Small animal ER closed overnight on Sept. 20-21 due to staff shortage

Due to a lack of clinical staff, the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre's emergency and critical care service can not accept any small animal patients overnight from 10 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 20, to 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21. 

The veterinary teaching hospital will temporarily close its small animal emergency and critical care service because of a severe shortage of veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists (RVTs) who can provide emergency care for incoming patients overnight. Staff will be looking after in-patients only. 

• Alert your clients. Please do not advise your clients to bring their pets to the VMC for emergency care during the night of Sept. 20-21. 
• If you have clients whose pets are experiencing major health issues, tell them in advance about the temporary closure of the VMC's emergency and critical care service. 
• Overnight call: If possible, please organize and provide emergency call for your veterinary clinic's clients during the night of Sept. 20-21. 
• VMC's message to owners: If owners call or bring their animals to the veterinary teaching hospital for emergency care overnight on Sept. 20-21, VMC staff will advise them to contact their regular veterinary clinic for emergency care or to return to the veterinary teaching hospital at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21. 
• Phone triage: For an emergency, VMC clinical team members will be available by phone (306-966-7126) overnight (Sept. 20-21) to consult with animal owners about next steps. 

If the VMC must close its emergency and critical care service for additional nights in the future, the veterinary teaching hospital will send another message to the veterinary community and to the public as soon as possible. 

The VMC clinical team thanks the veterinary community for its understanding and support. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Steve Manning (stephen.manning@usask.ca; 306-321-5923).