Emergency vs Urgent Vet Care in Lakeland, FL
At Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic, we have the technology, capacity, and expertise to provide urgent and emergency medical services, making us a one-stop-shop for all your pet's needs. This can save you from making multiple trips to different vets, and allow for consistent care from a team that understands your pet’s situation.
But what is the difference between urgent care and emergency vet care? Which category does your pet’s situation fall into? We explain the differences below, and encourage you to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your pet!
Call (863) 665-3199 if your pet needs urgent or emergency care.
Urgent Vet Care
We reserve urgent care for pets with serious, but not life-threatening, conditions. This means that while your pet’s life is not in danger due to their condition, they still need to be seen sooner rather than later by a veterinarian to prevent their condition from becoming worse, and to ensure a full recovery.
How to Tell if Your Pet Needs Urgent Care
Signs and conditions that indicate your pet needs urgent care include:
- Minor injuries (no excessive bleeding, no broken bones)
- Ear infections
- Possible UTI (small amount of blood in urine)
- Change in appetite
- Lameness/limping
- Difficulty urinating or passing stool
- Foreign body ingestion
- Unexplained lumps and bumps
- Parasites
Emergency Vet Care
Whereas urgent medical situations are serious but non-life-threatening, emergency situations are absolutely life-threatening and should be addressed as quickly as possible.
How to Tell If Your Pet Needs Emergency Care
Signs and conditions that require emergency care for your pet include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Choking
- Collapse
- Paralysis
- Bleeding excessively
- Sudden drop or rise in body temperature
- Loss of consciousness
- Excessive, constant diarrhea/vomiting
- Trauma from being hit by a car or falling
- Abnormal heart beat
- Severe allergic reaction
- Bleeding from the nose, mouth, or rectum
- Labor difficulties
When in doubt, call us immediately at (863) 665-3199 so we can help you and your pet. Even if their condition does not seem serious, urgent care might still be warranted.
