At VCA Metzger Animal Hospital, we help pets live long, healthy and happy lives. We deliver the best medical care for pets and the best experience for pet owners.
Our veterinarians, technicians and other pet-friendly support staff are trained to the highest standards. Their thorough knowledge of the latest procedures and medications ensures that all our patients receive the best in preventive and healing care.
Welcome to VCA Metzger Animal Hospital. We are AAHA-accredited and a Level II Certified Emergency Veterinary Facility providing around-the-clock care to State College, Bellefonte, Altoona, Clearfield, and all of Central Pennsylvania. We offer a variety of veterinary services to pets, both big and small, including wellness care, surgical services, rehabilitation and physical therapy, orthopedic surgery, and much more! We are available when you need us.
Our certifications! Many pet owners choose their veterinarian based on recommendations from their friends or neighbors, location or an Internet search. We feel CERTIFICATION is extremely important because it’s the ONLY way pet owners can compare apples to apples. Be CERTAIN your veterinarian and your veterinary hospital are CERTIFIED.
VCA Metzger Animal Hospital's certification summary:
We have 24-hour care with an emergency doctor and technicians on site at ALL times. VCA Metzger Animal Hospital is a Level II VECCS (Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society) Certified Veterinary Emergency Hospital.
There are ONLY 5 VECCS certified emergency veterinary hospitals in Pennsylvania including:
We are the most advanced veterinary hospital in central Pennsylvania. Our specialized instrumentation include; CT (CAT scan), fluoroscopy, digital X-ray, laparoscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound, echocardiography, 13 anesthesia units with ventilation, Midmark anesthetic monitors, Aero spray slide strainer and cytoprep, Olympus specialty pathology microscope 26 IV fluid pumps, two Snyder oxygen treatment units and a Shor-Line underwater treadmill.
Yes BUT we have 4 specialists on staff ourselves, so we frequently receive patients from other veterinarians. We have the only board-certified specialists in Central Pennsylvania.
A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed additional training in a specific area of veterinary medicine and has passed an examination that evaluates their knowledge and skills in that specialty area. Currently, there are 22 AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations comprising 41 distinct specialties.
We have mandatory preanesthetic blood testing included in the price and we perform the testing the morning of the anesthetic procedure. Our trained and certified veterinary technicians closely monitor our patients and utilize state of the art anesthetic monitoring instrumentation (end tidal CO2, pulse oximetry, EKG, blood pressure).
VCA Metzger Animal Hospital has 21 Certified Veterinary Technicians and 1 Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) on staff!
A Certified Veterinary Technician has many duties that are vital to the health care of our pets. Certified Veterinary Technician complete a 2-3 year degree at an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician college then must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination to obtain the title of certified veterinary technician (CVT).
We have advanced pain management protocols that are used at veterinary teaching hospitals and are continually updated. In addition, we have our rehabilitation center, which is equipped with an underwater treadmill, uses therapeutic ultrasound, e-stim and veterinary chiropractic care. Our rehabilitation center is staffed by certified professionals: Dr. Bob Rider, DVM, CCRT; Dr. Kevin McCarthy, DC, ACVC; and Physical Therapist, Anne Risaliti, PT, CCRT.
Caring for pets means meeting a wide range of needs beyond health care. Fortunately, there’s a whole community of organizations and businesses eager to help.
Here’s where to meet the local groups that we recommend to our pet-loving families.
ASPCA Poison Control Center Hotline
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is staffed 24 hours with veterinary health professionals who have been specially trained in veterinary toxicology. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call the ASPCA 24 hour emergency Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435.
Pet Poison Helpline
Worried that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance? Contact the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
Visit Pet Poison Helpline