Hespeler Animal Hospital

Emergency Clinic for Dogs and Cats in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo

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The emergency clinic was busy preparing for another long night. The receptionist was on the phones and checking patients in, nurses were checking on sick patients, and doctors were working hard to save lives. In many ways it appeared to be no different than any other emergency hospital. The only difference? This clinic is for pets only!

An unexpected illness of her pet was the farthest thing from Lisa’s mind when she got home from work on a Friday night.

Morris, her two-year-old domestic shorthair cat, was acting sick. He was crying as if he was in pain, and constantly going to the litter box. Lisa knew something was very wrong. Luckily, she knew a place where Morris could get immediate attention.

Emergency care for pets has changed over the last several decades. Veterinarians used to share emergency duty, taking calls through all hours of the night and early morning.

We had to deal with difficult cases while fighting off sleep, and without the trained staff we had to assist us during regular business hours. Even worse, we had to leave critically ill patients unattended once they were out of immediate danger, in order to go home to get some sleep in preparation for the upcoming workday.

Luckily, we have an excellent dedicated emergency clinic in our region.

Co-owned and overseen by over 40 practices in the Waterloo and Wellington counties, the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Waterloo Region means pet owners now have access to urgent care during nights and weekends when their regular veterinarians are closed.

Staffed by specially-trained emergency veterinarians and team members, our emergency clinic is a blessing to people and pets. From the high-tech medical equipment in the treatment room to the in-house laboratory or the well-stocked surgery suite, animal emergency facilities provide a similar level of care to what you might see in a human emergency room.

The cost of a visit to an emergency clinic is higher than going to see your regular veterinarian, but not double or triple as some pet owners mistakenly assume.

The good news is that the emergency fee is only about $20 to $25 more than an office call and the other fees for tests, X-rays, surgery or treatments only 10 per cent more than what most local veterinarians charge.

Lisa’s visit started when the veterinary nurse came into the exam room and noted Morris’s history of straining to urinate. Morris was in bad shape; he was very lethargic, and in a lot of distress. Quickly obtaining a history from Lisa and vital signs from Morris, the nurse left the room to get the doctor. In no time, the veterinarian was performing an exam and assessment on Morris.

After the findings and plans were discussed with Lisa, Morris was admitted for emergency treatment. The doctor administered pain relief while the nurse prepared other medications and supplies.

The veterinary team relieved Morris’s urinary obstruction and placed a urinary catheter so he could pass urine once again.

Morris was placed on intravenous fluids to correct his dehydration and help flush his urinary system. Analysis of his urine and X-rays of his bladder confirmed that Morris had bladder stones and crystals. One of the stones had lodged in his urethra.

Luckily, Lisa had gotten him to the clinic in time and Morris was now out of the woods.

Due to the knowledge, skill, and experienced care from the emergency hospital staff, Morris was headed for home on Monday morning, having survived a crisis that could have ended his life. A fax was sent to update his regular veterinarian.

I hope you never have to deal with an emergency in your pet, but if you do, you can have the peace of mind that your beloved companion will receive outstanding care. The Veterinary Emergency Clinic is located on 405 Maple Grove Road, near the Toyota Plant, police headquarters, and Challenger Trucking. It is a short drive from Cambridge, Kitchener or Waterloo. Their phone number is 519-650-1617.

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