OPVMC Emergency Service

Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center is OPEN for Veterinary Emergencies and is fully staffed 24/7 (including holidays)   716.662.6660

Our emergency service is not based on scheduled appointments.  In fact, there are no scheduled appointments for the emergency service at all.

Many of the animals presented to the staff at OPVMC have critical or life-threatening problems that require immediate medical attention. This necessitates that animals and their families are serviced on a medical priority basis. Medical staff will conduct triages for any incoming emergency case to establish the urgency and prioritize caseload.  Our emergency service operates much like a human emergency room in that regard.  Wait times for the emergency service can increase up to 3 hours at times (depending on case load), so we advise all clients to call ahead and see what type of wait is in store.  This should not however deter you from bringing your pet in, in an emergency situation.

We have at least one doctor dedicated to managing emergency cases while our general practice doctors and specialists continue to see regularly scheduled appointments.  What can often be confusing is seeing patients who have arrived after you be taken ahead of you.  Please understand that if you are accessing the emergency service, that there may be cases that have been scheduled in advance with one of our general practice doctors or one of our specialists. Upon arrival, the client services representative will call for "triage". The goal of triage is to determine if there are any life-threatening problems that require immediate attention.  This may result in other pets being seen before your pet.  If your pet is the more critical of the cases that are here we assure you that it will be seen before less critical cases.

Should you decide to observe your pet at home, you are encouraged to call back at any time if your pet's condition changes or you need more information.   If circumstances permit, please try to call ahead so that we may prepare for your arrival.  Can't get through by phone?  Then just come on in, and we will do our best to provide needed emergency care for your pet!

You can't decide if this is an emergency? OPVMC has a technician available for you to speak to and assist you in determining if your pet shoud come in right away.  Or, please see "When to call your veterinarian" located on the left side of this screen.  You can find information about what we consider current life-threatening emergencies and what to do!