Our doors are always open at the Small Animal Emergency Service. We offer world-class Emergency and Critical Care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We understand that pet emergencies are stressful and upsetting; our experienced team is here to help with knowledge and compassion. Please consider having your pet evaluated by our emergency service, if your veterinarian is not available by calling 919-513-6911 if your pet is displaying any of the following symptoms:
- Breathing difficulty
- Weakness or collapse
- Trouble urinating or defecating
- Vomitting or diarrhea
- Bleeding or seizing
- Exposed to toxins or trauma
We are located at 1052 William Moore Dr. Raleigh, NC 27607, (near the corner of Hillsborough St. & Blue Ridge Rd.), the Small Animal Emergency Service is located in the Randall B. Terry Small Animal Hospital. The emergency entrance faces Hillsborough Street.
Why is the NC State Emergency Service unique?
Attending clinicians have access to consultation with specialty services 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, as well as access to state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic options. Small animal specialty services available for consultation and transfer include:
- Dermatology
- Cardiology
- General & Orthopedic Surery
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Internal Medicine
Our intensive care unit is also staffed with dedicated technicians and clinicians 24 hours a day, and is a component of the Emergency and Critical Care Department, which received a perfect score in a recent four-year re-accreditation conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association.
- Appointments & Referrals
- What will happen?
- What happens if my pet is hospitalized?
- Will you work with my vet?
Fax: 919.513.6836
Hours: 24/7 365 days a year
Facility: The Terry Center
Appointment Guidelines
No appointment is needed, but calling ahead is encouraged.
What to Expect
Due to the unpredictability and severity of patient problems long waiting times are sometimes experienced. Upon admission all patients are assessed immediately and triaged according to severity of problem. Patients with the most serious problems are seen first and patients with less serious problems will be attended to as soon as possible (similar to emergency rooms in human hospitals). Senior veterinary students play an important role in our care team and thus clients should expect to speak to a veterinary student as part of the intake and treatment process. All students are in close communication with our care team’s veterinarians and communicate clinician recommendations to you. As soon as the veterinarian working with your pet is available, they will talk with you regarding additional testing needed, prognosis and treatment options, and the anticipated costs associated with care. Our care team consults with on-call specialists when appropriate. Meet our faculty and staff by clicking here.
All pets presenting to the emergency hospital will be “triaged” by our technical staff. This means that patients are assigned a medical priority based on vital signs and a brief history. Similar to a human ER, this ensures that the most critically ill patients are given priority. A technician will greet you in the lobby and obtain your pet’s vital signs. If your pet’s vital signs are abnormal, or your pet is clearly unstable, the technician will escort your companion immediately to the back to be examined by a doctor. A student will then obtain vital historical information while your companion is stabilized. You may be asked to sign a permission form for “emergency treatment” at this time. As soon as medically possible, the attending clinician will consult with you and present a diagnostic and therapeutic plan.
If your companion is stable at the time of admission, you will be escorted to an examination room, where a veterinary student will obtain pertinent historical information and perform a physical examination. This information will then be presented to the attending clinician. Shortly afterward, the attending clinician will perform a through physical examination on your companion, consult with you, and present a diagnostic and therapeutic plan.
If your companion’s problems are complex in nature, specialists may be consulted and transfer to a specialty service may be recommended. In the event that your pet is hospitalized for a complex problem, his or her care will be transferred to one of these specialty services in the morning. Alternatively, care of your pet may be transferred back to your family veterinarian in the morning. In this instance, you must pick up your pet by 8am and proceed directly to your veterinarian.
