Daytime Urgent Care*
Contact Selkirk Veterinary Hospital
OPEN:
- Monday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Tuesday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Wednesday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Thursday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Friday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Saturday:09:00 am - 04:00 pm
- Sunday:09:00 am - 04:00 pm
We are closed for lunch from 1:00pm to 2:00pm Monday to Friday.
Call (250) 352-2999
*Please note that you can call us 24 hours a day. We have the Smart.Vet team standing by to triage and provide immediate guidance. See below to learn more.
After-Hours Emergency Veterinary Care
We partner with Smart.Vet to help ensure that all pets receive the urgent care they need even after our hospital has closed for the evening. When you call our hospital after-hours you will be put through to Smart.Vet for triaging. If appropriate, you will be given an after-hours Teletriage appointment with an on-call veterinarian or you will be directed to come in for in-person care.
Please note that while we offer urgent care when we can, we are not staffed to provide 24-hour intensive care. Our hospital participates in the West Kootenay Call Share where after-hours emergency care is provided by several veterinary hospitals in the West Kootenay on a rotational basis. Travel to the on-call hospital in another town may be required.
Situations Requiring Urgent & Emergency Care
We understand that it can be challenging to know when urgent or urgency care is required for your pet. The following are examples of situations in which you need to seek care for your pet:
Emergency
- Ingesting Something Poisonous: Antifreeze, Xylitol, Chocolate, Rodent poison, etc.
- Hives, Swelling or Allergic Reactions
- Inability to Urinate
Urgent Care
- Difficulty Defecating
- Ear or Eye Issues
- Bite Wounds or Lacerations
- Limping
- Nail or Paw Issues
- Abscesses
- Coughing or Sneezing
- Decreased Appetite
- New or Worsening Bad Breath
- Urinary Problems
- Fever
- Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea; Two or More Episodes in 24-hours
- Obvious Signs of Pain or Extreme Anxiety
FAQs About Urgent Care at Selkirk Veterinary Hospital
Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an urgent care appointment.
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What is the difference between urgent and emergency care?
The biggest difference between veterinary urgent care and emergency hospitals is the types of cases they treat.
Emergency veterinary care takes care of the most severe and time-sensitive cases. This typically involves conditions and injuries that would be life-threatening if not treated right away.
Urgent care falls between emergency care and regular vet visits. If your pet seems a bit off, or you can clearly see something is wrong, but not life-threatening, this would fall into the category of urgent care.
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Do I need to call ahead?
Our team at Selkirk Veterinary Hospital makes every effort to provide urgent veterinary care during our regular clinic hours. However, it is always best to contact us in advance to ensure that we are able to provide your pet with the care they need.
You can call us any time of the day or night. If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule during the day we will direct you to seek care at an emergency veterinarian. If you are calling after hours, your pet will be triaged over the phone and you will directed based on your pet's needs.
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When is your clinic open?
Our regular business hours are:
- Monday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Tuesday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Wednesday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Thursday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Friday:08:00 am - 05:00 pm
- Saturday:09:00 am - 04:00 pm
- Sunday:09:00 am - 04:00 pm
Please note that we are closed for lunch from 1:00pm to 2:00pm Monday to Friday.
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How long will we have to wait to see the veterinarian?
Our veterinary hospital operates in a similar way to a human doctor's office – it can be unpredictable and you may have to wait.
It isn't always possible for our team to predict what cases we will see and when they will arrive. We ask that you call ahead to find out whether we are able to provide urgent care for your pet.
If we are unable to fit an urgent care appointment into our schedule we will direct you to visit a 24/7 animal emergency hospital in Kelowna.
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What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?
If your pet requires 24-hour intensive care, we may recommend that they be transferred to the nearest 24/7 facility which is in Kelowna. Our team will help to arrange the appropriate overnight care for your beloved pet.
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What types of animals do you treat?
Our veterinarians provide urgent veterinry care to cats and dogs but will see other small animals, such as birds and rodents, in some situations. Please call ahead to find out if we are able to care for your sick or injured pet.