If your pet is experiencing an emergency, don’t wait—call us immediately. Our experienced team at Tenafly Veterinary Center will provide guidance on the best steps to take and ensure your pet gets the urgent care they need as quickly as possible. Your pet’s safety and well-being are always our top priority.

Signs Your Pet Needs Emergency Care

Seek emergency veterinary care immediately if your pet shows any of the following:
  • Difficulty breathing, labored respiration, or open-mouth breathing in cats
  • Collapse or inability to stand
  • Suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion
  • Trauma (hit by car, fall from height, animal attack)
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Seizures, especially multiple seizures or a seizure lasting more than 3 minutes
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea (especially with blood)
  • Abdominal bloating (particularly in large breed dogs — this can be life-threatening GDV/bloat)
  • Loss of consciousness or extreme lethargy
  • Eye trauma or sudden vision changes
  • Urinary obstruction (straining to urinate with little or no output — a medical emergency in cats)
  • Difficulty giving birth (more than 2 hours between offspring, visible distress)

Emergency Care During Business Hours

Walk-ins are always welcome for emergencies during our business hours. Please call 201-567-7878 on your way to the clinic so we can prepare to receive your pet immediately. Having advance notice allows us to have the right team and equipment ready the moment you arrive.
For our Tenafly Clients:
If you are experiencing an emergency after hours but it is before 8:00 PM, please call our Overpeck Creek Location which is open until 8:00 PM Monday-Friday and have full access to your pet’s records.

After-Hours Emergency Resources

Image
From 8pm to 7:30am
If you are experiencing an emergency situation from 8pm to 7:30am, we have partnered with VetTriage to offer video telehealth services. The VetTriage veterinarians are available 24/7 and for a small fee, will assess your pet on a live video chat to determine if your pet requires immediate emergency care, or simple monitoring at home until we reopen. In the event that in-person care is needed, VetTriage will coordinate a visit to the hospital on call.

Tenafly Veterinary Center - VetTriage

Tenafly Veterinary Center offers after-hours and emergency assistance to clients by partnering with VetTriage.
Steps to Connect:
  • Go to www.vettriage.com/tenafly using your mobile device or computer with camera.
  • Follow the instructions on the VetTriage page to purchase and request your session with a vet.
  • The vet will join in minutes and triage your pet.
img-vettriage-tenafly-scan

Poison Emergencies

For any suspected poisoning, act immediately:
Common pet toxins include chocolate, xylitol (sugar-free gum), grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, certain plants (lilies are fatal to cats), rat poison, and many essential oils.

24/7 Emergency Hospitals in North New Jersey

If you need emergency care outside of our hours, these 24/7 facilities serve our area:
  • Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) — Paramus: 141 NJ-17, Paramus, NJ 07652 · (551) 258-1998
  • Blue Pearl Pet Hospital — Paramus: 545 Route 17 South, Paramus, NJ 07652 · (201) 527-6699
  • Oradell Animal Hospital — Paramus: 580 Winters Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652 · (201) 350-1802
  • Eclipse — Whippany: Papermill Dr, Whippany, NJ 07981 · (862) 404-0991
  • Animal Emergency & Referral Associates — Fairfield: 1237 Bloomfield Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 · (973) 226-3282

Frequently Asked Questions — Emergency Care

Ready to Book an Appointment?

Call us now or book your appointment online anytime.
Book Online

Ready to Schedule a Visit?

New patients and emergency appointments always welcome.
Book Online
201-567-7878