09/04/2026
🏥 What happens when you arrive at a veterinary ER?
Just like in a human emergency room, veterinary ER patients are seen based on medical urgency—not simply in the order they arrive.
When you arrive at VMC, our team will assess your pet and determine how urgently they need care. Patients experiencing life-threatening emergencies—such as difficulty breathing, active seizures, severe trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or shock—need to be treated immediately. More stable patients may have to wait while those critical cases are stabilized.
That also means a pet who arrives after you may sometimes be taken back before you. We know that can be frustrating, particularly when you're worried about your own pet. Having to wait doesn't mean your pet isn't sick or doesn't need care—it simply means another patient needs more immediate intervention at that moment.
Things can change while you're waiting. If you notice a change in your pet's condition or have new concerns, please let our team know right away so we can reassess them.
Veterinary ERs can be unpredictable places. A quiet waiting room doesn't necessarily mean a quiet hospital, and wait times can change quickly as critical patients arrive. Our goal is always the same: to get every patient the care they need, with the sickest patients receiving care first. ❤️🐾
We appreciate your patience and understanding while our team works to care for pets across Central New York, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
