Our Doctors are trained and experienced to handle
emergencies whenever they arise. Should
your emergency occur during office hours we ask you to come directly to the
hospital, if at all possible have someone call ahead to alert us to your
arrival and the nature of your emergency.
Frequently, emergencies don’t follow a convenient schedule, and tend to
present at odd hours. Altitude
Veterinary Hospital offers 24 hour emergency response, not 24 hour
care-meaning, our office is not staffed 24 hours. Should an emergency occur after hours, our
Doctors are ready to assist you-simply call our office and leave a message on
our emergency line. Briefly describe
your emergency, being sure to include your name and phone number. Your message will be forwarded immediately to
the doctor on call, and they will return your call as soon as possible to offer
assistance, and make plans to meet you, if necessary, to handle your
emergency. In some cases, treatment
options can be discussed over the phone and begun at home, allowing you to
postpone your visit until regular office hours.
Our hospital is furnished with state-of-the-art equipment
and supplies that allow us to provide the best emergency care for your
pets. Chest tubes, specialty catheters,
and other equipment are readily available.
We are able to run blood work in our in-house lab, providing quick
results and allowing us to offer tests at reasonable prices. Our digital radiography allows us to see
pictures immediately, ensuring we get the exact picture needed without
additional costs related to film and development as with traditional
radiography (x-rays). Ultrasound
equipment enables us to quickly identify and locate internal problems and helps
in determining the extent of injuries. Some
pets may require more intensive care that can be received in our climate
controlled ICU unit. This means your pet
can receive oxygen therapy without the risk of overheating. In rare cases your pet’s emergency may
require surgery. We offer human grade
anesthetic and monitoring equipment and drugs that ensure your pet’s safety and
comfort throughout the procedure. Typically
all your pet’s needs can be handled by our doctors, but certain circumstances
may require a referral to CSU or other specialty hospital is indicated-in all
cases it is our goal to set up a plan that works for you and your pet, and gets
them on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.
