What is Urgent Care for Pets?

Urgent care for pets is veterinary treatment for non-life-threatening conditions that need same-day attention. It falls between routine wellness exams and emergency care, similar to urgent care for people. Common examples include vomiting, limping, ear infections, eye issues, and skin irritation — problems that are not emergencies but shouldn’t wait for a routine scheduled appointment.

If something feels off (like a sudden change in behavior, appetite, or energy), it's worth having one of our vets take a closer look. While most clinics can't accommodate same-day appointments or walk-ins, we offer both, so you can get care right when you need it. For ongoing wellness visits, vaccines, and annual exams, our preventive care services cover everything your pet needs to stay healthy.

For life-threatening emergencies like trouble breathing, seizures, or major trauma, go directly to an emergency vet.

What's the Difference Between Urgent Care and Emergency Care?

Urgent care treats non-life-threatening conditions that need same-day attention, like vomiting, limping, ear infections, or minor cuts. Emergency care is for life-threatening situations such as difficulty breathing, seizures, major trauma, collapse, or known poisoning.

If your pet's symptoms are severe, sudden, or rapidly worsening, go directly to an emergency vet. When you are unsure, default to emergency care. It is always safer to be evaluated and sent home than to delay treatment for something serious.

Reasons to Seek Urgent Care

If your pet isn’t feeling like themselves, it can be hard to know what’s worth a visit. Here are some common reasons pet parents come in for urgent care:

If your pet isn't feeling like themselves, it can be hard to know what's worth a visit. Here are some common reasons pet parents come in for urgent care:

• Bite wounds: visible cuts, bleeding, or swelling from contact with another animal

• Urinating blood: pink or red discoloration in urine, or visible blood drops

• Urinary changes: frequent attempts to urinate with little output, accidents indoors, or vocalizing while peeing

• Toxic ingestion: known exposure to chocolate, xylitol, medications, plants, or household chemicals

• Pet ate a foreign body (toy, rawhide, etc): gagging, vomiting, or loss of appetite after swallowing something they shouldn't

• Diarrhea or vomiting: multiple episodes within 24 hours, especially if blood is present

• Itchy skin or rashes: excessive scratching, red or inflamed patches, or hot spots

• Pain or limping: avoiding weight on a limb, yelping when touched, or stiff movement

• Changes in behavior: hiding, unusual aggression, restlessness, or sudden lethargy

• Loss of appetite or overeating: skipping meals for 24+ hours, or sudden ravenous eating

• Cuts or abrasions: open wounds, especially those deeper than the surface of the skin

• Eye issues (tearing, redness, discharge): squinting, pawing at the eye, or visible cloudiness

• Ear infections: head shaking, scratching at ears, foul odor, or visible discharge

• Runny nose, coughing, or sneezing: persistent nasal discharge or a hacking cough that doesn't pass

• Hair loss: patchy bald spots, thinning coat, or fur coming out in clumps

• Overgrown nails: nails curling into paw pads, difficulty walking, or clicking on hard floors

Not sure if your pet's concern needs an in-person visit? Bond Vet Telehealth can help you get quick answers from home.