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Urgent care is for pets who are unwell, in discomfort, are in urgent situation or are not acting like themselves and should be assessed within 24 hours.
Wellness, routine, or general care is for pets needing vaccines, preventive care, or ongoing monitoring who can safely wait at least 24 hours.
Live Estimated Urgent-Care Wait Times
We provide live estimated urgent-care wait times, updated throughout the day, so pet owners can plan ahead and avoid prolonged or uncertain waits.
Appointments available today.
At SKVH, your pet is seen directly by a veterinarian at a scheduled time — without hours-long ER queues after nurse triage.
Starting Sunday at 8 am.
X-rays, bloodwork, urine analysis, hospitalization, surgeries, procedures & more.
Same-Day Urgent & Emergency Veterinary Care for Dogs and Cats in Stittsville, Kanata and West Ottawa
Urgent Medical Assessments During Clinic Hours — Clear Guidance, In-House Diagnostics & Day Hospitalization. Live Estimated Urgent-Care Wait Times.
Transparent Pricing and Upfront Estimates. Care provided for dogs and cats only. Same day appointments are usually available.
Costs and Expectations
What Urgent Care Means at Our Clinic
Urgent visits are scheduled based on medical urgency and appointment availability. Once urgency is assessed, appointments are offered in order of availability, and earlier-arriving cases within the same urgency level are seen sooner when possible.
We focus on timely veterinary assessment and clear expectations, rather than extended intake processes or uncertain waiting periods. If a case cannot be appropriately seen during clinic hours, this is discussed during the initial call so you can make informed next steps early.
When to Call for Urgent Care
Please contact us if your pet is experiencing any sudden or concerning change, including:
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Vomiting or diarrhea
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Difficulty breathing or persistent coughing
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Weakness, collapse, or extreme lethargy
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Sudden pain, limping, or crying out
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Wounds, bites, or injuries
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Not eating or drinking
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Urinary straining or blood in the urine
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Any sudden change that feels urgent to you
If you are unsure whether your pet’s condition is urgent, calling allows us to assess the situation and help guide appropriate next steps.
What Happens When You Call
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Initial Questions
We ask a few focused questions to understand your pet’s symptoms, timing, and level of concern.
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Visit Scheduling
Urgent visits are scheduled based on medical urgency and appointment availability. Once urgency is assessed, appointments are offered in order of availability, and earlier-arriving cases within the same urgency level are seen sooner when possible.
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Assessment and Discussion
During the visit, findings, diagnostic options, and costs are discussed before proceeding with testing or treatment.
We focus on timely veterinary assessment and clear expectations, rather than extended intake processes or uncertain waiting periods. If a case cannot be appropriately seen during clinic hours, this is discussed during the initial call so you can make informed next steps early.
Can I Come Without an Appointment ?
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Calling ahead is recommended - allows triage and guidance
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Many urgent cases can be provided same-day appointment during clinic hours
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Walk-ins may experience increased wait timesnot as we may be limited by capacity . We may have to request you to visit an emergency and speciality hospital after quick stabilization based on case severity and our team scheduling. We encourage you call to save time and effort.
Diagnostics and Procedures During Urgent Visits
Many urgent conditions can look similar at home but differ significantly in cause and severity. Diagnostic testing allows veterinarians to understand what is happening internally and guide safe, appropriate care.
Depending on your pet’s condition, urgent visits may involve:
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In-house bloodwork
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Urinalysis or fecal testing
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Digital X-rays
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Cytology (skin, ear, or mass evaluation)
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Sedation when required for safe assessment or treatment
Diagnostic testing is recommended when it helps reduce uncertainty, clarify severity, and guide medical decision-making. Learn about our state of the art diagnostics services.
Some conditions identified during urgent visits require ongoing care. Learn more about general wellness and follow-up care at SKVH.
Urgent Care Costs & Expectations
A complete emergency or urgent care visit typically consists of these four components which are similar across the industry.
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Urgent Exam Cost
Initial veterinary evaluation by the veterinarian.
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Diagnostic testing
Benefits discussed before proceeding, cost estimates given, helps clarify things because clinical signs alone are not reliable.
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Treatment in Hospital
Purpose discussed before proceeding, cost estimates given.
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Medications to send home
Purpose and cost discussed. Side effects link available on the label of the medication.
Pricing for diagnostics and treatments is consistent across weekdays and weekends and is in line with average prices of similar urgent care clinics in the area. The consultation cost of urgent care varies on weekdays vs weekends. Payment is due at the time of service.
We understand urgent visits can be stressful. Our focus is on clear communication, timely assessment, and appropriate next steps so you can make informed decisions about your pet’s care.
What Urgent Care Is Not
Urgent care is not intended for:
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Routine wellness visits or vaccinations
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Grooming or non-medical services
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Long-term specialty hospitalization
If your pet is stable and your concern is planned or preventive, a wellness appointment may be more appropriate.
Referral and Advanced Care
Some urgent conditions require specialty or referral-level care. When this is the case, we discuss findings openly and help guide appropriate next steps so that care can continue without unnecessary delay.
If your pet needs urgent medical assessment during clinic hours, please contact us.
Call or text to book an urgent visit.
Urgent Care FAQs
Is this an emergency, or can it wait?
Some urgent problems require prompt assessment even if a pet still appears alert. Because similar symptoms can represent very different levels of severity, a veterinary assessment is the safest way to determine whether care can wait or should be addressed sooner. Calling allows us to help guide appropriate next steps based on what you’re seeing.
Will my pet be seen right away when I call?
Urgent visits are scheduled based on medical urgency and appointment availability. Once urgency is assessed, appointments are offered in order of availability, and earlier-arriving cases within the same urgency level are seen sooner when possible. Our goal is to provide timely veterinary assessment with clear expectations rather than prolonged uncertainty.
Why are diagnostic tests often recommended for urgent visits?
Clinical signs alone cannot reliably show what is happening internally or how severe a condition may be. Diagnostic testing helps veterinarians distinguish between minor and serious causes, guide safe treatment decisions, and avoid unnecessary or inappropriate care. Testing is recommended when it helps clarify the situation and guide next steps.
What if my pet improves before the appointment?
Some conditions can appear to improve temporarily while still being medically significant. Improvement does not always mean the underlying problem has resolved. If symptoms change before your visit, we recommend updating us so we can reassess urgency and advise whether the appointment should proceed.
What if my pet needs care beyond what can be provided here?
Some urgent conditions require specialty or referral-level care. If this is identified, findings are discussed openly and next steps are guided early so that care can continue without unnecessary delay.
Routine wellness exams, preventive vaccinations, and ongoing care for stable pets are provided through scheduled General Wellness appointments.