What You Should Know Before Visiting an Animal Emergency Room

Pets are like kids. They have a vague concept of boundaries and get into everything. They are also always getting sick. A seasoned pet caretaker will respond to pet vomit with an eye roll, while new pet parents will quickly pack their furry friend into the car and rush to the nearest animal emergency hospital. Sometimes, something more serious, like a dogfight or traumatic accident, will happen. Whatever the case there a few things you should be prepared for when visiting an animal emergency room.

1. Do Not Lie

The first thing the staff is going to ask you when you enter the hospital is, “What’s going on?” Do not lie. Tell them exactly what happened or what’s been happening. It is the same as when you visit a human emergency hospital. Lying can lead to error in diagnosis and treatment, which can be dangerous for your pet. For example, if your pet ingested illegal drugs be upfront about it. The staff is not going to report you and they do not care in the least what you do with your life; they just want to help your pet.

The next important question the animal emergency staff is going to ask you is, “are you up to date on vaccinations?” Again, do not lie. They are not going to turn you away and they are not going to judge you. That question is for the safety of the staff, your pet, and the other patients. It is also crucial in developing a diagnosis and treatment plan.

They are going to get history from you. If you have been slacking in your pet care, do not lie about how long symptoms have been presenting. Yes, you should be embarrassed that you have been allowing a serious problem go untreated, but do the right thing by your pet and tell the truth.

2. There Will Be A Wait.

An animal emergency hospital is the same as a human emergency hospital. You need to fill out paperwork then sit your ass down and be quiet. Depending on what’s going on at the hospital and the severity of your pet, you can be waiting anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours. If you pet is critical, they will be triaged right away. However, you will stay need to wait for the doctor to sit down with you.

Complaining about the wait is not going to make the technicians and doctor any faster. They are doing the best they can. The best thing to do is to call the animal emergency hospital before you arrive. You also need to understand that the wait times are variable. You could be next in line, but if a critical patient walks in they need to tend to that patient first.

3. No, You Cannot Go To The Back.

Most places will take your pet to the back to take vitals and for the doctor’s exam. They have all their equipment and medical tools back there. They also have more hands back there if your pet is not into it.

In the back, your technician will also be going to go over the history you gave them with the doctor. If you are present for all of this, you are going to be a distraction for the doctor trying to help your pet.

They might want to keep your pet in the back for observation until the doctor can do an exam. If you are not comfortable with this, say something.

4. Money Is Due Upfront.

Payment is always due upfront. Some place will ask you to pay in full, others will ask for a portion. Either way, you need to cough up some dough before they begin. This is due dozens—even hundreds—of people stiffing them. They are not going to make an exception for you. You need to be realistic about your budget and be honest with your doctor about it.

Yelling, “so you’re just going to let my pet die,” is not going to change the hospital polices. All medical professionals, human and animal would love to save every patient. You need to remember that hospitals are businesses and those services and tools are not free—or cheap!

5. Use Your Voice.

It has been stated previously to not lie about your pet’s history and to be realistic about your budget. Do not be bullied into doing things you are not comfortable with or cannot afford. It can be overwhelming speaking to a doctor.

Your eyes will haze over as you hear long medical terms strung into a sentence that doesn’t even sound real. You will also be emotional and scared. However, your pet’s life is at stake. You need to toughen up and ask questions.

6. You Are Not Special.

You are one in 30 people that is seen every day. They are not going to make special circumstances for you. There is a set way they do things and that is for their efficiency and their patients’ benefit. Yelling, cursing, and stomping around only makes you look like an ass.

7. They Are Not Being Rude.

When they tell you no or to have a seat, they are not being rude. As stated before, there is a set way animal emergency hospitals do things. Much of the time the person you are giving a hard time to has no authority in bending the rules. The staff feels for you and wants to do the best thing for your pet. It is important to remember that these are people who see terrible things day in and day out, sunshine is not always going to be shining out their ass.

If the veterinarian gives you a poor prognosis or suggests euthanasia, they are not being heartless. They are being real with you and giving you their professional opinion.

8. Not All Emergency Clinics are the Same.

Not all emergency clinics are equipped to take in all critical patients or can handle the same work load. Also, not all clinics can see exotics pets. Calling beforehand will let you know if you are about to waste your time. If a clinic refers you to somewhere else, they are just doing right by you.

Also, some emergency clinics can provide wellness care (spaying/neutering, vaccinations, etc.). However, most do not. Emergency clinics are not pharmacies and cannot be a substitute for a primary veterinarian.