Veterinary emergencies in central Oregon

The following is an update for our clients needing veterinary care from 12am to 8am.

Bend Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center is a 24 hour facility that as of May 1st had to decrease their hours. They will be available to see emergencies Monday through Friday 2pm to 12am and Saturday/Sunday 8am to 12am.  

The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon will continue to provide emergency services from 8am to 12am. Their facility will continue to be staffed overnight to provide care for the hospitalized patients.  While they are working hard to add staff that will allow them to intake emergency cases after 12am,  this has proved difficult. They are committed to help the veterinary community fill this void for our clients and patients. 

Riverside Animal Hospital will temporarily provide Emergency Services for our clients of record between the hours of 12am and 8am 7 days a week. We will not have staff at the building during these hours unless we are caring for an emergency. Please do not drive to our building without first contacting the on call veterinarian. We are unable to offer house call emergency service outside of our regular business hours. 

What to do in the case of an emergency

1. Please call Riverside Animal Hospital at 541-585-3739 and listen to the prompts on our voice mail
2. Before 11:45pm, you will be instructed to call one of the 2 emergency clinics in town. After 11:45pm, you will be instructed to enter the number “5” into your phone if you are experiencing an emergency
3. At that time, you will be transferred to either an answering service for triage or the cell phone of the on call veterinarian
4. If you have not heard back from a doctor within 15 minutes, we ask that you call again
5. The doctor on duty will then call you, discuss what is happening to your pet and decide if a visit to the hospital is needed
6. If it is determined that an examination is needed, you will be instructed to meet the veterinarian and a staff member at Riverside Animal Hospital.  They may also give you a telephone number to call when you arrive in our parking lot.  COVID restrictions still apply even during an emergency visit. 
7. A veterinarian or staff member will come to the car to get more history and bring your pet into the clinic. 
8. After the initial examination, the veterinarian will discuss the case with you and make a medical treatment plan
9. A staff member will go over an estimate with you

What constitutes an Emergency?

1. Difficulty breathing
2. Excessive vomiting or diarrhea
3. Extreme lethargy
4. Distended abdomen
5. Uncontrollable pain
6. Inability to urinate
7. Porcupine Quills and some lacerations
8. Hit by car
9. Collapse
10. Toxin Exposure

The veterinarians and staff at Riverside Animal Hospital thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time.  In partnership with the emergency and referral centers in Bend, we will do our best to ensure that you and your pet will continue to have access to veterinary care 24 hours per day.