AVH provides the care your pet needs, from urgent concerns to unexpected emergencies.
When a dog, cat, or exotic pet experiences a sudden illness or injury, swift medical attention can make a critical difference in their recovery. Our dedicated clinical team offers attentive evaluation and treatment every day, 8 AM to 10 PM, through our Urgent and Emergency Care Department. We work closely with pet owners to rapidly assess symptoms while maintaining a calm environment to keep your pet comfortable during a stressful moment.
Not every concern requires emergency care. Sometimes, recognizing a problem early and having your pet evaluated promptly can help prevent the situation from becoming more serious.
Urgent & Emergency Veterinary Care Assessment
Medical emergencies can happen without warning. Whether a dog ingests a toxic substance, a cat develops acute respiratory distress, or a bird shows signs of severe illness, our team is ready to intervene. We treat dogs, cats, and exotic species, including birds, small mammals, and reptiles, with specialized protocols tailored to their specific needs. Because exotic pets often mask symptoms until an illness is advanced, early intervention is especially crucial.
Our emergency protocol relies on a triage system to prioritize the most critical cases. Upon arrival, our reception team collects essential health details, and a technician performs an assessment to check vitals, gather a history, and potentially rush care based on your pet's stability. In critical cases, we may bring your pet directly into our treatment area to begin care immediately. A veterinarian evaluates your pet based on medical need, not arrival time, to ensure life-threatening conditions are addressed without delay. During treatment, you can wait comfortably in our lobby or stay nearby within five to ten minutes with your phone volume up so our team can update you on your pet's status.
Make An Appointment For Your Pet Today!
Urgent or Emergency?
We assess every patient through triage to identify the most critical needs, prioritize care appropriately, and provide the right level of treatment.
The information below is for your reference, but if something doesn’t seem right, don’t wait for the problem to escalate. Call us to determine next steps.
Conditions that require medical evaluation within twenty-four hours but do not pose an immediate threat to life. If any non-emergency symptoms persist longer than twenty-four hours, call us to determine next steps.
Non-Life-Threatening Symptoms:
- Minor injuries, cuts, or shallow wounds
- Mild vomiting, diarrhea, or sudden loss of appetite
- Ear infections or eye discharge and irritation
- Minor coughing, sneezing, or mild changes in breathing
- Sudden lameness or limping
- Allergic reactions or sudden skin irritations
- Mild to moderate pain management needs
Knowing the signs of a potential emergency can help you get your pet the care they need when every moment matters.
Warning Signs of a Medical Emergency
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea exceeding two episodes in twenty-four hours
- Refusal to drink water for twenty-four hours or more
- Difficulty breathing, continuous coughing, choking, or gagging
- Active bleeding from the nose, mouth, or rectum, or bleeding that does not stop within five minutes
- Difficulty or pain when urinating or defecating, or inability to pass urine
- Eye injuries, open wounds, fractures, or sudden severe limping
- Seizures, staggering, loss of consciousness, or acute distress
- Ingestion of toxins, human medications, or unknown substances
- Signs of heatstroke or heat-related collapse
Frequently Asked Questions
Please bring your pet securely contained in a carrier or on a leash along with any current medications and medical history records if you have them available.
Wait times vary based on the number of incoming cases and their severity. We triage every patient upon arrival so that the animals in the most critical condition are treated first.
Partner with Us for Your Pet's Health
Our hospital remains open every day from 8 AM to 10 PM, with twenty-four-hour nursing care available for hospitalized patients. For care needed outside of our operating hours, we refer patients to Mount Laurel Animal Hospital to ensure round-the-clock support.
If your pet is showing signs of distress or requires immediate medical attention please contact our team right away at (609) 646-7013 so we can prepare for your arrival and provide fast compassionate care.
