VCA ASEC's Emergency & Critical Care team is standing by to help 24/7/365.
Knowing where to turn when the unexpected happens is the first step in getting your pet family members the care they need. VCA ASEC's emergency and critical care department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for just that reason. Our team of veterinarians and technicians are equipped to handle any emergency, including vehicular trauma, bite wound injuries, respiratory impairment, cardiac disease, gastrointestinal emergencies, endocrine disorders, surgical emergencies, and more. Our intensive care unit provides the maximum level of care and technology for critically ill dogs and cats, when you need it most.
Being pet owners ourselves, we fully understand the stress and uncertainty that comes along with these urgent situations. We are here to welcome your pet with compassionate care, as if they were our own!
It goes without saying that the best way to avoid an emergency is to prevent it in the first place. To reduce the chances that you will experience an emergency situation during the lifetime of your pet, consider the following tips:
Make sure you know ahead of time what your veterinarian's policy is regarding emergency care, both during regular practice hours and after hours. If your veterinarian does not have a referral relationship in place, then make sure you know the location of the closest emergency referral center for your area.
If your pet has an ongoing medical problem that could result in a sudden emergency, make sure you keep any pertinent medical records in a handy place so that you can quickly locate them and bring them with you to the emergency service or hospital in the event of a crisis.
Keep your veterinarian's phone number and any emergency phone numbers and directions next to your phone along with all other important emergency information for your family.
Know basic first aid tips for pets. Ask your veterinarian for these ahead of time during a routine wellness exam
Handle With Care
Pain, fear, and shock can make animals behave differently. When you are faced with a pet emergency, remember that even the most well trained and loving pet can behave differently when feeling ill or in pain. Also realize that even relatively small animals, such as cats or small dogs, are capable of inflicting serious bite and scratch wounds when they are disoriented and in pain. If this occurs, it is important not to take such actions personally, but to realize that it is an expression of the extreme pain or disorientation your pet may be experiencing at the time.
Approach all injured pets with caution. Despite your natural wish to comfort your ill or wounded pet, do not place your face or hands near his or her head until you can assess your pet's condition. If you feel you cannot safely manage the emergency situation, ask your veterinarian for advice on how to handle and transport your pet when you call to report the emergency. Sometimes wrapping small, injured pets in towels (taking care not to cause further injury or pain) or placing larger pets in crates or carriers for transport may be the safest option for both you and your pet.
Veterinarians who want to become board certified in emergency and critical care medicine must seek additional training to become a specialist and earn this prestigious credentialing. Specialty status is granted by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC). A veterinarian who has received this specialty status will list the initials, 'DACVECC,' after his or her DVM degree. Or, the veterinarian may indicate that he or she is a 'Diplomate' of the ACVECC. The word 'Diplomate' typically means the specialist has achieved the following:
After completing and passing all of these requirements, the veterinarian is then recognized by his or her peers as a board certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care. When your pet faces an emergency, years of additional training and education will be focused on helping him or her to recover from injury or illness and enjoy the highest quality of life possible.
High Tech Help
Much of the same high tech equipment that human doctors use to help critically ill humans is also available to help save injured or seriously ill pets. Emergency and Critical Care specialists are more likely to have access to the following cutting edge equipment or capabilities to help your pet recover:
Most emergency hospitals are still seeing a surge in cases and have had to adapt their protocols to prioritize patient needs, while also considering the patient caseload their teams can effectively provide care for. Our Limited Intake Protocol is available for just that reason!
When our Limited Intake Protocol is in effect, we restrict patient intake depending on the level we are currently in. Please consult the lists of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 conditions for more information about how we determine which situations we are able to treat.
What does our Level 1 Intake look like?
Level 1 conditions may indicate a life-threatening situation for your pet and should be assessed right away. Please call 310-473-1561 immediately if any of the following conditions apply to your pet. This is not a complete list of all potentially life-threatening emergencies. If you are concerned that your pet may be experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call.
Level 1 Conditions:
(life-threatening)
What does our Level 2 Intake look like?
Level 2 conditions likely warrant evaluation and treatment, but are not expected to be immediately life-threatening. Please monitor your pet for a decline in their condition and call us if you believe your pet is deteriorating. You also have the option to reach out to other emergency hospitals to check their wait times and availability. If you are concerned that your pet may be experiencing a critical emergency and may not be stable to wait, please call (310) 473-1561.
Level 2 Conditions:
(not immediately life-threatening but urgent)
What does our Level 3 Intake look like?
Most clients will first try to take their pet to their primary care veterinarian for Level 3 conditions. If you are concerned that your pet may be experiencing a critical emergency and may not be stable to wait, please call (310) 473-1561.
Level 3 Conditions:
(non-urgent under the majority of circumstances)
