Urgent Veterinary Care

Daytime Urgent Care

After Hours Emergency Care

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 and if your pet needs urgent care, we will make every accommodation to fit them into our schedule. For after-hours or serious emergencies, 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 & Urgent Care FAQs

Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about emergency and Urgent care for pets.

• What is the difference between urgent and emergency care?

  When your pet is sick, injured, or just off, it can be difficult to tell whether the situation requires urgent or emergency care. Knowing the distinction between the two can help. 

  Generally speaking, emergency care is required for any life-threatening injury or illness that requires immediate hospitalization. Urgent care falls somewhere between emergency care and regular vet visits. Essentially, urgent care is for issues that require immediate medical attention but aren’t necessarily life-threatening.

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital will make every effort to provide urgent care for dogs and cats during our regular business hours. It is always best to contact us ahead of time so we can let you know if there is space in our schedule.

  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 urgent 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 urgent veterinary care?

  The following are examples of issues that are non-life threatening but require urgent veterinary care:

  • Bite wounds
  • Diarrhea or vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Dehydration
  • Itchy skin or rashes
  • Wound treatment
  • Hair loss
  • Pain or limping
  • Overgrown nails
  • Changes in behavior
  • Loss of appetite or overeating
  • Cuts and abrasions
  • Scooting
  • Eye issues (tearing, redness, discharge)
  • Ear infections
  • Pale gums
  • Runny nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • Worms, fleas, ticks, or mites
  • Urinating blood
  • Urinary changes
  • Toxin ingestion (both poisons and food not suitable for your pet)
  • Consuming a foreign body (toy, rawhide, etc.)
• 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 urgent care to your cat or dog.

  If we are unable to fit an urgent care 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 veterinarians are mostly experienced with cats and dogs, but will see other small animals, such as birds and rodents, in serious situations.