Urgent Care in West Chester

Veterinary Urgent & Emergency Care

If your pet is showing any concerning symptoms or behaviors, immediately contact our office for advice and availability, or a local emergency animal hospital.

Our team at West Chester Veterinary Medical Center may be able to address urgent, same-day issues that are not life-threatening. Please call us for an appointment. Animals are our passion, and we are proud to provide your pet with the quality medical care they need. 

Steps to Take in an Urgent Care Situation

If your pet requires urgent care, follow these steps:

• Call Ahead - Call us right away during our regular business hours. After hours, call an emergency animal hospital near you to let them know you are on the way. 
• Follow Instructions Provided - You may receive instructions to help you apply first aid or make your pet as comfortable as possible when you call the hospital to let them know you are on your way. Follow these instructions carefully.
• Remain Calm - Stay calm and be extra careful around your pet. When an animal is in pain, they may react negatively towards anyone trying to help and could scratch or bite.
• Bring Your Pet in for Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Stay safe while bringing your pet to our West Chester veterinary clinic or the after-hours emergency vet.

Urgent Vet Care FAQs

Review our most frequently asked questions to find out more about bringing your pet in for an urgent care appointment at West Chester Veterinary Medical Center. 

• What is the difference between urgent care and emergency care?

  While more serious and life-threatening issues are addressed in emergency departments, pet owners can bring their animals to West Chester Veterinary Medical Center for urgent care.

  Depending on availability, we may be able to address urgent, same-day issues that should be treated same day, but which are not life-threatening.

• Do I need to call ahead?

  West Chester Veterinary Medical Center may be able to provide same-day urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs during our regular clinic hours. Please call us to discuss our availability and next steps.

  If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule, we recommend that you visit an emergency vet location near you. 

• When is your clinic open?

  If availability allows, our vets may be able to see same-day urgent care cases by appointment during our regular office hours. 

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

• What situations require urgent veterinary care?

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

  • Ear or eye issues
  • Bite wounds or lacerations
  • Limping
  • Nail or paw issues
  • Abscesses
  • Coughing/Sneezing
  • Decreased appetite 
  • Hives, swelling, or reactions
  • Bad breath
  • Urinary problems/accidents
  • Fever
  • 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.)
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
• How long will we have to wait to see the vet?

  Our West Chester animal hospital can see urgent care cases by appointment. We will try to fit your pet in as soon as possible and as availability allows.

  If we are unable to fit an urgent care appointment into our vet's schedule, we recommend that you visit a 24/7 animal emergency hospital nearest you. 

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

  Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. In these cases, our vets will refer you to a 24/7 emergency pet hospital that can meet your pet's needs.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our urgent care veterinarians are experienced with cats and dogs.