Daytime Emergency Care
Contact Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital
OPEN: Monday - Friday: 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Saturday: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Sunday: CLOSED
Call: (831) 688-4242
After Hours Emergency Care
Contact Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists
OPEN: Evenings, Weekends & Holidays
Call: 831-475-5400
Emergency Veterinary Services
If your pet is experiencing any symptoms of showing any behaviors which are causing you concern, contact our pet hospital as soon as possible or one of the emergency after-hours hospitals listed above.
The compassionate and reliable veterinary team at Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital offers quality veterinary care for pets in emergency situations. PEts are our passion and we take great pride in being able to provide your pet with the medical care they deserve when they need it most.
Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency
If your pet is experiencing a veterinary emergency, follow the steps below.
- 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.
- 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. Follow these instructions carefully.
- Remain Calm - Remain calm and be extra careful around your pet. When an animal is in pain they often react negatively towards anyone trying to help and could bite or scratch.
- Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Safely bring your pet to our Santa Cruz County 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 Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital.
- Do I need to call ahead?
Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital provides urgent and emergency care for dogs and cats throughout your regular business hours. It is always best to contact us ahead of time if you are able. But, we know that it isn't always possible to do so in an emergency situation.
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:09:00 am - 04:00 pm
- Sunday:Closed
- What situations require emergency veterinary care?
The following situations are examples of emergencies that require immediate care:
- Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in the urine
- Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
- Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
- Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
- Fractured bones or severe lameness
- 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)
- Heat stress or heatstroke
- Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
- Unconsciousness
- Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
- Seizures and/or staggering
- How long will we have to wait to see the vet?
Our Santa Cruz County animal hospital is just like a human doctor's office—it can be unpredictable and you may have to wait.
We aren't able to predict what cases we will see and when they will arrive at our office. If it is possible, contact us ahead of time and find out whether or not we will be able to provide emergency care to your cat or dog.
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 Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital we provide overnight care for animals in 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 mostly experienced with dogs and cats
Our emergency veterinarians are mostly experienced with cats and dogs, but will see other small animals, such as birds and rodents, in serious situations.
