Emergency Veterinary Care

After Hours Veterinary Emergencies

Is your pet experiencing an emergency after our regular business hours? Please contact one of these emergency veterinary hospitals:

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

If you are 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're on your way, you may be given instructions on how to administer first aid or otherwise make your pet as comfortable as possible. Pay close attention to these instructions.
• Remain Calm - Maintain 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.
• Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Safely bring your pet to our Columbia 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 Maury County Veterinary Hospital. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Maury County Veterinary Hospital provides emergency and urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs 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:07:30 am - 05:00 pm
  • Tuesday:07:30 am - 06:00 pm
  • Wednesday:07:30 am - 05:00 pm
  • Thursday:07:30 am - 05:00 pm
  • Friday:07:30 am - 05:00 pm
  • Saturday:07:30 am - 12:00 pm
  • Sunday:Closed

   

  If you are an existing client, we offer emergency services on weeknights from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

  If your emergency is outside these hours, or if you are not an existing client, please visit the emergency clinic listed above.

• 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 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 Columbia 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 veterinarian appointment into our schedule we recommend that you visit the 24/7 animal emergency clinic detailed above. 

• Is there a fee associated with an emergency visit?

  Yes, an emergency fee will be charged in addition to regular fees.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our emergency veterinarians are mostly experienced with cats and dogs but will see other exotic pets, such as birds, rabbits, and reptiles (except for snakes), in serious situations.

  We will also see large animals (horses, cows, sheep, etc) in serious situations.