Emergency Services by Appointment

After-Hours Emergency Care

Find a local 24-hour emergency clinic nearest you.

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

If you are experiencing a veterinary emergency, follow the steps below.

• Call Ahead If Possible - During our regular hospital hours, contact us as soon as possible to schedule an urgent visit for your pet. If your emergency is occurring outside of our open hours or if your pet is experiencing an extreme 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 emergency pet 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.

Emergency FAQs

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

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Hope Crossing Animal Hospital provides emergency and 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 emergency 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 emergency veterinary care?

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

  • Unconsciousness
  • Seizures and/or staggering
  • Injuries to the eye(s)
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Fractured bones or severe lameness
  • Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
  • Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
  • Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in the urine
  • Inability to urinate or pass feces, or pain associated with urinating or passing feces
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea; 2+ episodes in 24-hours
  • Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
• 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 emergency 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 veterinary emergencies 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 emergency services to dogs and cats by appointment only.