Questions
Can I take my pet to urgent care instead of the ER?
Yes, when the problem is not immediately life-threatening and your pet is otherwise alert — for example occasional vomiting or diarrhea with the pet still keeping water down, limping but still using the leg, small wounds, or ear problems. Go to a 24/7 ER now for trouble breathing, collapse, a long seizure, heavy bleeding, a swallowed toxin, a male cat straining to pee, and the other emergency signs on our checklist. Many urgent-care clinics close overnight. When in doubt, call a vet or ER.
Do vets take walk-ins?
It depends on the clinic. Some urgent-care and same-day clinics say they accept walk-ins; others require an appointment or a call first. A clinic that accepts walk-ins may still be full. On each city page we show the walk-in policy only when the clinic publishes one; otherwise the card says “not published.” We never guess. Call before you drive.
Is my pet’s problem an emergency?
Treat it as an emergency and go to a 24/7 animal ER for trouble breathing, collapse or not being able to stand, a seizure now or one that lasts more than 5 minutes, heavy bleeding or major trauma, a known or suspected toxin, a male cat straining to pee with little or no urine, a swollen or hard belly, trouble giving birth, signs of heatstroke, severe pain or sudden paralysis, or a serious eye or head injury. If your pet is “off” but alert, a same-day or urgent-care vet is often the better fit. When in doubt, call or go to an ER.
Are vets open on weekends and holidays?
Some urgent-care and same-day clinics are open Saturdays, and some are open Sundays. 24/7 emergency hospitals are open every day, including holidays, unless a clinic’s own website says otherwise. Posted hours change, and the “Open now” filter on our city pages does not know about holidays or sudden closures. Call ahead, especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas and July 4. Each city page lists clinics that post weekend hours, with 24/7 ERs at the bottom.
What should I do if I think my pet ate something poisonous?
Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (both 24/7; a consultation fee may apply) and go to a 24/7 ER if they advise it, or if your pet is already in distress. Do not give home remedies or try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian or poison expert tells you to. A searchable list of common toxins is at https://vetsopentoday.com/pet-toxin-checker.html.
Related guides
- Urgent care or ER? A printable checklist
- Pet toxin checker — common foods, plants, medications and household poisons
- Find a vet by city — hours, walk-in rules and published exam fees from each clinic’s own site
We do not publish a typical price for an urgent-care or ER visit. Fees vary by clinic and by what your pet needs, and many clinics do not post prices. When a clinic publishes an exam fee, we show it on that city’s page; otherwise the card says “not published.” We never guess a number.