Our veterinarians are here to help — whether you need phone advice or an emergency farm call. In case of an emergency, call (607) 898-4482. Please do not use personal cell phone numbers, as you may not reach the correct on-call doctor, and necessary care may be delayed.
Important Information
- Emergency services are available only to current clients.
- Please reserve after-hours calls for true emergencies.
- For non-urgent questions or messages, leave a voicemail or call back during regular business hours.
How to Reach Us in an Emergency
- Call (607) 898-4482 and follow the prompts to reach our answering service.
- Provide your name, a phone number where you can be reached, and a brief summary of the emergency. You must give the operator at least some idea of the nature of your call, as we cannot respond without a reason.
- If your horse is boarded away from your home, provide the barn number and location as well.
- Keep your phone line open for 10–15 minutes so the doctor can reach you.
- If you haven’t heard back within 15 minutes, call the office again. Our team may be treating another emergency and will get in touch as soon as possible.
While You Wait for the Veterinarian
- If you’re able, assess your animal’s vital signs: temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, gut sounds, and gum color. This information helps the doctor evaluate the severity of the situation over the phone.
- Clear a workspace for the veterinarian and patient. A clean, well-lit area is ideal — but dry and out of the wind will work in a pinch. Set up extra lighting if needed and have an extension cord handy for clippers or lights.
- Keep yourself safe. Animals in pain (especially horses with colic or birthing difficulties) can react violently. Our veterinarians are not equipped to treat human patients!
Extremely Urgent Emergencies
These situations require immediate veterinary attention:
- A mare or other female animal in labor and unable to deliver
- Uncontrollable abdominal pain (colic)
- Broken limb or acute non-weight-bearing lameness
- Severe bleeding that cannot be controlled with pressure
- Animal down and unable to get up, or trapped in a trailer, stall, or fence
Urgent or Same-Day Emergencies
These situations require prompt attention. Please call as soon as possible to consult with a veterinarian.
- Swollen, cloudy, or painful eye
- Severe, watery diarrhea
- Laceration or severe trauma
- High fever, especially with loss of appetite
- Mild colic that has not resolved within 45–60 minutes
- Weak foal or cria, especially if unable to get up and nurse
- Retained placenta (more than 4 hours since delivery)
- Choke (esophageal obstruction) that has not resolved within 30 minutes
- Sudden loss of coordination or balance
These are only guidelines. If you’re unsure about the nature of your concern, please don’t hesitate to call. We would much rather see an animal early than try to patch things up after the fact.