We understand making appointments for problem visits is sometimes difficult and not always with the haste that the owner would prefer. While we would love to be able to get each pet in with every problem call, the fact of the matter is that we are still a primary care hospital and only have a certain number of slots available daily for problem visits.
During the onset of Covid-19, 11.3 million households in the United States adopted new pets. This has caused an influx of patients for vet practices, and emergency hospitals, across the country. While we may not be able to see you as urgently as you would hope, we are here to help you navigate this urgent situation.
First and foremost, you need to determine if your pet needs to go to the emergency hospital. While it is impossible to list every reason a pet may need to go to the ER, we are just listing more common reasons.
Hard Swollen Abdomen
There are a number of reasons that your pet's abdomen may become hard and swollen (or bloated), It's never a good idea to ignore signs of a bloated abdomen in animals. If your pet is showing signs of a bloated abdomen, it's time to head to the emergency vet.
Exposure to Toxins
There are many common human foods, medications, household products and garden plants that are toxic to dogs. If you find your dog eating something they shouldn't, it's best not to wait for your dog to become severely ill. Call an emergency vet immediately! When it comes to poisons, early treatment is essential for good outcomes.
A list of some common toxic household items includes, but is not limited to:
- Over-the-counter medications such as pain-killers
- The artificial sweetener Xylitol
- Avocados
- Chocolate
- Grapes & Raisins
- Slug bait
- Tulip and Daffodil Bulbs
- Azaleas, rhododendrons, and lilies
Extreme Pain
Pain is always an emergency! If your pet is showing obvious signs of pain such as vocalizing, panting, drooling, or profoundly limping do not allow your pet to suffer needlessly. When your dog is in pain, it's time to head to the emergency vet for care.
Vomiting & Diarrhea
All dogs and cats vomit at some point, and most will have the odd loose stool, however, repeated bouts of vomiting or diarrhea can rapidly lead to dehydration which can be extremely serious. If your pet is repeatedly vomiting or passing loose stool, call your vet or emergency vet right away for advice.
Inability to Urinate
An inability to urinate (or reluctance to urinate) could be a sign serious. If your dog is unable to urinate there is a very good chance they are in pain and require urgent veterinary care. Call your vet or emergency vet as soon as possible.
Ultimately, it will be up to you whether to take your dog to the emergency veterinary clinic. However, when it comes to protecting your dog's health we always feel that it's better to err on the side of caution and make the best educated guess you are able to.
24/7 Emergency Animal Hospitals
Accidents, injuries, and illnesses never take into account time of day. While some situations can wait until the next morning or business day, others require immediate attention. Please visit:
Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty
5 Strathmore Rd, Natick, MA 01760
(508) 319-2117
Veterinary Emergency Group
165 Needham St, Newton, MA 02464
(617) 729-4446
Tufts Veterinary Emergency Services
525 South St, Walpole, MA 02081
(508) 668-5454
MSPCA-Angell West - temporarily not seeing new emergencies
293 2nd Ave, Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 902-8400
Blue Pearl Waltham
180 Bear Hill Rd.
Waltham, MA 02451
781-684-8387
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
20 Cabot Rd.
Woburn, MA 01801
781-932-5802
PetMedic Urgent Care Vet Clinic
347 Main St.
Watertown, MA 02472
617-744-9540
Tufts Grafton
55 Willard St.
North Grafton, MA 01536
508-839-5395
Tufts VETS
525 South St.
Walpole, MA 02081
508-668-5454
Westford Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center
11 Cornerstone Square
Westford, MA 01886
978-577-6525