Pet Emergencies

Find treatment fast.

Emergencies are accepted anytime our clinic is open. If possible, it is best to call us at (317) 313-8760 before coming in so that a staff member can advise you on your particular emergency. We have a veterinarian and technicians on duty six days a week who are trained and equipped to handle any urgent care your pet encounters.

The following steps will guide you through the thought process in determining whether or not your pet is needing professional attention immediately and who to contact after Herrmann Veterinary Clinic business hours.

Is it really an emergency? Is your pet truly suffering or is its life in danger? If it is or you are genuinely unsure, go ahead and call us. If it is after business hours you will hear instructions and phone number(s) to call for emergency help.
There are several emergency service clinics available. Call requesting service first. The veterinarian will be able to give you advice on whether or not a visit to the hospital is required and when to come. See below for emergency clinic information.
Make sure you provide the correct phone number for the veterinarian to call back. Try and avoid using that phone until the veterinarian returns the call. Make sure you know the details about the problem. What’s wrong, when did it start and has it worsened? If you are not the owner, where can they be contacted?

Emergencies to call immediately about are:

Poisoning: Identify the poison ideally from the container and let the veterinarian know. The veterinarian can be contacting the Poison Control for advice while you are traveling to the clinic. Bring the container to show the veterinarian.
Road traffic accidents: A severely injured animal can usually be moved safely and quickly. Provided he/she is not having breathing problems, muzzle him/her in case he/she is in pain. Have as many helpers as possible to pick the pet up at the first attempt. Get him/her to the hospital as quickly as possible, but contact the duty veterinarian to let them know you are coming.
Bloat or Gastric dilatation: if you suspect this, err on the side of caution, call the veterinarian and they will see you as soon as possible to check.
Persistent vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours with or without blood.
Severe lameness.
Lacerations: usually want to suture within a few hours of occurrence.
Any other condition that appears to be making your pet acutely ill: Not eating for more than 24 hours; Excessive bleeding (constant stream of blood or constant dripping for more than 10 minutes).

If your pet has a major problem or injury, be prepared to have to make some urgent decisions. The veterinarian will often discuss a number of treatment options. If the condition is life threatening, then you will not be able to spend a long time making up your mind about what needs to be done. You will need to think about expected quality of life, how much you are prepared to let your pet go through and how much you want to spend.

In case of an after-hours emergency, please contact:

VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center
7712 Crosspoint Commons, Fishers, IN 46038
P: (317) 578-4100