For Pet Owners

Our ER is open 24/7, no appointments are necessary. Emergency patients are seen by medical priority followed by order of arrival. All emergency visits are prioritized utilizing the triage system. We thank you for your patience. If your pet is experiencing an emergency, please head to Avets immediately or call us at 412-373-4200.

Curbside service will remain an option for any client who does not wish to enter the hospital.

• Unstable pets will be brought into the hospital for immediate assessment by a doctor.

• Depending on our capacity at the time of your visit, stable pets may be asked to stay with you in your vehicle until a doctor is available to examine them.

• In situations where we are experiencing extended wait times, you may be given the opportunity to leave your pet with us.

Important: If you are waiting with your pet in your vehicle and there is a change in your pet’s condition while you are waiting please call the hospital and a technician will come out to assess your pet.

• When a doctor becomes available, they will then review your pet’s health history, emergency concerns, and physical examination results, and discuss diagnostic and treatment recommendations.

• An estimate will then be discussed for diagnostics and treatment. Please note, when surgery or hospitalization is elected for your pet, a deposit is required. As an emergency and specialty hospital, we don’t see our patients on a routine basis (like you would a primary care facility). For this reason, we require all payments to be rendered at the time of service, even when the pet is insured. Typically, pet insurance requires that you pay for services at the time you receive them and then submit a claim for reimbursement. If you have questions about pet insurance, we’re happy to help you process your claims. We’ll further discuss cost estimates and payment options during your pet’s consultation.

• Upon completion of your pet’s emergency visit “At Home” instructions will be provided. An employee will then contact you to process payment and to answer any questions you may have.

• When your pet is ready to go home, our team will ask you to enter the hospital for discharge.

• A detailed final medical report will be emailed to your primary veterinarian. You will also receive an emailed copy of your pet’s medical report and your receipt.

Please keep in mind that while you are waiting: Not all patients arriving are seeing our emergency service. We are also seeing scheduled specialty appointments.

If you have any questions or would like an update during your pet’s visit, please feel free to contact us anytime at (412) 373-4200.

• Upon arrival, please enter the hospital or call (412) 373-4200 to proceed with a curbside visit.

• At the end of your pet’s specialty visit, an itemized bill and “At Home” instructions will be emailed to you for your review. An employee will then contact you to answer any questions you may have and to process payment.

• When your pet is ready to go home, a team member will bring your pet and any medications out to your car for discharge.

• A detailed final medical report will be emailed to your primary veterinarian. You will also receive an emailed copy of your pet’s medical report and your receipt.

If you have any questions or would like an update during your pet’s visit, please feel free to contact us anytime at (412) 373-4200.

Avets is a 24-hour specialty referral and emergency pet hospital. A trip to Avets is a lot like going to the hospital to see a specialist or visiting the emergency room. Our state-of-the-art facility is an extension of your primary veterinary care. For over 20 years, we’ve provided advanced care to your beloved pets 24/7, 365 days a year.

We do not provide services that are available at your primary care veterinarian, including wellness visits, preventative care, spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, etc.

Feel free to call Avets any time, day or night: (412) 373-4200. We’re happy to help you in any way possible, but keep in mind that medical advice can rarely be given over the phone—we need to see your pet to make sure we understand the situation.

We recommend that you bring your pet to Avets immediately in an obvious emergency. If the symptoms are subtle, you may consider bringing your pet to Avets for an evaluation first. Until your pet is examined by a veterinarian, it’s best to play it safe. When pet parents feel concerned, their instincts are often correct.

If your pet ingested a medication or suspected toxin, we may be able to advise you of any appropriate action or refer you to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, a nonprofit poison center specifically for pets. You can find them on the Web at www.aspca.org or call 1-888-426-4435. A consultation fee may be required.

Specialists are seen by referral appointments during regular office hours.

Appointments are not needed for emergencies. Emergency walk-ins are welcome, though we recommend a phone call before your arrival to discuss any warranted pre-hospital care. Avets emergency veterinarians see patients by medical priority, followed by order of arrival, 24/7/365.

Specialists are seen by appointment, and a referral is needed to ensure that comprehensive care is provided. You can ask your primary care veterinarian for a referral, or we’re happy to contact your veterinarian when you call us for an appointment.

You may call for a status report on your pet 24 hours a day.

You know your pet better than anyone, so if you notice changes in their behavior or believe they are sick or hurt, it is probably a good idea to seek emergency care.

Pet emergencies include (but are not limited to):

• Pet won’t respond to you

• Has difficulty breathing

• Collapsed or can’t stand

• Seizing or acting strangely

• Hit by a car

• Bitten by another animal

• Ingested poisons, medications, or objects

• Vomiting

• Severe diarrhea

• Difficulty urinating

For an emergency visit, there is a $210 emergency consultation/examination fee. Specialty appointments are $210, which is for the initial consultation with the veterinarian. Diagnostics, treatments, and medications have additional costs, with payment due at the time of service.

If your pet is admitted to the hospital, we’ll give you an estimate of the anticipated charges. A deposit is required for hospitalization. Payment in full is due when we discharge your pet; however, if charges significantly exceed the deposit, interim deposits are required.

We employ a team of experienced and dedicated board-certified specialists and staff clinicians. Avets will provide your pet with excellent, compassionate care while providing you with friendly customer service.

A referral hospital is an extension of a primary care veterinarian (i.e. regular veterinarian), where patients are “referred” to the hospital for services not typically available at the primary care veterinary clinic.

A specialist is a veterinarian who has completed advanced training, including a three-year residency and board exams in a specific area of clinical practice. Only veterinarians who are board-certified are recognized as specialists in their fields.