If you are having a pet emergency during our business hours, please call us as you leave for the clinic. We know that emergencies can be a stressful time for you, so we will do our best to help make the process easier for you and your pet. Our hospital and staff is equipped and trained to handle emergencies.

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If your pet emergency occurs outside of our business hours, please go immediately to

THE ANIMAL EMERGENCY CLINIC
1333 Wabash Ave
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 698-0870

Poison Control

An example of a reason to contact Poison Control:

You walk in on your four-legged friend in the middle of devouring a loaf of raisin bread, or you come home after an evening out to an empty and chewed up medicine bottle on the floor and your pet lying nearby. Or, maybe your cats nibbled on some lilies. What do you do?

First, quickly gather up the evidence of the occurrence, including any packaging and vomit. Then, seek immediate assistance, even if your pet appears “normal.” Even in instances of poisoning, animals may act like themselves for many hours or days after ingestion.

Even if your pet is actually acting normally, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA) first: 1-888-426-4435, and be ready with the following information:

  • Species, breed, age, sex, and weight for all animals involved
  • Symptoms, if any
  • Information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount involved, and the time elapsed since the time of exposure
  • Product container/packaging, for reference
  • Be ready to follow the guidance you are given, which may include paying us a visit. Further, please note there is a $65.00 consultation fee for the ASPCA service, but the information you are given may very well be the difference between life and death for your pet.

It is very important to note that if your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious, or is having difficulty breathing, telephone us immediately and bring your pet right in!

After you arrive with your pet whom you think ingested something potentially dangerous, and we triage him or her, we will likely ask you to call the ASPCA if you haven’t already. While it is true that we are ready for any pet emergency, the ASPCA has specially trained veterinary toxicologists on duty 24 hours a day. Additionally, the ASPCA has a veterinary database that stores more than one million animal cases involving pesticide, drug, plant, metal, and other exposures, all of which can be readily accessed to help them—and us—help you and your pet. Please note that even if you call from our facility, the ASPCA consultation fee will still apply.

Once you speak with the ASPCA, you will be provided a case number. Please provide this to your veterinarian, as this allows us to the call ASPCA with further information gained from your pet’s physical exam as well as continually and thoroughly follow up on your case.