Midcoast Animal Emergency Clinic

04/11/2025

Today is National Pet Day!! To celebrate, here are just a few of our amazing staff pets! Please feel free to share pictures of your perfect critters in our comments 🙂

04/09/2025

Mr. Oliver is a sweet boy who needed to be hospitalized for a urinary blockage. This is unfortunately a common condition that cats can develop, and we wanted to share a bit about it with you.

Did you know that male cats are prone to urinary blockages?
While urinary blockages can affect any animal, male cats are especially at risk. These blockages can be caused by a variety of factors, including urinary tract infections, bladder stones, stress, and inflammation.

Why are male cats more at risk?
Male cats have a narrower urethra, which makes it harder for them to pass things like crystals, mucus, or urine during an obstruction.

Stress plays a big role too.
Cats can have a condition called feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) that makes them more sensitive to stress, which can cause bladder inflammation and lead to urinary blockages.

Signs of a urinary blockage include:

- Straining to urinate (can often be mistaken for constipation)

- Going in and out of the litter box frequently

- Bloody urine

- Urinating outside the litter box

- Yowling while urinating

- Sudden lethargy, vomiting, or hiding

If you notice any of these symptoms, get your cat to the vet immediately. Urinary blockages are life-threatening if not treated quickly, as the buildup of toxins in the body can be detrimental. Fortunately, we see this frequently and the condition can be treated and managed if your cat receives prompt intervention.

What’s the treatment?

In order to treat a urinary blockage, your cat will need to undergo anesthesia to have a urinary catheter placed. They usually need to be hospitalized for 36-72 hours, so we can provide IV fluid therapy, urine output monitoring, and medication for pain and stress management.

Unfortunately, urinary blockages tend to reoccur, so prevention is key. Your cat may need a lifelong prescription diet to help dissolve crystals and improve urinary health.

How can you help prevent this?

- Reduce stress at home with multiple litter boxes and individual areas for each cat

- Avoid drastic litter changes that could upset
your cat.

- Offering multiple sources of fresh water to drink. Many cats enjoy fountains!

- Keep your cat on a urinary health diet if they’re prone to these issues.

A note on prevention:
Unfortunately, some cats may still develop urinary blockages despite all precautions and preventive measures. This condition can be unpredictable, and it’s not your fault if your cat experiences it. The most important thing is to stay vigilant and get prompt care if signs of a blockage appear.

By being proactive, you can help reduce the risk and keep your cat’s urinary health in check.

04/06/2025

Here at MAEC, we strive to treat your pets like our own! Little miss Ember is no exception to that rule. She was hospitalized with us for a few days recently. Once we determined that she no longer needed to be in her kennel to receive IV fluids, we got her all set up in our pet-friendly reception office to help us check people in! She was a very hard worker and a wonderful cuddle buddy. We are so happy that we were able to meet this little bundle of joy and are delighted to say that Ember is now home with her loving family and has made a full recovery. Thank you for entrusting us with her care!

04/02/2025

With Easter approaching, it’s important to highlight one of the biggest seasonal toxins—lilies. All true lilies (Lilium species), along with daylilies and lily of the valley, are highly toxic to cats. While lily of the valley causes different types of toxicity, all true lilies pose serious risks.

Even small amounts, such as a bite of a petal, stem or leaf, or a lick of pollen, can cause severe kidney damage and failure in cats within 36-72 hours. Symptoms of lily toxicity include vomiting, lethargy, drooling, and loss of appetite, but will not always be apparent immediately after consumption.

If you suspect your cat has been exposed to lilies, please contact us immediately. Prompt treatment is essential for the best chance of recovery. Treatment typically includes IV fluid therapy for at least 48 hours to support kidney function, along with blood work checks every 12-24 hours to monitor kidney values. Many cats have a good prognosis with immediate care. Don't hesitate to call us with any concerns or if you believe your cat may have ingested part of a lily. We wish you and your pets a safe and happy holiday!

