Urgent Veterinary Care

After-Hours Emergency Care

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

If your pet is in need of urgent or emergency veterinary care, follow these steps.

• Call Ahead - Call us right away during regular hours to book an urgent care visit. If we are unable to treat your pet, we will refer you to one of the emergency hospitals listed above. After hours, or for emergencies, call one of the emergency animal hospitals listed above to let them know you are on the way.
• Follow Instructions Provided - You may be provided instructions to help you apply first aid or otherwise make your pet as comfortable as possible. 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 Natick veterinary clinic or the after-hours emergency vet location above.

Urgent Care FAQs

Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an urgent care appointment at Wellesley-Natick Veterinary Hospital. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Wellesley-Natick Veterinary Hospital provides urgent veterinary care for existing patients during our regular clinic hours and by appointment only. Please give us a call to ensure that we are able to treat your pet.

  If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule, we recommend that you visit one of the after-hours emergency vet locations shown above. 

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see urgent care cases for existing patients by appointment 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:Closed
  • Sunday:Closed

   

• What situations require immediate veterinary care?

  The following situations are examples of medical issues 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?

  It is important to call us to ensure that we have availability in our schedule to provide urgent care for your pet. If we do, we'll be able to see you immediately at the agreed-upon time.

  If we are unable to fit an urgent care appointment into our vet's schedule, please visit one of the emergency animal hospitals listed above. 

• What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?

  Some urgent veterinary situations require intensive overnight care. At Wellesley-Natick Veterinary 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?

  We provide daytime urgent care services for cats and dogs.