Emergency Care

OUR EXPERTISE

At EPIC Vets, our emergency veterinary team is trained to quickly evaluate and treat pets experiencing urgent or life-threatening medical conditions. Emergencies can happen without warning, and our hospital is equipped to provide rapid assessment, advanced diagnostics, and immediate treatment when your pet needs care the most.

Our doctors and veterinary technicians work together to stabilize patients, identify the underlying cause of illness or injury, and begin appropriate treatment as quickly as possible. Every case is approached with urgency, compassion, and careful attention to detail.

Whether your pet is experiencing a sudden illness, injury, or worsening of an existing condition, our team is here to provide skilled emergency care when your primary veterinarian may not be available.

Common Emergency Conditions We Treat

Vomiting or diarrhea that is severe or persistent
Foreign body ingestion
Toxicity or poisoning
Difficulty breathing
Seizures or neurological events
Collapse or sudden weakness
Trauma or injuries (vehicle accidents, falls, bite wounds)

Heat stroke
Severe allergic reactions
Eye injuries or sudden swelling
Uncontrolled bleeding
Urinary obstruction
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus / GDV)
Difficult labor (dystocia)

Emergency Evaluation & Stabilization

When your pet arrives at EPIC Vets, our team begins with a rapid triage assessment to determine the urgency of the situation.

Patients with life-threatening conditions are prioritized so treatment can begin immediately.

FIRST PRIORITY:

Patient critical. Treatment must be initiated within seconds to minutes. Bring to clinic immediately.

HEAT-STROKE
OPEN FRACTURE
ACTIVELY SEIZING
ALLERGIC REACTIONS

COLLAPSE
SNAKE BITE
BLOAT (GDV)

ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT
DIFFICULTY BREATHING
EXCESSIVE BLEEDING
PARALYSIS

SECOND PRIORITY:

Patient urgent. Currently stable, but may become first priority patient, need to be reassessed, or have treatment initiated within minutes to hours.

MAJOR WOUNDS
BOWEL OBSTRUCTION
URINARY TRACT OBSTRUCTION / INABILTY TO URINATE
BIRTHING DIFFICULTIES (DYSTOCIAS)

CLOSED FRACTURES
SEVERE VOMITING
SEVERE DIARRHEA

THIRD PRIORITY:

Patient stable. Pressing problem that is not critical. Treatment initiated within hours.

ABSCESS
SKIN CONDITIONS
MINOR WOUNDS

SORE EYES OR EARS
MILD DIARRHEA
LAMENESS

FOURTH PRIORITY:

Patient completely stable. Needs evaluation, but not urgently.

CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT
MILD OR LONG-STANDING ISSUES
CONDITIONS NOT LISTED ABOVE

If you do not see your pet’s issue listed but have concerns, please speak with our team.

Compassionate Care During Stressful Moments

We understand that pet emergencies are frightening and unexpected. Our goal is not only to treat your pet, but also to support you during a stressful situation. Clear communication, compassionate care, and thoughtful guidance are an important part of how we approach every case.

The team at EPIC Vets is dedicated to providing skilled emergency medicine while helping pet owners feel informed and supported throughout the process.

If you are unsure whether your pet is experiencing an emergency, it is always safest to contact a veterinary professional for guidance.

Call Now | (951) 695-5044

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