Overview

Our Northfield Veterinary Center team is proud to offer same-day urgent care services for pets who have non-life-threatening but painful or pressing conditions that can’t wait for a regular veterinary appointment. You can make a same-day appointment for your pet instead of having to wait in a busy emergency room.

Emergency versus urgent care

Emergency care is meant for severe and life-threatening conditions that require immediate veterinary attention, while urgent care addresses medical conditions that require prompt attention but are not immediately life-threatening.

Urgent care condition examples include:

• Vomiting — Pets can vomit for many reasons, some more serious than others. If your pet vomits once or twice with no other signs, our urgent care team can assess their condition.

• Diarrhea — In many cases, diarrhea doesn’t constitute a veterinary emergency. As long as you don’t suspect that your pet ingested a toxin and they aren’t exhibiting other illness signs, you can make an appointment with our urgent care team.

• Constipation — If your pet is straining to defecate or isn’t producing their normal fecal amount, our urgent care team can provide the necessary treatment.

• Small wounds or lacerations — Our urgent care team is well-versed in treating small wounds and lacerations.

• Coughing — If your pet has a concerning cough but no breathing difficulties, you can make an appointment with our urgent care team.

• Broken toenails — Broken or torn toenails can be painful, and our urgent care team can provide the necessary care.

• Eye problems — An eye problem isn’t life-threatening, but it can be painful or vision-threatening, so you should make an appointment with our urgent care team if your pet is squinting, tearing, or has a swollen eye.

• Facial swelling or hives — If your pet’s face is swollen or they have hives, they may be having an allergic reaction and should be assessed by our urgent care team.

• Limping — If your pet is favoring a limb but otherwise seems fine, make an appointment with our urgent care team.

• Ear infection — Ear infections are painful and can lead to more serious complications if not addressed quickly.

Conditions that require emergency care include:

• Foreign body or toxin ingestion

• Being hit by a car

• Unconsciousness

• Fracture or dislocation

• Straining or inability to urinate

• Excessive bleeding 

• Difficulty breathing

Our experienced and dedicated veterinary team offers urgent care services every day from 8 a.m. until midnight. You can also call our triage line to ask whether your pet needs emergency or urgent care.