are many other things that can cause these symptoms as well. If you suspect your pet may have heart disease or failure, they should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Seizures

Seizures are typically one of the most frightening emergencies you can have with your pet. If your pet has a seizure, try to get them to a safe location where they will not hit their head while they are seizuring. Do not put your hand in or near their mouth as your pet doesn’t have control of their muscles and could involuntarily bite you. There are many possible causes of seizures and they vary greatly in severity. This is a common emergency and certainly warrants emergency care. If your pet is having a seizure, please have them evaluated immediately. If you call while you are on your way, we can have one of our trained staff waiting to help you at our door when you arrive.

Toxins

Pets sometimes get into things we didn’t intend for them to get into. Common household items can be very toxic to our pets. These items include grapes, raisins, chocolate, antifreeze, human medications, rat bait, and more. If you suspect your pet has gotten into a toxin, give us a call and we can help you to determine if your pet should be seen. With toxin ingestions, if your pet is treated sooner rather than later we are more likely to get a good outcome and less likely to need extensive treatment. Another helpful resource is the ASPCA Animal Poison Control. Their phone number is (888) 426-4435 and there is a fee associated with this call so we recommend that you call us first.

Trauma

We all do our best to keep our pets safe, but sometimes accidents happen. If your pet incurs any type of trauma, it is always best to have them evaluated immediately. Examples of trauma cases we frequently see include pets that are attacked by another pet or by wildlife, pets that are hit by cars, other causes of lacerations, and pets that are accidentally dropped or tripped over.

Vomiting

Most pets vomit at some point in their life. The causes for vomiting range from very benign stomach upset to life threatening conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis or intestinal obstructions. This is one of the most common presenting complaints in any veterinary hospital. If your pet is vomiting, call our hospital for guidance. If your pet is trying to vomit and not producing anything or producing only small amounts of foam, please call us immediately or have your pet seen immediately as this can be an indication of a life threatening disease process called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) which is commonly referred to as bloat.

 

Our emergency facility is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is located at the following address:

2810 Washington Road
McMurray, Pennsylvania 15317

UVS is dedicated to delivering exceptional emergency veterinary care when it matters most.