03/29/2025

We are currently experiencing a large volume of critical patients. Please be advised that we will have longer than usual wait times, currently estimated to be 4-6 hours for non-critical patients.

Please call ahead if you have a pet that needs to be seen. We work on a triage-based system where the most critical patients are seen first. Please be patient with our staff as we work to see all of our patients and provide the best care possible for everyone.

Please consider heading further south to either:

Portland Veterinary Emergency (207) 878-3121 or
Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough (207) 885-1290 if you feel as though you are able to.
Thank you!

03/29/2025

Summer is almost here, and we're preparing for our busiest season!

During the summer months, Maine sees an influx of visitors, making this our busiest time of year. As a small clinic, we operate on a triage basis, prioritizing pets with critical or life-threatening conditions rather than basing care on arrival times. While we understand long wait times can be frustrating, please know that your pet's care is important to us. At times, we may need to attend to more critical cases first or even perform emergency surgery, which can lead to longer delays. To help make your wait more comfortable, we offer a complimentary snack bar with coffee, water, and small snacks.

We truly empathize with your concerns and work hard to treat every pet as quickly and efficiently as possible. Your patience and kindness toward our team make a big difference during these busy times.

To ensure safety and manage space, we’ll be implementing a hybrid curbside protocol where you will be waiting outside until we have a room ready for you to go into. If your pet is stable but showing symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or diarrhea, please call us before entering the lobby. This helps prevent the spread of contagious illnesses, which tend to increase during busy seasons and with more travelers.

We appreciate your trust in us and are honored to care for your pets when they need us most. Thank you for your understanding and for allowing us to be part of your pet’s health journey.

03/19/2025

Let's Talk About Pet Insurance!

With the rising costs of veterinary care—especially emergency services—pet insurance has become an invaluable option for pet owners. It can help bridge the gap between financial constraints and providing your pets with the necessary care.

There are many pet insurance options available, and some of the most popular ones include:

Pet’s Best Pet Insurance

Spot Pet Insurance

Figo Pet Insurance

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Trupanion

Lemonade Pet Insurance

Most pet insurance plans operate on a reimbursement system. This means you'll pay your vet upfront, and the insurance company will reimburse you based on your coverage and plan. Many veterinarians can submit your records directly to the insurer, but you can also handle the process yourself.

Some insurance companies, like Trupanion, offer direct payment to your vet at checkout, as long as your vet is set up to accept it. Here at MAEC, we accept direct payment from Trupanion. If you’re using this insurance, please let us know right away so we can assist with pre-approval and streamline the process.

It’s important to note that most pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. For example, if your pet has a chronic issue like skin infections before signing up for insurance, the insurance will likely not cover future treatments for that condition. That’s why it's best to get your pet insured as early as possible to increase the likelihood of coverage for new conditions that may arise.

Which Pet Insurance is Best?

The best pet insurance depends on your pet’s needs and your preferences. Some owners may prefer a plan that covers wellness exams, while others may prioritize emergency care or low monthly premiums. It's essential to evaluate your options and find the plan that suits both you and your pet.

To help with your decision, we recommend using comparison websites like:

Pet Insurance Review – https://www.petinsurancereview.com/

Pawlicy Advisor – https://www.pawlicy.com/

If your pet is older or has multiple pre-existing conditions, you may also want to consider a Care Credit card. This credit-based card can be used for veterinary care and at many medical institutions. It’s a great option for covering unexpected medical expenses.

We understand that navigating pet insurance can be overwhelming, and we hope this guide helps ease the process, enabling you to better prepare for the rising costs of veterinary care and reduce financial stress when it comes to your pet's well-being. As always, please always feel free to reach out by phone or message us on here if you have any questions. We are here to help!

