Urgent care
Something’s wrong. Here’s what to do first.
Call us before you drive. Two minutes of phone triage tells you whether your pet needs a same-day slot here, a regular appointment — or the emergency hospital right now.
After hours? Skip us entirely: Ridgeline Veterinary Emergency Hospital, 24/7 — (828) 555-0199
Same-day sick visits
Sick today, usually seen today
We hold slots most weekdays for problems that shouldn’t wait a week but don’t need an ER. Call by mid-morning for the best odds — slots go in booking order, sickest first.
Same-day territory:
- Vomiting or diarrhea (pet still alert and drinking)
- Limping, ear infections, eye discharge, itchy skin + hot spots
- Minor wounds and scrapes, broken nails, mild swelling
- Not eating for a day, lethargy, “just not himself”
- Urinary accidents or straining in dogs and female cats (male cats: see the red list)
$92
same-day sick exam · diagnostics estimated in writing before we run them
How it works
01
Call (828) 555-0117. Describe what you’re seeing — a technician triages on the phone.
02
We give you a time, or tell you honestly that today is full and where else can see you sooner.
03
Exam, then in-house lab and X-ray if needed — most sick visits leave with answers and a plan the same day.
Urgent-care hours
Same-day slots run during regular hours:
Mon–Fri 8:00–5:30 · Sat 8:00–12:00
Last same-day appointments are seen about an hour before close. Nights, Sundays, and holidays: Ridgeline Veterinary Emergency Hospital, 24/7.
The red list
True emergencies: don’t wait for us
We’re a daytime clinic, not an emergency hospital — and pretending otherwise could cost your pet time it doesn’t have. If you see any of these, go straight to the ER. Call them from the car so they can prep.
Go to the ER now if your pet has:
- Trouble breathing, choking, or blue/gray gums
- Collapse, unresponsiveness, or a seizure lasting over 2 minutes (or repeating)
- A swollen, hard belly with retching that produces nothing — especially large dogs (possible bloat/GDV)
- A male cat straining to urinate with little or nothing coming out
- Been hit by a car, had a major fall, or taken a bite wound to chest or belly — even if they “seem fine”
- Eaten a known toxin — antifreeze, rodent bait, xylitol gum, chocolate in quantity, grapes/raisins, lilies (cats), human medications
- Uncontrolled bleeding, or heatstroke signs after exertion on a warm day
- Labor that stalls — straining over an hour with no puppy or kitten
24/7 emergency partner
Ridgeline Veterinary Emergency Hospital
Open around the clock, every day, with doctors and ICU staffing overnight. Call while you drive — it genuinely helps them help your pet faster.
ER: (828) 555-0199Independent emergency hospital; fees and records are theirs. Send us the visit summary afterward — or sign a release there — and we’ll fold it into your pet’s chart for follow-up here.
Swallowed something?
For suspected poisonings, an animal poison-control hotline (ASPCA Animal Poison Control or Pet Poison Helpline; consultation fees apply) can advise you and the treating vet on exact toxicity math for what your pet ate. Call them or the ER first — minutes matter more than which door you choose.
Don’t induce vomiting unless a veterinary professional tells you to — with some substances it makes things worse.
The rule of thumb
If you’re debating whether it’s an emergency, call somebody — us during hours, the ER after. Nobody here will ever make you feel silly for checking, and a two-minute call beats an hour of worried googling.