Small Animal Emergency Medicine - Present Day
By Rita Hookstead

Hello Friends. With this newsletter comes the end of summer. Labor Day is upon us and kids will soon be back in school. I wanted to address a frequently discussed topic in veterinary medicine: Emergency/After Hours Services. Historically (decades ago), veterinary clinics made themselves available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. This was especially true in rural areas. As veterinary medicine evolved and pet owners continued to take advantage of higher levels of care, the first after hours emergency clinics were born.

These emergency clinics were located in metropolitan areas and provided small animal after hour services to the clients of multiple small animal clinics from the surrounding metro area. These clinics are staffed throughout the night and weekends to treat and monitor hospitalized patients as needed.

We at the Marsh View Veterinary Clinic strive to provide the best care possible, including seeing patients after hours and on weekends. We are equipped to handle most emergencies including those which may require radiology, on-site blood chemistry analysis, fluid and shock therapy, to name just a few. This said, there are times when a patient may require round-the-clock monitoring or very specialized equipment. With these patients, we feel it is our obligation/responsibility to offer a referral to an emergency clinic or to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

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© Marsh View Veterinary Clinic, 2007
These articles are for your educational enjoyment. They may not be republished without the permission of Marsh View Veterinary Clinic. Please contact us at 920-326-3020 or 920-326-5738 if you have any questions.