Emergency Q&A

Bring any medical records/images that you have of your pet prior to your visit. Additionally, bring any medications that your pet is on (other than preventatives).

Iowa State University Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center Emergency Service is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We recommend you call prior to bringing your pet to the emergency service, that way we know when to expect you and have some information regarding your pet.

We recommend only bringing your pet that needs veterinary attention. If another pet needs to come along, please do not leave your pet in the car.

Unfortunately it is difficult to predict how long your emergency visit will take and the more stable your pet is the longer the wait may be. Animals requiring immediate attention will take precedent. Your veterinary care team will be sure to keep you updated regarding time frame and what is happening with your pet.

When you arrive, your and your pet’s information will be collected. A student will be called to triage your pet and if necessary they will be brought straight back to the Emergency Room to be evaluated immediately. Unless we are performing life-saving procedures, you will be updated and we will obtain your permission prior to performing any diagnostics or procedures.

Your veterinary care team: A registered veterinarian technician A fourth year veterinary student An intern A faculty member

Please check in at the admission desk, they will collect your pet’s information. While your information is being collected, a student will be called up front to triage your pet. If it is after normal business hours, you will pick up the phone located outside the front lobby door, this will alert our ER team that you have arrived.

Triage is a brief exam that will be performed by the veterinary student and emergency veterinarians that will establish if your pet needs emergent attention. If emergent attention is needed we will obtain your permission for further intervention and stabilization. We will continue to keep you updated on your pet’s condition and our recommendations.

An estimate of costs will be provided to you during your veterinary visit. The initial exam fee is $90. Your permission will be obtained prior to performing additional diagnostics and an estimate will be discussed unless life-saving procedures are needed. At that time, we will give a rough estimate of costs regarding life-saving procedures to be approved and we will be sure to update you as soon as we can.

Payment options include: cash, check, credit cards or Care Credit. We do not provide payment plans. We accept: American Express, Discover, Visa and Mastercard

There are several hotels in the area that we work with regarding staying overnight while your pet is hospitalized. This information can be found at our admission desk.

Yes! We think it’s very important for you to visit your pet while they are hospitalized, however, we often don’t recommend visiting on days when your pet has had general anesthesia or a procedure. Please ask your primary doctor or student on the case to schedule a visit.

You will be updated often during your pet’s stay. Students give updates in the morning typically between 7-9 am and after night-time treatments, typically between 7-9 pm. Additionally, the primary doctor will continue to keep you updated during your pet’s stay.

We do not recommend leaving personal items with your pets during their hospitalization as these belongings can get lost. This includes collars, leashes and any blankets/toys.

Yes, however, most pet insurance companies require you to pay at the time of the visit and will reimburse you. Please talk with your insurance company to ensure that you know how this visit will be covered. Additionally, if paperwork is required by the attending veterinarian, please be sure to let them know as they would be happy to help fill out any required paperwork.

We consider it a priority to keep your family veterinarian aware of what is going on with your pet. Your family veterinarian will receive updates regarding your pet’s care and will also receive a copy of all discharge instructions/paperwork. They can also access results of laboratory work performed during your visit to ISU. This will ensure that they are updated to the current issues with your pet. Additionally, we will be able to tell you at the time of discharge if continued care can be provided by your family veterinarian.

If you are worried that you pet ate something toxic or a medication they were not supposed to ingest, call ASPCA Poison Control 1-888-426-4435. If ASPCA recommends that you pet see a veterinarian, please call to let them know you are coming, write down and bring the case number provided by ASPCA, and bring the packaging/medication with you.

Anytime your pet has a traumatic incident (dog fight, hit by car, etc) we recommend that they be evaluated by a veterinarian. Pets can have internal injuries and experience a delayed onset of signs, therefore, it is recommended that they be evaluated as soon as possible. Additionally, be careful in handling your pet, they can be painful which could lead to behavior that is not normally seen, like biting or aggression.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s current situation, we would recommend calling a veterinarian to get their recommendation. At this time, you could provide additional information regarding your pet’s condition or if you have significant concerns, bring your pet to a veterinarian to be seen.

If at any time you are worried about your pet’s breathing, bring them to the closest veterinarian for immediate assessment.

Cats may strain in the litterbox for multiple reasons; however, if your cat develops a urinary obstruction (inability to urinate) this is a medical emergency and may be fatal. If you note that you cat is straining in the litterbox, have them seen by a veterinarian immediately.

If you think your pet is having or has had a seizure, have you pet evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. Any seizures that lasts longer than 5 minutes or more than one seizure in 24 hours is considered a medical emergency. Use caution when handling your pet as seizures can cause disorientation and can lead to unpredictable behavior. Do not put your hands near their face/mouth during a seizure as this can lead to injuries and they do not choke on their tongue during a seizure.

If your pet has vomited once and otherwise seems normal (eating and drinking and has a normal attitude) you can withhold food for 6-8 hours, but always allow access to water. If your pet continues to vomit despite this, has multiple episodes of vomiting, or doesn’t feel well otherwise, we would recommend they see a veterinarian.

Try holding cornstarch or flour against the nail that was clipped too short for at least 5 minutes (be sure to time this with a watch or clock!). If this does not resolve the bleeding they will need to be seen by a veterinarian.

Anytime your pet is bleeding, regardless of where the blood is coming from, we would recommend bringing your pet in for evaluation. Be cautious about bandaging wounds as incorrectly applied bandages can be dangerous.

The best way to remove a tick is to use something like a tick spoon, however, grasping them as close to the skin as possible using tweezers or something similar and using a steady gentle pulling motion will usually work too. The bite site will often be red for a while. Unless the area swells or becomes painful, you do not need to seek further veterinary care, although we recommend speaking with your regular veterinarian about getting your pet on a product to prevent further tick infestation. Never use a flame or chemicals to try and remove a tick.

There are many products to eliminate fleas from your pet that your regular veterinarian can discuss with you. Be cautious purchasing over the counter flea collars and spot-on products as some of them can result in toxicity, particularly in cats. Treating fleas effectively also involves treating the environment to remove them from the household, please speak with your regular veterinarian about methods you can use to remove fleas from your house.