Emergency Care & Referrals
The following steps will guide you through the thought process in determining whether or not your pet is needing professional attention immediately and who to contact after Mobile Veterinary Care business hours.
- Is it really an emergency? Is your pet truly suffering or is its life in danger? If it is or you are genuinely unsure, go ahead and call us. If it is after business hours you will hear instructions and phone number(s) to call for emergency help.
- There are several emergency service clinics available. Call requesting service first. The veterinarian will be able to give you advice on whether or not a visit to the hospital is required and when to come. See side bar for emergency clinic information.
- Make sure you provide the correct phone number for the vet to call back. Try and avoid using that phone until the vet returns the call. Make sure you know the details about the problem. What's wrong, when did it start and has it worsened? If you are not the owner where can they be contacted?
- Emergencies to call immediately about are:
Small Animals
- Poisoning — Identify the poison ideally from the container and let the vet know. The vet can be contacting the Veterinary Poisons Unit for advice while you are travelling in. Bring the container to show the vet.
- Road traffic accidents — A severely injured animal can usually be moved safely and quickly. Provided it is not having breathing problems, muzzle it in case it is in pain. Have as many helpers as possible to pick the pet up at the first attempt. Get it to the hospital as quickly as possible, but contact the duty vet to let them know you are coming.
- Bloat or Gastric dilatation — if you suspect this, err on the side of caution, ring the vet and they will see you as soon as possible to check.
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea for more than 24 hours with or without blood.
- Any other condition that appears to be making you pet acutely ill.
- Not eating for more than 24 hours.
- Non weight bearing lameness
- Excessive bleeding (Constant stream of blood or constant dripping for more than 10 minutes).
Horses
- Colic (abdominal pain)
- Severe lameness
- Lacerations: usually want to suture within a few hours of occurance
- If your pet has a major problem or injury, be prepared to have to make some urgent decisions. The vet will often discuss a number of treatment options. If the condition is life threatening then you will not be able to spend a long time making up your mind about what needs to be done. You will need to think about expected quality of life, how much you are prepared to let your pet go through and how much you want to spend.
And Finally
Providing a timely, effective 24-hour emergency service is all part of the veterinary profession's service and no vet would begrudge their time to help an emergency case. Just remember it is demanding, antisocial and tiring work for the vet involved each night.
Please respect the veterinary emergency service and use it wisely and responsibly.
Thanks!
Small Animal Emergencies
Who do you contact if your pet requires emergency care after Mobile Veterinary Care hours? Here are some skilled 24-hour pet hospitals in the Northern Indianapolis area:
Animal Emergency Clinic
Castleton, 317.849.4925
VCA
West 86th St., 317.848.1898
Circle City Vet Specialty
Carmel, 317.872.8387
Large Animal Emergencies
In case of a large animal emergency please call Mobile Veterinary Care at 317.313.8760 and listen to the instructions on the voicemail. As instructed, leave a message and then call the pager. Be sure to type in your phone number correctly and then refrain from using that phone until a doctor returns your call.
Map to Emergency Facilities
Map out your trip to the emergency clinic.
