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OUR ANIMALS, OURSELVES: Where to go for a pet emergency?

Arlo (Provided photo)

I heard my husband driving up the driveway and so did the dogs, so I let them out to greet him. Nothing better than to be welcomed home by your dogs. I didn’t realize that a neighbor’s dog was also running up the driveway to meet and greet. Unfortunately, one of my dogs, Arlo, didn’t like that dog and went on the offensive. Likewise, the other dog did, too, and that led to multiple bites on Arlo’s stomach and chest. I managed to stop the attack, but by then he was bleeding from the wounds and needed emergent care.

Panic!!! Called my vet. Of course, it was after 5, so my vet was closed. Called another vet. They were closed. The two vet services that did answer did not handle emergencies!!! Yikes. I’m quite sure I was hyperventilating at this point and cursing the local veterinary universe. I had remembered that my vet’s answering machine listed a couple options if emergency care was required. Finding a pen and paper, then actually hearing the options, when one is frantic required a couple repeat phone calls to get all the info on paper.

After realizing we needed to act and nothing was close by, we made the decision to head down to the Northway Animal Emergency Clinic, where Arlo gratefully had immediate and excellent care. The long drive down was grueling and frightening as I held a sheet to Arlo’s wounds attempting to stem the flow of blood. I’m pretty sure I gave him Rescue Remedy to calm him down. I probably squirted a little in my mouth, too, as I held him, reassuring him and praying my husband felt confident in breaking the speed limit on I-87.

So what do you do and where do you go to take your pet for an emergency when your own vet either can’t or it’s after hours? I phoned multiple vets from Tupper Lake to AuSable Forks to Westport to get their recommendations. The Lakeside Veterinary Clinic in Tupper Lake appeared to be the only clinic locally who would take their own clients’ pets if it was an emergency. Anywhere else, you get the answering machine offering alternative services.

So here’s the list, and I would recommend calling before heading out.

Burlington Emergency Veterinary Specialist BEVS

802-863-2387

Open 24/7

1417 Marshall Ave.

Williston, VT 05495

www.bevsvt.com

Upstate Veterinary Specialists

518-783-3198

Open 24/7

152 Sparrowbush Road

Latham, NY 12110

www.uvsonline.com

Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital

518-785-1094

Open 24/7

222 Troy Schenectady Road

Latham, NY 12110

www.capitaldistrictvet.com

Northway Animal Emergency Clinic

518-761-2602

Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

35 Fawn Road

Gansevoort, NY 12831

www.northwayanimalemergency.com

Silver Birch Veterinary Urgent Care

315-234-7795

Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

52 W. Main St.

Norfolk, NY 13667

www.silverbirchvet.com

First-aid you can apply at home perhaps prior to the long trip to the pet emergency room:

¯ www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/emergency-care-your-pet

¯ www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/emergencycare/first-aid-tips-pet-owners

Starting at $1.44/week.

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