Emergency Veterinary Care in Lincoln

After-Hours Emergency Veterinarians

If you are experiencing a veterinary emergency in the Lincoln area outside of our regular business hours please contact one of the emergency pet hospitals listed below.

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

If you are experiencing a veterinary emergency, follow the steps below.

• Call Ahead If Possible - During regular business hours, call us right away. After hours, call the emergency animal hospital listed above to let them know you are on the way.
• Follow Instructions Provided - When you call the emergency pet hospital to let them know you're on your way, they may give you instructions on how to administer first aid or make your pet as comfortable as possible. Pay close attention to the instructions.
• Remain Calm - Keep your cool and be extra cautious around your pet. When an animal is in pain, it is common for them to lash out at anyone who tries to help them, biting or scratching them.
• Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Safely bring your pet to our Lincoln veterinary clinic or the after-hours emergency vet location above.

Emergency FAQs

Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an emergency appointment at Critter Creek Veterinary Hospital. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Critter Creek Veterinary Hospital provides emergency and urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs during our regular clinic hours. It's always best to contact us in advance if you can, but we understand that in emergencies that's not always possible. 

  Due to our limited capacity, we will need to triage your pet to determine if it's okay to bring them to our clinic or if it would be better to go to one of the emergency hospitals listed above.

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see emergency cases during our regular business hours:

  • Monday:07:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Tuesday:07:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Wednesday:07:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Thursday:07:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Friday:07:30 am - 05:30 pm
  • Saturday:Closed
  • Sunday:Closed

   

• What situations require emergency veterinary care?

  The following situations are examples of emergencies that require immediate care:

  • Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
  • Fractured bones or severe lameness
  • Seizures and/or staggering
  • Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in the urine
  • Inability to urinate or pass feces, or pain associated with urinating or passing feces
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea; 2+ episodes in 24-hours
  • Injuries to the eye(s)
  • Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
  • Unconsciousness
• How long will we have to wait to see the vet?

  Our Lincoln animal hospital is just like a human doctor's office—it can be unpredictable and you may have to wait. 

  We cannot predict what cases we will see and when they will arrive. If possible, call ahead to find out whether we can provide emergency care for your dog or cat.

  If we are unable to fit an emergency appointment into our vet's schedule we recommend that you visit the 24/7 animal emergency hospital detailed above. 

• What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?

  Some veterinary emergencies require overnight care. At Critter Creek Veterinary Hospital we provide overnight care for animals in need.

  While in our care, our dedicated team will treat your pet as if they were our own.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our emergency veterinarians are experienced with cats and dogs.