Emergency Questions

1. What do I do if there is an emergency after hours?

If your pets emergency cannot wait please call:

BLUE PEARL VETERINARY PARTNERS HOSPITAL (ANN ARBOR) AT: (734) 971-8774. MEDVET TOLEDO AT: (419) 473-0328.

We work with these emergency clinics to refer our patients to a facility that is equipped to meet emergency care needs 24/7. Most types of emergencies require close monitoring and overnight hospitalization.

Dr. Wise and Dr. Major have confidence in the Doctors and staff at these emergency clinics to take care of their patients needs should an after hours emergency occur.

2. Is there a Veterinarian on-call?

For after hour telephone advice and concerns please call the office at 517-423-6609 to get the cell phone number of the Veterinarian on call. Our doctors are on call until 9:00pm and will be available to address your questions.

Please listen to the recorded message to find out who is on call for the evening since it varies from day to day. Keeping an individual Doctors on call number on hand just in case will not guarantee a response since that Doctor may not be on call.  If the doctor is busy and unable to return your call in a timely manner, please call the emergency hospitals listed above.

3. How do I know if I have a “true emergency?

– Seizure, fainting, collapse
– Eye injury – no matter how mild
– Suspected poisoning
– Thermal stress from being either too hot or too cold
– Hemorrhage or Open wound or laceration that’s bleeding
– Trauma, such as being hit by car even though the pet appears fine.
– Respiratory problems – trouble breathing, near drowning
– Straining to urinate or defecate
– Vomiting or diarrhea (anything more than two or three times), retching/trying to vomit, has a drum-tight abdomen and a “roached-back” appearance indicative of abdominal pain.

4. Can this wait?

Although some problems may not be life-threatening, your pet may be in pain and the problem should be taken care of as soon as possible. Watch for the following signs that signal your pet may be in pain: panting, labored breathing, shaking, increased body temperature, lethargy, crying, restlessness, aggression, loss of appetite, and some may be clingy while others withdraw.

If unsure, its best to always use caution. Better to overestimate a minor medical problem then to underestimate a major one. The difference could be life or death.