Urgent Vet Services in Pittsboro

After-Hours Urgent Care & Emergency Services

Find a local 24-hour urgent and emergency clinic nearest you.

Steps to Take for Urgent Care

If your pet requires urgent medical care, carefully follow the steps listed below.

• Schedule An Appointment Right Away - During our regular hospital hours, contact us as soon as possible to schedule an urgent visit for your pet. If your pet requires urgent care outside of our clinic hours, or if your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact one of the hospitals listed above and let them know you are on your way before leaving.
• Follow Instructions Provided - When you call to let the hospital know you are on your way, instructions may be provided to help you apply first aid or otherwise make your pet as comfortable as possible. Follow these instructions carefully.
• Remain Calm - Remain calm and be extra careful around your pet. When an animal is in pain, they often react negatively towards anyone trying to help, and could bite or scratch.
• Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Safely bring your pet to our Pittsboro veterinary clinic or one of the emergency vet locations above.

Urgent Care FAQs

Read through some of the most frequently asked questions we get about our urgent care services to learn more about bringing your pet in for a critical care appointment at Hope Crossing Animal Hospital. 

• What is the difference between urgent and emergency care?

  While serious and life-threatening issues are addressed in emergency departments, pet owners can bring their animals to Hope Crossing Animal Hospital for urgent care.

  We address urgent, same-day issues that should be treated same-day but which are not life-threatening.

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Hope Crossing Animal Hospital provides urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs by appointment only during our regular clinic hours.

  If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule or if your pet is experiencing an extreme medical emergency, we recommend that you contact one of the emergency vet locations shown above. 

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see urgent medical cases by appointment only during our regular business hours:

  • Monday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Tuesday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Wednesday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Thursday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Friday:08:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Saturday:08:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • Sunday:Closed

   

• What situations require urgent veterinary care?

  The following situations are examples of urgent situations that require immediate care:

  • Abscesses
  • Eye or ear issues
  • Limping
  • Nail or paw issues
  • Bite wounds or lacerations
  • Bad breath
  • Coughing/sneezing
  • Decreased appetite
  • Hives, swelling or reactions
  • Urinary problems or accidents
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Fever
  • Inability to urinate or pass feces, or pain associated with urinating
  • Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea; 2+ episodes in 24-hours
• How long will we have to wait to see the vet?

  Our Pittsboro animal hospital is just like a human doctor's office—it can be unpredictable and you may have to wait. 

  If we are unable to fit an urgent care appointment into our vet's schedule we recommend that you visit one of the 24/7 animal emergency hospitals detailed above. 

• What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?

  Some urgent care scenarios require intensive overnight care. At Hope Crossing Animal Hospital we are unable to provide overnight care at this time.

  In these cases, one of the emergency animal hospitals listed above may better suit your needs.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our veterinary team is equipped to provide urgent services to dogs and cats by appointment only.