24/7 Emergency Care

24/7 Emergency Care

24/7 Emergency Care

The Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital provides compassionate, expert emergency veterinary care for your pets. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital provides compassionate, expert emergency veterinary care for your pets. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital provides compassionate, expert emergency veterinary care for your pets. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Urgent Care

No appointment needed! Just give us a call at 613 745 0123. Our team is ready to assess and stabilize your pet immediately.

Case Transfers

We accept transfers from other clinics for specialized and emergency care, ensuring continuity and speed for critical cases.

Emergency Procedures

Our veterinarians handle life-threatening emergencies with advanced techniques for the best possible outcomes.

Urgent Care

No appointment needed! Just give us a call at 613 745 0123. Our team is ready to assess and stabilize your pet immediately.

Case Transfers

We accept transfers from other clinics for specialized and emergency care, ensuring continuity and speed for critical cases.

Emergency Procedures

Our veterinarians handle life-threatening emergencies with advanced techniques for the best possible outcomes.

Urgent Care

No appointment necessary! Just give us a call at 613 745 0123. Our emergency team is ready to assess and stabilize your pet immediately.

Case Transfers

We accept transfers from other clinics for specialized and emergency care, ensuring continuity and speed for critical cases.

Emergency Procedures

Our veterinarians handle life-threatening emergencies with advanced techniques for the best possible outcomes.

What is an Emergency?

Seek urgent veterinary attention for any of the following situations:

  • Any pets who have been hit by cars.
  • Pets that have been bitten or lacerated.
  • Pets in pain.
  • Bleeding.
  • Eye injuries.
  • Trauma of all kinds, including bullets or stab wounds.
  • Smoke inhalation.
  • Any animal that has difficulty breathing.
  • Animals that have difficulty urinating.
  • Lack of appetite, difficulty eating.
  • Shock. Signs may include weakness, pale mucous membranes, cold extremities (such as feet) and a rapid heart rate.
  • Abnormal swelling of the face or neck.
  • Ingestion of toxins such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate.
  • Animals with abnormal heart rhythms.
  • Life-threatening neurological symptoms, such as coma, seizures, or difficulty walking.
  • Patients who have undergone surgery that are not recovering well from the anaesthetic or are experiencing difficulties in the first few days post-surgery.

What is an Emergency?

Seek urgent veterinary attention for any of the following situations:

  • Pets who have been hit by cars.
  • Pets that have been bitten or lacerated.
  • Pets in pain.
  • Bleeding.
  • Eye injuries.
  • Trauma of all kinds, including bullets or stab wounds.
  • Smoke inhalation.
  • Any animal that has difficulty breathing.
  • Animals that have difficulty urinating or do not produce urine when squatting.
  • Lack of appetite, difficulty eating.
  • Animals that require blood transfusions.
  • Shock. Signs may include weakness, pale mucous membranes, cold extremities and a rapid heart rate.
  • Swelling of the face or neck.
  • Ingestion of toxins such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate.
  • Animals with abnormal heart rhythms.
  • Life-threatening neurological symptoms, such as coma, seizures, or difficulty walking.
  • Patients who have undergone surgery that are not recovering well from the anaesthetic or are experiencing difficulties in the first few days post-surgery.

What to Expect During an Emergency

Comprehensive emergency support available the moment you arrive.

When you arrive at OAESH, your pet will be immediately assessed and triaged by a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). Depending on the severity of the emergency, your pet may be taken directly for emergency treatment and stabilization, or you may be escorted to an exam room for a history review and primary assessment.

If the emergency is not life-threatening, you may be asked to wait while the veterinarian attends to more critical patients. Throughout this time, you will receive frequent updates regarding your pet’s status and expected waiting time.

Once your pet has been evaluated by the veterinarian, you will be provided with a comprehensive explanation of their condition, a detailed treatment plan including any recommended diagnostic tests, and a financial estimate for care.

At OAESH, we prioritize timely, transparent, and compassionate emergency care for every pet.

At this stage, you will have the opportunity to review the proposed treatment plan with the veterinarian. Once you agree on a course of action, a deposit of 75% of the projected expenses will be requested. As your pet undergoes emergency treatment, our team will make every effort to contact you promptly to discuss any changes in your pet’s condition, modifications to the treatment plan, and the cost of additional procedures or diagnostics. This ensures that you remain fully informed and involved throughout your pet’s care.

Once you have signed the treatment plan authorization form and provided your deposit, your pet will be admitted to the hospital for care. Admissions may occur during the day or at night, depending on the timing of the emergency. In the case of a nighttime admission, you may be advised to return home, though the veterinarian may request that you remain in the hospital while preliminary tests are conducted. These initial test results may influence the differential diagnosis, prognosis, and recommended course of treatment for your pet.

After admission, your pet will receive prompt, individualized care based on their condition. The required procedures may include laboratory testing, thoracic or abdominal radiography, partial thoracic or abdominal ultrasound, pain management, IV fluid therapy, and emergency surgery, among others. The veterinarian directs the Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) regarding which tests are prioritized, which parameters require close monitoring, and the appropriate treatments to administer. Similar to human emergency care, patients are treated according to severity and urgency. If your pet is in critical condition, they will receive immediate treatment.

Every hospitalized animal receives a comprehensive daily examination by the veterinarian overseeing their case. These evaluations allow the veterinarian to assess the progression of your pet’s initial condition and monitor for any changes that may occur during hospitalization, ensuring that your pet receives the highest standard of emergency veterinary care at all times. Our patient care coordinators will keep you up to date on your pet’s condition, and provide a daily revised financial estimate. Your primary veterinarian will receive a full report of your pet’s time at OAESH.

If your pet requires medication or a special diet, please inform us and provide detailed instructions at the time of admission. If the required special food is available at the hospital, we will provide it for the duration of your pet’s stay. Please do not leave personal belongings with your pet, as items placed in cages are washed daily, which increases the risk of them being lost or damaged. Our hospital provides blankets and leashes, and we make every effort to ensure your pet is comfortable and well cared for throughout their hospitalization.

The morning following your visit, our staff will notify your primary veterinarian. Complete medical records, including digital radiographs (X-rays) and blood test results, will be made immediately available to them.

If your pet was admitted overnight for treatment and requires additional in-hospital care, we will present you with three options depending on your pet’s medical condition and its severity:

  1. Leave your pet with our emergency staff during the day for continued monitoring and care.

  2. Transfer your pet to a specialty service—such as surgery, internal medicine, or another specialty—for further assessment and specialized treatment.

  3. Request a transfer back to your primary-care veterinarian for ongoing management and follow-up.

This process ensures continuity of care and allows your pet to receive the most appropriate treatment based on their condition.

Rex’s Story

When a kitten named Rex was electrocuted after biting down on an electrical cord, his family feared the worst. The Ottawa Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital was here to help!

Rex’s Story

When a kitten named Rex was electrocuted after biting down on an electrical cord, his family feared the worst. The Ottawa Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital was here to help!

Experiencing an emergency? No appointment necessary! Just call 613 745 0123 so that we can prepare for your arrival.