Emergency Veterinary Care

Daytime Emergency Care

If your pet is experiencing a veterinary emergency in the Laguna Woods area contact us right away. Outside of our regular office hours please contact the nearest after-hours emergency vet listed below.

After Hours Care

For after-hours emergency care or if we are unable to make room for your cat or dog in our busy schedule please visit one of the emergency veterinary hospitals listed below.

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

If you are experiencing a veterinary emergency, please take the following steps:

• Call Ahead If Possible - For assistance during our usual business hours call us immediately. For after-hours services, call one of the emergency animal hospitals shown above to inform them that you are coming.
• Follow Instructions Provided - When you call our vets or one of the emergency pet hospitals to let them know you are on your way, they might give you instructions to help you apply first aid or make your pet as comfortable. Follow these instructions carefully.
• Remain Calm - Remain calm and be extra careful around your pet. When animals are in pain they can react negatively towards anyone who is attempting to help them and might bite or scratch.
• Bring Your Pet In For Care - Don't put yourself in the way of danger! Safely bring your pet to our Laguna Woods veterinary clinic or one of the after-hours emergency vet locations above.

Emergency FAQs

See our most frequently asked questions below to get more information about taking your cat or dog to Laguna Hills Animal Hospital for an emergency appointment. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Laguna Hills Animal Hospital offers emergency and urgent veterinary care services for cats and dogs during our usual hospital hours. We highly suggest call us ahead of time if you are able, however, we understand that in emergency situations that's not always possible. 

  If we can't fit your pet into our schedule, we recommend visiting one of the after-hours emergency vet locations listed above. 

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see emergency cases during our regular business hours:

  • Monday:08:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Tuesday:08:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Wednesday:08:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Thursday:08:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Friday:08:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Saturday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
  • Sunday:Closed

   

• What situations require emergency veterinary care?

  The following situations are examples of emergencies that require immediate care:

  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
  • Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
  • Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in the urine
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea; 2+ episodes in 24-hours
  • Inability to urinate or pass feces, or pain associated with urinating or passing feces
  • Fractured bones or severe lameness
  • Seizures and/or staggering
  • Injuries to the eye(s)
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
  • Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Unconsciousness
• How long will we have to wait to see the vet?

  Our Laguna Woods animal hospital operates like a human doctor's office—it can be unpredictable and you might have to wait. 

  We are unable to predict which cases we will see and when they will arrive. If you can, call us in advance to find out if we can provide your cat or dog with emergency care.

  If we can't make room for an emergency appointment in our vet's schedule we recommend visiting one of the 24/7 or after-hours animal emergency hospitals displayed above. 

• What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?

  Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. At Laguna Hills Animal Hospital we provide overnight care for cats and dogs in need.

  While in our care, our talented vets will treat your pet as if they were our own.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our emergency veterinarians are mostly experienced with cats and dogs, but will see other small animals, such as birds and rodents, in serious situations.