Emergency Veterinary Care in Tucson

At Cortaro Farms Pet Hospital, we refer urgent and emergency care patients to a local facility equipped to handle the needs of cats and dogs requiring immediate medical attention.

What to do in a veterinary emergency

Steps to Take in a Pet Emergency

If your pet is experiencing a veterinary emergency, follow the steps below.

• Call Ahead If Possible - Call the emergency animal hospital listed above to let them know you are on the way.
• Follow Instructions Provided - When you call the emergency hospital, they may provide you with instructions for applying first aid or making your pet comfortable. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully.
• Remain Calm - Keep calm and be extra careful around your pet. When an animal is in pain or distress, they may respond to those trying to help by biting or scratching.
• Bring Your Pet in for Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Bring your pet to the 24-hour emergency vet location above as safely as possible to avoid injuring yourself or causing further harm to your pet.

Vet Emergency FAQs

Read through some frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an emergency appointment at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson. 

• When is the emergency clinic open?

  We are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year to handle unexpected illness, injury, and trauma.

• Do I need to call ahead?

  When bringing your pet in for emergency care, we recommend that you contact the emergency vet location shown above ahead of time so they can be as prepared as possible to care for your pet. 

• What situations require emergency veterinary care?

  The following situations are examples of emergencies that require immediate care:

  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Unconsciousness
  • Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • 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)
  • Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
  • Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
• How long will we have to wait to see the vet?

  An animal hospital can be just like a human doctor's office, meaning it can be unpredictable and there may be a brief waiting period. 

  We can't predict how busy the hospital will be at the time of your arrival. If at all possible, call ahead of time to find out if your pet will be able to be tended to right away.

  Your pet will be seen as soon as possible, but keep in mind, more severe emergencies may be prioritized.

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

  Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. During your pet's stay, they will be closely monitored, given any necessary treatment, and treated like family.

• How is an emergency hospital different from my primary care veterinarian's hospital?

  Unlike your family veterinarian, the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson only provides emergency and specialty care and does not offer any routine or preventative care such as vaccinations, annual exams, etc.