Emergency Veterinary Care in Fresno | Fresno Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center

What is an emergency:

We believe that you know your pet best. If at anytime you are concerned about your pets’ health or they are acting out of the ordinary, this is considered a reason to seek medical attention. As a general rule, the ailments below need to be seen by a veterinarian immediately:

Bloated Abdomen
Difficulty with labor
Hit by Car
Gun shot
Bite wounds from another animal
Ingestion of a toxin
Ingestion of a non-prescribed human medication
Ingestion of a larger than advised dose of a prescribed medication for your pet
Seizure activity
Over heating
Excessive panting
Excessive urination
Excessive drinking
Lameness
Inability to bear weight on a limb
Not walking
Vomiting and diarrhea
Swollen face or hives
Envenomation

This is by no means a complete list. If you believe your pet has been poisoned, please contact your regular veterinarian immediately or us after-hours. Remember to bring the packaging of the toxic substance your pet got into. Veterinarians need this packaging to know how to appropriately treat your pet. It’s also advised to contact ASPCA Poison Control.

Emergency Services

Fresno Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center provides emergency and critical care services 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Our highly trained veterinarians and capable technical staff are available for transfers and referrals from you primary care veterinarian, as well as walk-ins.

For the safety of all hospital patients, all dogs and cats must be leashed, crated or carried at all times. Retractable leashes must be locked at all times.

All patients are triaged when you arrive at our facility, similar to that of a human emergency room. Patients who are stable may need to wait to be seen while critical patients are stabilized.

What You Should Do if Your Pet Is Having an Emergency

If you think your pet is having a medical emergency, it’s important to remain calm so that you can get your pet medical attention as swiftly and safely as possible. Moving confidently, calmly, and quickly while following the steps below can keep your pet from feeling stressed and scared while getting them the care they need in a timely manner.

Move your pet to safety
If your pet is in a dangerous location, such as in the road or close to a venomous snake, carefully move them away from danger.
Contact our hospital
Assess your pet’s symptoms and call us at (559) 451-0800. Briefly explaining your pet’s situation to our expert veterinary staff allows us to prepare to immediately care for your pet. You can provide more in depth details once you arrive at our office.
Put your pet in your vehicle
Moving an animal that is undergoing a medical emergency can be tricky -we recommend it be done as a two-person job. Loosely draping a soft cloth over your pet’s eyes can help calm them down if they are aggressive or panicking due to pain or fear. Towels can make a good makeshift stretcher and allow you to more easily move your pet comfortably and safely.
Drive your pet quickly and carefully to our hospital and follow our veterinary staff’s instruction upon arrival.

Not all situations constitute a veterinary emergency. The information above can help you determine the severity of your pet’s health issue as well as the appropriate action you should take. When in doubt, bring your pet to our hospital even if you’re not able to fully assess the situation beforehand. We are happy to assist you both over the phone and in person, 24/7.