Emergency Services for Dogs & Cats

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

Follow the steps below if your pet is exhibiting any symptoms or behaviors that you are concerned about.

1. Call Ahead If Possible - During regular business hours call us right away. After hours, call the emergency animal hospital listed above to let them know you are on the way.
2. Follow Instructions Provided - When you call to let the emergency pet hospital know you are on your way, instructions may be provided to help you apply first aid or otherwise make your pet as comfortable as possible.
3. Remain Calm - Keep your cool and be extra cautious around your pet. When an animal is in pain, he or she may bite or scratch anyone attempting to assist them.
4. Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Safely bring your pet to our Sturgis veterinary clinic or the after-hours emergency vet location above.

Emergency FAQs

Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an emergency appointment at Sturgis Veterinary Hospital & Equine Center. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Sturgis Veterinary Hospital & Equine Center provides emergency and urgent animal care during our regular clinic hours. It's always best to contact us in advance if you can, but we understand that in emergencies, that's not always possible. 

  If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule, we recommend that you visit the after-hours emergency vet location shown above. 

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see emergency cases during our regular business hours:

  • Monday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Tuesday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Wednesday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Thursday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Friday:08:00 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 the 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 Sturgis 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 can provide emergency care for your dog or cat.

  If we are unable to fit an emergency appointment into our vet's schedule we recommend that you visit the 24/7 animal emergency hospital detailed above. 

• What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?

  Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. At Sturgis Veterinary Hospital & Equine Center, we provide overnight care for animals in need.

  If we are unable to provide overnight care for your pet, we will help you arrange for appropriate overnight veterinary hospitalization, so that your pet continues to get the urgent care they need.

  While in our care, our dedicated team will treat your pet as if they were our own.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our veterinarians are experienced with cats and dogs.