03/18/2025

Hello, Midcoast Maine community! We’d like to take a moment to re-introduce ourselves and share a bit about who we are. We are a small emergency clinic located at 191 Camden Rd in Warren, just off Route 90. We are lucky to have a highly trained and empathetic team of veterinarians, technicians and assistants here to help you and your pets. If you're planning to visit, please give us a call ahead of time at (207) 273-1100, and don’t forget to complete our registration form available on our website.

Our hours are overnight, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 AM during the week. We are available all weekend long starting at 5pm Friday night until 7am Monday morning. We’re also here to help on all major holidays.

We’re dedicated to providing urgent care for your pets during after-hours, including overnight and weekend hospitalization. If your pet requires additional care after we close in the morning, they will need to be transferred to their regular veterinarian.

In addition to treating dogs and cats, several of our veterinarians also have experience with exotic pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and some reptiles. Please feel free to call ahead and check if the veterinarian on staff can care for your specific pet.

We also offer a variety of emergency surgeries, with our skilled veterinary team equipped to handle many common procedures.

Thank you for trusting us with the care of your pets. We truly appreciate being a part of this community. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us a message here. We look forward to serving you and your pets!

03/14/2025

This morning, we proudly held our very first spay/neuter clinic for Pope Memorial Humane Society! 🐾 We couldn't be more proud of our dedicated staff members who gave their time to help organize, train, and learn throughout the process. It's moments like these that remind us of the power of collaboration and care.

We are fortunate to work alongside so many incredible shelters, but PMHS truly goes above and beyond to assist us whenever we have pets in need. This program allowed our staff to continue learning from one another and give back to an organization that does so much for our community. 💕

Thank you to everyone involved!

03/12/2025

We had the distinct pleasure of getting to work with "Princess Luna" a few weekends ago. She was hospitalized for the weekend and definitely got the Princess Treatment she deserves. ❤️

03/06/2025

WE WILL BE CLOSED TONIGHT, THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH.

We will have a technician triage line open, so please feel free to call and we will advise you on the best course of action if your pet is having an emergency.

We will reopen tomorrow, Friday, at 5:30pm and will remain open through the weekend. We do apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Here are contact numbers for other after hour emergency locations:
EMEVC- Brewer (207) 989-6267
MVMC-Scarborough (207) 885-1290
AEC-Mid Maine-Lewiston (207) 777-1110
PVESC- Portland (207) 878-3121

02/25/2025

02/01/2025

Little Miss Ivy has come full circle. She assisted our amazing technician Katie in her belly right up until her due date. Now at the very same table she is making artwork for the clinic at 2 years old with both her parents.

01/28/2025

ATTENTION, IMPORTANT HOUR CHANGE UPDATE FOR TUESDAY, 1/28 - URGENT CARE ONLY 5:30PM-12AM

We will be open from 5:30pm-12am for urgent care only. We will be unable to accept patients for hospitalization/transfers from area clinics or perform surgeries due to limited staff. We will still have a technician triage line available through the night until 7:30am to help determine if your pet needs to be seen elsewhere. If you have a pet that needs to be hospitalized, we encourage you to seek care at one of the other after hour clinics in the state.

*This hour change will be every Tuesday night from January 28th - March 18th except for February 11th where we will have full overnight capabilities. We will make a reminder post every Tuesday and keep the community updated with any additional changes. *

Eastern Maine Emergency Clinic in Brewer: (207) 989-6267

Animal Emergency Clinic of Mid-Maine in Lewiston: (207) 777-1110

Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough: (207) 885-1290

Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care in Portland: (207) 878-3121

Please call ahead to these clinics as they will likely have a higher than usual volume of patients due to our hour change.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

01/26/2025

We got the pleasure of meeting Mr. Pascal today! An adorable 10wk old Australian shepherd puppy. He unfortunately has a broken bone in his foot, but with lots of treats and cuddles from our amazing team, was a champ for his x-rays and splint placement!

01/24/2025

Just a snapsnot of our wonderful Thursday Night Crew! They are using Carrie's, lovely and patient cat - Cappy, to test out our new Doppler blood pressure machine.