Clinical services alert

Due to high demand and limited staff, the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) is limiting its after-hours service for small animal emergencies. For the time being, the VMC will continue to decrease its after-hours service for small animal emergency and critical care. 

• The VMC’s clinical team will restrict patient intake to life-threatening cases (red zone) only from 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. each evening/night.

• Whenever staffing levels and caseload permits, the clinical team will see patients that fall under the urgent condition (orange zone).

Because of the high demand for emergency and critical care services, the VMC may need to restrict patient intake to life-threatening cases — even during daytime hours.

• CALL 306-966-7126 before bringing your pet to the VMC

• EXPECT longer than normal wait times for clinical service

• BE PREPARED for a change in clinical services. The VMC may be unable to accept non-urgent cases if caseload is high.

Thank you for your understanding!

 

emergency triage chart

Information for Animal Owners

If at all possible, please call the appropriate clinic before coming in for emergency services at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre. Advance notice gives the clinical team some time to prepare any necessary equipment and to alert emergency staff so the animal can be efficiently treated as soon as you arrive.

  • Small Animal Clinic: 306-966-7126
  • Large Animal Clinic: 306-966-7178
  • Field Service: 306-966-7178

After regular office hours, an answering service will contact the WCVM veterinarian on call, and the clinician on duty will return your message as soon as possible.

If your animal needs urgent or emergency care and you are unable to reach us by telephone, please come to the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre. Once you arrive, please pick up the telephone in the clinic foyer and follow the posted instructions. Please tell the person who answers that you are in the foyer and someone will come immediately to assist you.

Emergency fees are charged for the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre's emergency services.

Please be aware that because of high demand, there will be extended wait times for emergency services.

• All cases are addressed based on urgency, and our wait times vary based on the current volume and severity of cases in the emergency service.

• All diagnostic procedures and treatment options will depend on your pet’s condition upon arrival.

• We can’t guarantee same-day diagnostic procedures (including medical imaging) and tests in the VMC’s emergency service. You may need to return for diagnostic tests, medical imaging and other procedures on the following day(s).

Pet Poison Helpline

Pet Poison Helpline is a 24-hour animal poison control service available throughout Canada, United States and the Caribbean for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance with treating a potentially poisoned pet.

Visit the Pet Poison Helpline website or call 1-855-764-7661. 

Animal Transport

Dogs

For the safety of your pet and the public, any dog entering the hospital must be on leash or transported in a secure pet carrier.  

  • DO NOT carry a loose dog in to the hospital

Cats

For the safety of your pet and the public, any cat entering the hospital must be transported in a secure pet carrier.  

  • DO NOT carry a loose cat in to the hospital
  • DO NOT bring your cat on a leash

Maps and Directions

 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4

The Small Animal Clinic entrance is located on the east side of the WCVM building (overlooking Veterinary Road).

The Large Animal Clinic entrance is located on the north side of the WCVM building (just east of Veterinary Road). 

Traffic on Veterinary Road is designated as one way travelling north.

Client Experience Survey

We are always working to improve our clients' experience at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC), so we would love to hear from you about what we are doing right and what we can do better.

Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback. If you would like to have your name entered in a monthly draw for $50 worth of pet food, please include your contact information in the survey form. 

Client Relations and Concerns

The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) has a client relations and concerns process to assist with your concerns if you are unable to find answers to your questions.

Our goals are to provide a mechanism for objective review and response to client concerns and to ensure that all complaints are addressed in a timely and respectful manner. 

Click the button below to read more about the client relations and concerns process. 

Information for Referring Veterinarians

If a referred patient is an emergency case, please complete the following steps:

  1. Send your patient and client on their way to the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre.
  2. Contact the appropriate clinic to provide more details and your client's estimated arrival time.
  3. Complete the appropriate referral form.

 The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre charges an emergency fee. 

A clinical intern or resident (under a senior clinician's supervision) will accept a referred patient and will transfer the animal to a specialty clinician/service, if appropriate. 

As a referring veterinarian, you will receive a final written report after the case is discharged.

Stray Animals

Do not bring a stray animal to the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre unless the animal has a life-threatening injury or illness. 

If you find a stray animal within the Saskatoon city limits, please contact the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency (306-385-7387). See below for more information. 

If you find a stray animal outside the Saskatoon city limits, please contact your local municipal office or the Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (306-382-0002 or 1-844-382-0002, toll free). See below for more information.

The VMC will not admit healthy stray animals found within Saskatoon's city limits. 

As a Good Samaritan, it is your responsibility to find shelter or temporary housing for the animal.

The Saskatoon Animal Control Agency (SACA) is responsible for stray animals found within Saskatoon's city limits. Please call 306-385-7387 for assistance.

Here are SACA's hours throughout the year: 

  • April 1 to October 31: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week including holidays
  • November 1 to March 31: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week including holidays
  • Year round: available 24/7 for emergencies (such as vehicle accidents or aggresive animals)

Additional resources

The VMC will not admit healthy stray animals found outside of Saskatoon's city limits. 

As a Good Samaritan, it is your responsibility to find shelter or temporary housing for the animal.

Here are suggestions that may assist you:

  • Contact the municipal office in the area where the animal was found. Click here to view a list of Saskatchewan's municipal offices. 
  • Contact local animal rescues to see if any organization will accept the stray animal.
  • Take photos of the stray animal and post photos and additional information to local lost and found groups on Facebook and other social media channels or websites such as Kijiji.

Additional resources