Frequently Asked Questions

Not every health problem your pet encounters will require emergency medical care. With some illnesses and injuries, symptoms may develop slowly or seem minor on the surface, thereby making it difficult to determine the need for immediate medical care.

We have compiled the following information to assist you in determining if your pet requires emergent medical care:

• Bleeding that is either prolonged, severe or both.

• Trauma

• Vomiting or diarrhea which is repeated, severe, or disables pet from normal fluid/food intake/absorption.

• Unwillingness or inability to drink and/or eat for over 12-24 hours.

• Consumption of toxins including household medications-please call ahead before giving any home remedies.

• Ingestion of foreign objects.

• Convulsions/Seizures/Tremors.

• Lethargy, abnormal mentation, weakness.

• Pain which interferes with pets willingness to interact, void, eat/drink or do their other normal activities.

• Eye problems

• Disorientation, inability to walk normally, staggering.

• Heatstroke

• Drowning

• Coughing which is so frequent/severe as to disrupt normal activity, eating/drinking, etc. or if tied to respiratory distress.

• Respiratory distress, exercise intolerance or collapse with activity

If your pet has an ongoing medical problem that could result in a sudden emergency, make sure that you keep pertinent medical records easily accessible (current medications, dosages, etc.) so the Yakima Pet Emergency doctors can be aware of your pet’s current therapies.

• Keep your Yakima Pet Emergency and your regular veterinarian’s phone numbers by your phone in case of an emergency.

• Know basic first aid tips for pets. Ask your veterinarian for these tips ahead of time at your next wellness exam.

Make sure that you know ahead of time what your primary veterinarian’s policy is regarding emergency care, both during regular practice hours and after hours. Make sure you know our location. If your pet has an ongoing medical problem that could result in a sudden emergency, make sure that you keep pertinent medical records easily accessible so we can be informed of their current therapy if your pet requires treatment here. 

Any medical records you may have along with a list of any medications and dosages your pet is currently taking, this includes supplements. If your pet is on a special medication or diet, please bring those items with you in case your pet may need to be hospitalized.

No, appointments are not needed but we are an emergency room and thus we triage our patients; this means the most life-threatening cases will be seen first when more than one pet arrives at the same time. Sometimes this means that an examination in progress may be interrupted, or a stable patient may have to wait for treatment behind a pet in critical condition. Please be assured that we will work as quickly as possible to provide all pets with the care they need. Remember; We are open when your family veterinarian’s office is closed: nights, weekends and holidays. Few aspects of pet ownership are more stressful than when an animal is taken ill during the time your regular veterinarian is closed. Our mission is to provide you and your pet with compassionate, high quality emergent medical care when you need it most.

Upon arrival at our hospital, you will be asked to fill out an intake form, your pet’s condition will be assessed, a history will be obtained, and the doctor will perform a thorough, comprehensive exam before making recommendations for treatment. They will discuss these recommendations with you and the reason for them. An itemized treatment plan will then be prepared for you at that time. We will do our best to work within the budget you have established while still delivering the medical care they need most.

We encourage owners to visit their pets. Visits from family members relieve stress for both owners and patients. Some limits on visitation may need to be set in order to provide the best care for your pet. Feel free to discuss with the attending doctor the best time for the visit. We have staff on premises all during the night, and we encourage you to call at any hour to receive an update on your pet.

No! That is why we are here, to be with your pet when your regular veterinarian is closed. We always have a doctor and caring nurses on premises whenever your pet is hospitalized. We will take care of any needs that may arise overnight. Special attention is paid to the management of pain in all of our patients. The latest pain relief protocols are used to control patient discomfort.

Follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding all relevant wellness care. Prevent traumatic injury by keeping pets under control at all times. When your pet ventures outside, always keep it on a leash. Never leave your pet alone in an unattended car. Pet proof your home by removing all potential hazards from your pet’s reach. If your pet is coping with a chronic illness, carefully follow your primary veterinarian’s recommendations regarding medication administration and check-ups.

In the unfortunate event that your pet cannot survive the illness or trauma it has suffered, we offer painless euthanasia and cremation services. You may also choose to privately care for your pets’ remains after they have passed. For pets who pass at home, we can assist you with obtaining cremation services.

Pet Loss Web Resources

• www.petloss.com

• www.aplb.org

• www.in-memory-of-pets.com

We do not provide any routine or elective healthcare medicine. We focus on emergency and critical care for pets with conditions requiring immediate or intensive care.

There are many factors that go into how veterinary fees are determined. Each emergency hospital are staffed 24-hours a day and on holidays, and the level of medical care provided here is often comparable to a human ICU, the fees will reflect this higher level of nursing care, staffing and medical treatment.

Learn about our payment options and long-term payment plans on our Payment Options page.

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