URGENT CARE
We Are Here When Your Pet Needs Us
Accidents and illnesses do not happen on a schedule. South Side Animal Hospital in south Edmonton provides urgent care during our business hours for pets who need immediate attention.
When Should I Bring My Pet In for Urgent Care?
Contact us right away if your pet experiences:
• Difficulty breathing or rapid, labored breathing
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
• Inability to urinate or defecate, or signs of straining
• Suspected poisoning (ate chocolate, medications, household chemicals, etc.)
• Seizures
• Trauma from being hit by a car, falling, or animal attacks
• Eye injuries or sudden blindness
• Severe bleeding that does not stop with pressure
• Collapse or inability to stand
• Extreme lethargy or unresponsiveness
• Bloated, hard, or painful abdomen (especially in large-breed dogs)
• Heatstroke (excessive panting, drooling, weakness after being in heat)
• Broken bones or severe limping
• Allergic reactions (facial swelling, hives, difficulty breathing)
• Difficulty giving birth (more than 2 hours of active labor with no puppy or kitten)
When in doubt, call us. We would rather you call and have it be nothing serious than wait and risk your pet’s life.
Our Urgent Care Approach
Our veterinarians have experience working in emergency practice. We know how to think quickly and act efficiently when your pet is in crisis.
When you arrive with an urgent case, we will:
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- Assess your pet immediately to determine the severity of the situation
- Stabilize your pet with oxygen, intravenous fluids, pain control, or other emergency treatments
- Perform diagnostic tests like blood work, x-rays, or ultrasound to identify the problem
- Discuss treatment options with you and create a plan
- Provide hospitalization and monitoring during our business hours
Our registered veterinary technologists are skilled in emergency care and will monitor your pet closely throughout the day.
After-Hours Emergencies
South Side Animal Hospital is not a 24-hour emergency clinic. We are open during regular business hours.
If your pet has an emergency outside our business hours, please contact one of Edmonton’s trusted emergency veterinary hospitals. These clinics are staffed 24/7, including holidays:
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- Boreal Veterinary Centre (780) 306-4400
- Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency (780) 570-9999
- Guardian Veterinary Centre (780) 436-5880
Injured Wildlife
If you find injured wildlife, contact Wild North – (780) 914-4118
Poison Emergencies
If your pet has ingested something toxic, call us immediately. You can also contact Pet Poison Helpline 1-855-764-7661
Common Urgent Care Situations
Chocolate Toxicity
Dogs who eat chocolate, especially dark chocolate or baking chocolate, can develop vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, tremors, and seizures. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.
Foreign Object Ingestion
Pets eat things they should not: socks, toys, corn cobs, bones, and more. Some objects can cause intestinal blockages that require emergency surgery.
Heatstroke
Pets left in hot cars or exercised too hard in warm weather can develop heatstroke. Signs include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, weakness, and collapse. Heatstroke is life-threatening.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)
Large-breed dogs can develop bloat, a condition where the stomach fills with gas and twists. This is a true emergency requiring immediate surgery. Signs include a distended abdomen, unproductive retching, restlessness, and weakness.
Urinary Blockages
Male cats are especially prone to urinary blockages that prevent them from urinating. This is painful and life-threatening. Signs include straining in the litter box, crying, and licking the genital area.