At BLACC, we want to make sure your pet has access to the best care possible, especially in the event of a critical emergency. During our regular business hours the veterinary staff at Blue Lake Animal Care Center is available for any emergency care your pet may need. If possible please call (530) 600-3911 in advance so our staff can prepare for your arrival.
For emergencies that occur outside our regular hospital hours, we refer our clients to the following emergency facilities:
Reno Animal Emergency
64d25 South Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 851-3600
Carson Tahoe Veterinary Hospital
3389 S. Carson St.
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: (775) 883-8238
When to Seek Emergency Care
Determining whether your pet needs emergency care can sometimes be overwhelming and scary. As we live in a small community, it is sometimes impossible to provide continuous medical services at all times. We advise you to contact us or one of our emergency care referral facilities immediately if you feel your pet’s condition is serious and cannot wait to be seen. A trained professional can help you decide on the best course of action. If you feel your pet’s condition is not critical, you can leave us a message via phone or our website and we will get back to you during business hours.
The following guidelines can be used as general guidelines in making a decision, but ultimately only you are best equipped to decide if your pet needs immediate attention.
If your pet is exhibiting any of the following signs, they most likely need to be seen on an emergency basis. The list is not complete or comprehensive.
- Difficulty breathing – may be manifested as pink frothy liquid from nose or mouth, blue or pale gums/tongue, panting with increased effort constantly, extending head and neck forward while breathing, or constant coughing and/or inability to rest comfortably.
- A distended, “bloated” abdomen, whether hard or soft
- Profuse bleeding and/or major known trauma
- Collapse or profound weakness
- Sudden loss of use of the rear legs
- Seizures
- Crying out in pain
- Inability to urinate despite effort
- Protracted vomiting or diarrhea
- Not being able to move or walk
- Fractured bone
- Choking/gasping
- Known exposure to dangerous poisons – if you are unsure if a substance your pet has ingested is toxic, you can also call National Animal Poison Control at 1-800-548-2423. They are staffed by specialists who can assist in a toxin-related emergency. (There is a fee for this service)