We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

However, if we transfer you or set up a consultation with a specialist within the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC), those appointments will take place during normal business hours. These appointments are performed between and after their regularly scheduled appointments and specialists will only be summoned after hours at the discretion of the attending emergency veterinarian and depending upon the specialist’s after hours availability.

Dogs and cats will show discomfort or pain differently.

For cats, they will typically show pain or discomfort by vocalizing, refusing food, open mouth breathing, drooling/salivating, and most commonly hiding. You may also be able to recognize pain if when you pick up your cat they cry or if their abdomen feels tense or distended. Some cats may also begin to exhibit out of character behaviors, like hissing or biting.

Dogs, on the other hand, display their discomfort or pain more obviously. You may notice them panting, pacing, not being able to get comfortable when lying down, drooling, refusing food, and whimpering. Dogs can also show out of character behavior like growling or biting when they are in pain.

Other common signs of problems:

• Limping

• Continuous licking of a specific area

• Lethargy

• Crying/whimpering

• Unable to find a comfortable position to lay down

• Panting/rapid breathing

• Breaking their potty training habits

While most emergency situations do not leave much time for planning, we would find it very helpful for you to bring your most recent vet records and any medical information (x-rays, blood work, etc.) with you to your visit.

Once your pet arrives, you will be checked in and brought into an examination room. We will obtain any veterinary history that is deemed necessary, and a comprehensive exam will be performed on your pet. The veterinarian will then discuss a treatment plan with you and consult with your regular veterinarian to make sure it is the best plan possible.

Absolutely not. Our facility is open 24 hours, which means that there are veterinary technicians and veterinarians on-site all the time. Your pet will never be left unattended.

We are an emergency and critical care veterinary clinic, which means we only provide care for pets in an emergency or critical situation. We do not provide routine veterinary care such as vaccines or wellness care exams. We will work with you and your primary veterinary to make sure that your pet gets the best possible care and recovers properly.