At Groton City Animal Hospital, we provide small-animal emergency services during regular business hours and on a limited after-hours basis. Please always call before bringing in any emergency so we can prepare for your pet’s arrival and provide any immediate instructions that could help.
Important Information
- Emergency services are available to active clients only. An active client is one whose pet(s) have been seen for annual wellness care within the past 3 years.
- During regular business hours, emergencies are seen as quickly as possible. If your pet’s situation is urgent but not life-threatening, we’ll work to fit you in between scheduled appointments.
- After-hours emergency coverage is available until 10 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- After 10 PM and on holidays, all small animal emergencies are referred to one of the emergency veterinary services listed below.
How to Reach Us in an Emergency
- During business hours: Call (607) 898-4482.
- After hours: 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 your pet’s emergency. The on-call doctor will contact you. Please make sure you keep your phone line open for 10–15 minutes.
Please reserve after-hours calls for true emergencies. For non-life-threatening concerns, medication refills, or general questions, leave a voicemail or call back during regular business hours. Messages left over the weekend will be returned on the next business day.
When to Seek Emergency Care
If you’re unsure whether your pet’s situation is an emergency, call us. We’d always rather hear from you early than late. Some situations that require immediate attention include:
- Suspected poisoning or ingestion of a toxic substance
- Hit by car or other traumatic injury
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
- Inability to urinate or defecate
- Seizures
- Collapse or sudden inability to stand
- Bloated or distended abdomen
- Eye injuries
Emergency Referral Options
If your pet’s emergency requires hospitalization, overnight monitoring, emergency surgery, or advanced diagnostics beyond what we can provide, we may refer you to one of the following emergency veterinary services:
- Cornell University Companion Hospital (Ithaca): (607) 253-3060
- VCA Colonial Animal Hospital (Ithaca): (607) 257-3650
- Urgent Veterinary Care of Auburn (Auburn): (315) 515-3074
- Syracuse Veterinary Medical Center (Syracuse): (315) 446-7933
- Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services (Rochester): (585) 424-1277
- Upstate Veterinary Specialties (Latham, NY): (518) 783-3198
Please always call ahead before going to any emergency facility. Availability and hours may vary due to staffing levels and patient load.