Like your general practitioner, a good number of veterinarian offices are equipped for wellness checkups, chronic illnesses and conditions, and visits to the vet that can “wait until the morning” if necessary.  All vets can’t be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  But like humans, dogs can’t schedule their injuries and illnesses between 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.  

Also, sometimes your dog will get a serious enough injury or illness that your regular vet, while likely medically trained to do so, doesn’t have the right equipment and staff to do what is best for your dog in that situation.  It is in those times when, if at all possible, you need to get your dog to an emergency veterinary hospital.  

There are other reasons why you may need to seek emergency services for your dog, such as blue gums or the inability to lie down. No matter the reason, if you feel that your pooch is in trouble health-wise, don't hesitate. 

Sometimes you find yourself having to make a decision as to whether your dog should go to your regular vet (if the situation occurs during regular office hours), or if your dog’s injury or illness can wait until your vet is open (if the situation occurs when your vet’s office is closed). In other cases, you may need to transport your dog to a veterinary emergency hospital.  

While urgent veterinary care can often be quite expensive, it may well be worth it.  It may be what makes the difference between life and death for your canine family member.