207-878-3121
Emergency Overview
Available 24/7/365
Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care is here 24-7 to provide Emergency Veterinary Medicine. If your pet is facing an emergency, please call ahead:
Upon arrival, patients will be triaged by a technician. If it is determined by the triage team that the pet has a life-threatening emergency the pet will be seen immediately. Our emergency department sees cases based on their degree of urgency, rather than time of arrival.
Disease or illness:
- Difficulty breathing, with or without a cough
- Stumbling or falling, dragging or not using legs, collapse
- Sudden changes in behavior, such as bumping into things, acting disoriented, acting anxious, acting painful, or hiding
- First time seizures, seizures lasting more than three minutes, multiple seizures in a short time
- Straining to urinate small amounts or not at all
- Profuse or prolonged (>24hrs) vomiting and diarrhea, especially if containing blood
- Non-productive vomiting or retching
- Distended abdomen
- Severe skin reactions such as facial swelling, or surgical incisions that appear open
Trauma:
- Bite wounds, wounds of unknown origin, chemical or thermal burns
- Eye injuries
- Vehicular injuries
- Falls from high places, blunt force trauma
- Hot car confinement, heatstroke
- Bleeding
Ingestion:
- Foods such as chocolate, grapes/raisins, gum or baked goods with xylitol
- Human medications, both prescription and over the counter
- Plants such as lilies, wild mushrooms, or marijuana
- Household chemicals such as antifreeze, mouse or rat poison
- Non-digestible objects (socks and clothing, toys, rubber, rocks, ribbons and string, etc)
If your pet has ingested a cleaning, health-care, or other product, bring the product’s packaging or label with you when you bring your pet to the emergency room. If you have questions on how to best transport your pet or questions about your pet’s specific case, we can be reached 24 hours a day at 207-878-3121.
Animal Poison Control
- Call 888-426-4435
- Includes a fee
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available 24/7 for you to call in case of emergency. In addition to helping with emergencies, the Poison Control experts can provide you with valuable information on how to recognize and protect your pet from poisonous and toxic substances. A consultation fee of $85 may apply.
What to Expect
After checking in with reception, your pet will be triaged by a member of our triage team. This is an evaluation of your pet’s body systems and a quick history used to facilitate the identification of the most life-threatening problems.
Our goal is to have the shortest wait times for all our patients and their families. Without knowing what type of emergency will present on any given day, we are unable to say how long your wait may be. On certain days, a Priority Level 3 case may be seen immediately. There are other times though when that Level 3 case may be forced to wait while more critical (Priority Level 1 and 2) patients are addressed and stabilized. There may be more critical patients that arrive that will be given priority.
This partial list will give you a sense of how we triage emergencies here at PVESC. If your pet’s condition has worsened while you are waiting, please notify a member of our team immediately so that they can reassess your pet.
Level 1
Critical (Immediate)
Live-saving care must be given right away:
- Trouble breathing/not breathings
- Collapsed or unconscious
- Ongoing or multiple seizures
- Severe bleeding or major trauma
- Hit by a car/serious injury
- Bloated, painful, or suddenly swollen belly
- Poison ingestion (antifreeze, rat poison, xylitol, etc.)
- Male cat straining to urinate
- Heatstroke/very high remperature
Level 2
Urgent (prompt)
Wait times may depend on Level 1 cases:
- Eye injury or sudden blindness
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea with weakness
- Painful broken bone or obvious fracture
- Pain/restlessness
- Dystocia or birthing difficulty
Level 3
Non-urgent (can wait longer)
Wait times may be longer if Level 1 and 2 cases are being treated:
- Abscess or minor wounds
- Ear or skin infections
- Lameness without trauma
- Loss of appetite
- Ongoing or chronic conditions
Hospitalization and Continuing Care
PVESC has a staff of highly experienced veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and assistants who will be taking very special care of your pet. Your pet will be constantly monitored while under our care.
You may call the hospital after 1:00 pm to discuss your pet’s progress. If the doctor is not available to take your call, a technician who is familiar with your pet will be able to speak with you directly. If you would like to speak to the overnight doctor about your pet’s overnight stay, please call prior to 7:00 am.
Please know that your pet will receive the best care possible. We take our responsibility to care for your pet very seriously. We do everything we can to make your pet as comfortable as possible.
Payment Information
If you have financial constraints, please let us know right away.
Visit Fees
Emergency and exam fees are charged for each patient to cover the initial examination and consultation with our veterinarian. Additional fees are charged for services and diagnostic tests as determined by your pet’s condition. An estimate of these fees will be presented to you prior to treatment. You’ll be given choices on how you’d like to proceed with your pet’s care.
Deposit Policy
PVESC will provide a good-faith estimate of the cost of our services. A deposit toward the cost of services is required in most cases, and a deposit of 50% is required for surgeries and procedures. Payment in full is required upon discharge of your pet. For cases of Radioactive Iodine Therapy for hyperthyroid cats, please refer to Admission Information in the Hyperthyroidism section for costs and payment requirements.
Payment Options
We accept cash, credit cards (AmEx, MC, Visa, Discover), as well as CareCredit and Scratch Pay.
We accept CareCredit, the pet, health and wellness credit card with flexible, budget-friendly financing options that allow you to pay over time for a range of treatments and services– including procedures, medication and more.*
*Subject to credit approval.
Meet Our Emergency Doctors
We have a compassionate and highly-trained staff to provide your pet with the very best care available and to give you peace of mind. Meet our emergency team.
