1.) What is AVETS?
AVETS is a premier, 24 hour Emergency and Specialty Care Hospital for dogs and cats. A trip to AVETS is similar to going to the hospital to see a specialist or visiting the emergency room. Our state of the art facility is an extension of primary veterinary care. For over a decade, we have provided 24/7/365 advanced care to pets.
2.) What kind of pets do you see?
Primarily dogs and cats.
3.) Can I bring my pet to AVETS for regular care?
AVETS does not provide primary care such as vaccinations, neutering or preventative medicine, but rather partners with your regular family veterinarian to provide comprehensive health care for your pet.
4.) Why would I come to AVETS?
Pets are brought to AVETS when when they are experiencing an emergency or they are referred for services not available at their primary care veterinarian's clinic.
5.) What is a referral and how do I get one?
To see one of our specialists you need to be referred from your primary care veterinarian and have an appointment. If you would like to see one of our specialists, simply ask your primary care veterinarian for a referral. After your veterinarian calls, faxes or emails the referral, we will call you to make an appointment. Specialists can be consulted on pets presented to the emergency practice but is internally done so at the discretion of the emergency veterinarian.
6.) What is a referral hospital?
It is an extension of a primary care veterinarian (ie regular veterinarian) practice where patients are "referred" to the hospital for services not typically available at the primary care veterinary clinic.
7.) What is a Specialist?
A Specialist is a veterinarian that has completed advanced training to include a 3 year residency and board exams in a specific area of clinical practice. Only veterinarians that are Board Certified are recognized as specialists in their fields.
See www.avma.org/education/abvs/ for more information.
8.) Do I need an appointment?
Not for an urgent or emergent condition. Walk-ins are welcomed but a phone call allows us to give you any first aid advice and prepare for your arrival. AVETS emergency veterinarians see patients by medical priority and then by order of arrival 24 hours daily; however specialists are seen by referral appointments during more regular business hours.
9.) How do I know if my pet has an emergency?
Pets that: are unresponsive, are having difficulty breathing, have collapsed, are seizuring or acting strangely, have been hit by a car, bit by another animal, that have ingested poisons, medications, or objects, vomiting, severe diarrhea, or difficulty urinating should be evaluated as an emergency. However, if you are concerned about your pet’s condition, then that is enough of an emergency. You know your pet better than anyone and if you believe they are sick or hurt, it is usually the case.
10.) How long will I have to wait to be seen by the emergency service?
Just like a human emergency room, AVETS’ emergency case load can be unpredictable. We do strive though to be more efficient. Your pet will be triaged within minutes of your arrival by an assistant, and if your pet is critical, will be expedited to the treatment area for immediate evaluation by a veterinarian. Stable, albeit sick or hurt, pets are seen by order of arrival. There are many factors that can affect the length of wait i.e. how many critical patients arrive in a set time period, the amount of diagnostics and treatment your and other pets need, etc. Up to four experienced Emergency Clinicans and Board Certified Emergency Specialists are assigned at one time to exclusively receive emergency patients.
11.) Can I get help over the phone?
Feel free to call AVETS anytime, day or night. We are happy to help you in any way that we can; however, medical advice can rarely be given over the phone. Often a recommendation is given to bring your pet to AVETS immediately if it is an obvious emergency. If the symptoms are more subtle, you may consider bringing your pet to AVETS to be evaluated. We would never want to misguide you, so until your pet is examined by a veterinarian, it is best to play it safe.
If your pet ingested a KNOWN amount of medication, we may be able to advise you of any appropriate action or refer you to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center www.aspca.org, a non-profit poison center specific for pets. The phone number 1-888-426-4435 and a $60 consultation fee may apply to your credit card.
12.) What happens after I see the doctor?
The doctor will discuss initial considerations to include a recommended diagnostic and treatment plan based on your pet's condition and initial findings, along with the costs associated with such care.
13.) Are patients hospitalized?
Yes. Patients that require monitoring, ongoing treatments and supportive care can be hospitalized until their condition resolves. There are doctors and staff in the hospital 24/7/365 and every hospitalized patient always has a doctor personally assigned for their care.
14.) Who cares for my pet in the hospital overnight?
AVETS veterinarians who limit their practice to Emergency and Critical Care and a staff of highly trained veterinary assistants are on site 24/7/365. The staff can consult Critical Care Specialists and other Specialists as needed.
15.) How do I get information about my hospitalized pet?
A veterinarian will call you with an update on your pet's condition at least daily and whenever a change in condition warrants communication. It is imperative that we have numbers to contact a person authorized to make decisions regarding the care of the pet 24 hours daily. You may call for a status report from the veterinary assistant assigned to your pet anytime; however, they can only report on the current status of the patient as all treatments, diagonostic and discharge decisions, are made by the veterinarian.
16.) Can I visit my pet?
Yes, you may visit your pet 24/7 - we just ask that you call ahead of time to make arrangements with our staff. The visit may take place in an exam room or in the feline ward, canine ward, or intensive care unit. Visits may be limited by the need to perform treatments or diagnostics in a timely fashion.
17.) Is AVETS more expensive than other veterinary practices?
Depending on the situation. Sick and hurt pets usually require more tests and treatments. Additionally, the staffing, equipment and facilities to provide excellent veterinary specialty, 24-hour emergency and critical care, much of which is not found anywhere else in western Pennsylvania, comes at a higher overhead. AVETS can not change that, but we do everything we can to work within your budget to provide the best care for your pet. In the long run, it may be more cost-effective to take advantage of AVETS' Specialists and facilities. Feel free to discuss your financial concerns with the veterinarian caring for your pet at any time!
18.) How much will it cost?
For an emergency visit, there is an $119 emergency and exam fee, specialty appointments are $119. This is for the initial consultation with the veterinarian. Diagnostics, treatments, and medications are additional and payment is due at the time of service. If your pet is admitted to the hospital you will be given an estimate of the anticipated charges and a deposit of the low end of that estimate is required for hospitalization. Payment in full is due at the time of discharge unless charges significantly exceed the deposit, in which case interim deposits are required.
19.) How can I pay for services?
We accept cash, MasterCard®, Visa®, Discover®, debit cards and CareCredit® (a health credit card one can apply for at AVETS) and Citi® Health. To keep costs down, there is no billing and checks or American Express® are not accepted.