Urgent Care

When your pet is in distress, it can be challenging to think clearly. Pet owners want the best for their pets, including seeking the treatment they need. Until recently, there weren’t many choices for urgent veterinary services, but Mission Veterinary Medical Center is part of the selection of urgent care options for pets.

Here, we take care of any issues that fall between a primary veterinarian practice visit and an emergency. We are here when you need us during daylight hours.

If your pet is experiencing an urgent care situation schedule by calling us or scheduling online HERE. In the event of an emergency, please consult any of our recommended 24-hour veterinary facilities. 

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Care

Emergency veterinary hospitals prioritize and treat patients based on their symptoms or condition severity. Any patient needing medical attention but not in a life-threatening situation may be asked to wait.

An urgent care situation involves issues that need medical attention but are not life-threatening. These patients might be uncomfortable, but they are stable and can be seen at regular appointments.

Doctors in emergency hospitals use the patient severity index to decipher your pet’s condition. This index includes the following levels:

• Level One: Resuscitation — the patient is seen before all others, exhibiting a severe physical trauma or cardiac arrest.
• Level Two: Emergent — these traumas are not life-threatening but are time-sensitive, including a venomous snake bite and heat stroke.
• Level Three: Urgent — these patients are seen after levels one and two are taken care of. Examples of urgent care include sudden illness, severe cuts, vomiting, trouble walking, allergic reactions or difficulty urinating.
• Level Four: Non-urgent — minor cuts, prolonged low appetite, limping, fever and mild injuries are non-urgent conditions that can be treated after the first three levels.
• Level Five: Stable — the patient is uncomfortable but stable, experiencing diarrhea, low appetite, ear infection or skin irritation.

As a rule of thumb, pets in the first two levels should be taken to the emergency room. Levels three through five can receive veterinary urgent care services.

Mission Vet Medical Center are here to fill the gap between your primary veterinarian’s availability and life-threatening emergencies. Examples of the illnesses and injuries we see:

• Abscesses
• Coughing or Sneezing
• Skin Issues – Itching, Rashes, Hotspots
• Minor Cuts and Wounds
• Poison or Toxin Ingestion*
• Foreign Body ingestion*
• Urinary issues*
• Minor Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Digestion issues
• Bite Wounds
• Ear Infections
• Eye Discharge & Squinting
• Fleas or Worms
• Allergic Reactions
• Anal Glands – Scooting or Licking
• Hives or Facial Swelling
• End of Life or Euthanasia
• Paw or Nail Issues
• Fever

* Potentially requires transfer to ER

Emergency Care

• Foreign Body Requiring Surgery
• Overnight Hospitalization
• Serious Trauma
• Choking or Difficulty Breathing
• Unconsciousness
• Repeated Seizures
• Difficulty Giving Birth