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207 Genesee St.,
Auburn, NY 13021

(315) 515-3074

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Intake Hours   |    Thursday: 6pm - 12am    |   Friday - Sunday:  8am - 12am  |   Overnight care available

During Inclement Weather please check our Facebook page for changes in our operating hours.

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FAQ's

We specialize in urgent veterinary care for cats and dogs, but we can provide end of life care to certain other species if necessary. Please call for more information at 315-515-3074.

Yes, that’s correct. Urgent Veterinary Care works differently than a regular vet clinic. We don’t book traditional appointments, instead we schedule triage times.

A triage time is the best window for when our team can check-in your pet and assess their condition.

Once triaged our team will provide a treatment plan and the best estimate for wait time. The wait time is based on your pet’s needs as well as other patients currently under our care.
Because we treat pets based on the urgency of their condition, wait times can vary and may be long. We always do our best to keep you updated along the way!

We always recommend that you call us 315-515-3074 before you head our way so we can give you a triage time. However, if you are dealing with a true emergency and are already on your way, please call, as this will help us prepare for your case, adjust wait times for others, and provide the best care for your pet. Walk-ins are difficult for us to accommodate.

1. CALL AHEAD
We ask that all clients call ahead before coming in so we can give them a triage time (the best estimated time for our team to assess your pet).

Calling ahead helps us:

  • Prepare for your pet’s arrival. If your pet’s condition sounds like a true emergency, we can be ready to help the moment you arrive.
  • Manage wait times more accurately. Knowing who’s on the way helps us plan our patient flow and reduce your wait time at the clinic.
  • Ensure that we have the right staff and space available. Our team balances many urgent cases, and calling ahead lets us make sure we can safely care for every pet.

Please remember that wait times are estimates only and can change frequently and rapidly.

2. Triage
Triage is how we quickly determine each pet status. This helps us make sure the pets with the most serious conditions are treated first.

*Your pet gets triaged twice!

When you call, we’ll start with a phone triage – asking questions about your pet’s symptoms and history to better understand how urgent the situation may be.

Then when you arrive and check-in, our team will do an in-person triage/exam to confirm your pet’s condition and next steps.

We use a color-coded system to guide our timing for triage on arrival.

Our triage time goals are:

  • Red (critical): triaged within 0 – 15 MINUTES after arrival
  • Yellow (urgent): triaged within 0 – 1 hour after arrival
  • Green (stable): triaged within 0 – 2 HOURS after arrival

These times are our goals, but actual wait times may vary depending on how many urgent cases we’re caring for and other variables like your pet’s willingness to cooperate with the exam.

3. Exam and Diagnosis
After your pet has been triaged and examined, our medical staff will discuss our treatment plan, including diagnostics, procedures and budget. We will then give you a time estimate. Please keep in mind that these estimates may change due to more urgent/emergency cases.

At Urgent Veterinary Care, pets with the most serious or life-threatening conditions are always seen first. 

PLEASE understand we are not a first come, first served animal hospital; this may mean added wait time for less critical patients due to emergencies.  We do our best to see all pets within our triage time goals, but our status also changes quickly based on the number and complexity of cases as they arrive.  We appreciate your patience and understanding if another pet requires immediate attention even though you may have arrived first.  Wait times are estimates only and can change frequently and rapidly.

Triage means evaluating each pet’s condition to decide how urgently they need medical attention.

Our team gathers information – first over the phone, then again in person when you arrive – to determine your pet’s level of need. Pets with life-threatening or critical issues are treated first, while those who are stable may need to wait longer. 

Triage helps us make sure every pet receives care based on medical urgency, not just the order of arrival.

