When you bring your pet to Animal Emergency Care, our first priority is to perform triage—to conduct a preliminary assessment of your pet in order to determine the urgency of their need for treatment and which treatment is appropriate.
We will bring your pet to an exam room to conduct a physical examination and, with your consent, perform any tests that are necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. You will be kept informed of your pet’s status at every step along the way. For more information on what you should do and what our medical team will do, please visit our Emergency Services page.
On arrival, we will ask you to complete an admit form:
The admit form requires your decision regarding resuscitative directives:
Resuscitative directives spell out what you want our care team to do if your pet experiences sudden cardiac or respiratory arrest. This is when the heart stops beating or your pet has stopped breathing. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an attempt to restart the heart or restart a pet’s breathing when the pet may have technically passed away.
Two options to consider in an emergency situation are:
Our admit form requires your decision regarding resuscitative directives. We understand the gravity of this decision and are here to guide you with empathy and understanding, giving you all the necessary information to make an informed choice that aligns with your wishes and your pet’s needs. Know that we will respect your decision while providing the best possible care for your pet.
