VMC accepting critical and urgent emergencies: Apr. 29-May 2
While the demand for emergency services remains high, the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre's emergency and critical care team is now able to accept small animal patients that are considered in the "red zone" (a life-threatening condition) as well as the "orange zone" (urgent condition).
These limitations on emergency and critical care services will be in effect during the following periods:
- 10 p.m., Friday, April 29, to 8 a.m., Saturday, April 30
- 10 p.m., Saturday, April 30, to 8 a.m., Sunday, May 1
- 10 p.m., Sunday, May 1, to 8 a.m., Monday, May 2
During these periods, the veterinary teaching hospital will temporarily restrict admissions to its small animal emergency and critical care service because of the high load of cases in the hospital. Staff will only be looking after in-patients and incoming animals that are in life-threatening condition (red zone) or in serious but stable condition (orange zone).
- Alert your clients. Please do not advise your clients to bring their pets to the VMC for emergency care during this period unless their animals are critically ill or injured (red zone) or in serious but stable condition (orange zone).
- If you have clients whose pets are experiencing major health issues, tell them in advance about the temporary restriction of admissions at the VMC's emergency and critical care service.
- Please urge your clients to call the VMC (306-966-7126) before bringing their pets to the hospital.
- Overnight call. If possible, please organize and provide emergency call for your veterinary clinic's clients during these periods.
- VMC's message to owners. If owners call or bring their animals to the veterinary teaching hospital during these periods and their pets' condition is considered non-urgent (yellow zone in chart below), VMC staff will advise them to contact their regular veterinary clinic for emergency care or to return to the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre the following morning.
- Phone triage. For an emergency, VMC clinical team members will be available by phone (306-966-7126) for the following three nights (April 29-May 2) to consult with animal owners about next steps.
If the VMC must restrict entrance to 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).