We use three levels of urgency:

  1. Critical / Life-Threatening – Immediate Care (RED) – seen right away (within 0-15 minutes of arrival):
  • The pet is unstable and may die without intervention right away.  We stop everything and provide life-saving treatment.
    • Examples: not breathing, severe bleeding, trauma (hit by car), seizures that won’t stop, collapse, shock, urinary obstruction.
  1. Urgent – Needs Care Quickly (within 30 minutes) (YELLOW) – urgent but stable usually seen within 1 hour of arrival
  • The pet is in serious but stable condition. We slow down, evaluate, and create a treatment plan.
    • Examples: vomiting, diarrhea, limping, painful, lethargic, superficial wounds.
  1. Non-Urgent / Minor – Can Wait Safely (GREEN) – stable or less urgent – usually seen within about 2 hours of arrival
  • The pet is stable, may be uncomfortable or look uncomfortable but his or her condition is unlikely to worsen quickly.  We discuss the treatment plan in order of arrival.
  • Examples: ear infection, mild skin issues, broken nail, chronic cough in a stable pet.

Our urgent care clinic can help with unexpected medical situations when your regular veterinarian isn’t available but a trip to a large emergency hospital may not be warranted. Think of us like a bridge between your regular vet and full emergency hospital – offering efficient, high-quality care when your pet needs help right away.


Our facility is prepared to provide treatment or stabilization for many cases, including:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Trauma (ranging from simple laceration repairs to stabilization after a car accident)
  • Urinary blockage
  • C-sections
  • Gastrointestinal disorders (ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to foreign body ingestion)
  • Quill removal
  • Seizures

There are some cases that are beyond our scope; we are not equipped to provide ongoing intensive care or critical care for severely ill patients.

We are staffed for overnight hospitalization from 6 PM on Thursday until 8 AM Monday AM.
However, our intake hours are: 6PM – Midnight Thursday, 8 AM – midnight Friday – Sunday.
Please call 315-515-3074 to discuss your pet’s medical condition and confirm that are the best medical facility for your pet.

We are conveniently located in Auburn, New York, serving Central New York communities including Cayuga County and surrounding areas. Please call 315-515-3074 ahead if you would like to be seen.

At Urgent Veterinary Care, you can expect:

  • Compassionate, timely medical care to help your pet feel better as quickly as possible.
  • Transparency and honest communication throughout the triage, exam, diagnostics and treatment process – including clear explanations of care options and costs.
  • Kind attentive support for both you and your pet from an experienced urgent care medical team.
    The reassurance and peace of mind that your pet is in capable, caring hands.

We are able to stabilize pets in most situations, however we may have to transfer the most critical cases or patients needing care beyond our scope of care or opening hours. Please call to discuss your pet’s situation at 315-515-3074.

We have the ability to do a basic emergency scan but we do not have a radiologist to perform and interpret a comprehensive ultrasound. We do offer on-site digital x-rays that we can share with your regular vet or specialists as needed.

We accept all major credit cards, CareCredit, ScratchPay and cash (no checks). We do not provide payment plans but we accept payment from third party lenders, which clients may contact for assistance (e.g. CareCredit and ScratchPay). Payment is due at the time of service.

We do not bill or participate with any insurance providers directly. However, we can provide you with detailed invoices and medical records that you can submit to your pet insurance company for reimbursement according to your policy terms.

Yes, we offer end of life care. We understand that when that time comes, it is not an easy day for anyone. We prioritize euthanasia and will do everything we can to help your pet in a timely manner. We work with Pettigrass Heavenly Pets for private and group cremation services, but you also have the option of taking your pet home to make your own arrangements. Please call 315-515-3074 for more information.

If your regular veterinarian or referral hospital is in our system, they will be alerted as soon as your pet checks in. They will have access to the records as we complete them. If they are not in our system, they will receive a summary report as soon as it is finalized after your visit. Our electronic medical records system ensures that communication with other veterinarians and continuation of care is as efficient and clear as possible. You will also have access to your pet’s records through the email address you provide us at check-in.

When you visit our Auburn urgent care for pets hospital, please bring:

  • Your pet’s medical records (if available)
  • Current medications your pet is taking
  • A list of any recent symptoms or changes in behavior
  • Payment method or financing approval
  • A leash or carrier to safely transport your pet

Yes, we can prescribe medications as part of your pet’s treatment plan. We dispense medications on-site when available and can also send prescriptions to your local NY pharmacy.