Emergency Pet Care

When your pet is in distress, every minute matters. Foland Veterinary Services provides urgent and emergency pet care for dogs and cats in Weatherford, TX, and the surrounding communities of Willow Park, Aledo, Hudson Oaks, Granbury, Mineral Wells, and Fort Worth.

We’re Here When Your Pet Needs Us Most

Emergencies don’t follow a schedule—and when something goes wrong with your pet, the last thing you want to do is spend precious time figuring out where to go. At Foland Veterinary Services, our experienced veterinary team is prepared to respond quickly and compassionately when urgent situations arise during our business hours. We have the equipment, the training, and the genuine dedication to give your pet the best possible chance at a fast, full recovery.

If you believe your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, please call us immediately at (817) 598-0886 so our team can prepare to see your pet as quickly as possible.

A brown poodle sits on a table with a veterinarian and a young person present.

Signs Your Pet May Need Emergency Veterinary Care

Knowing when a situation rises to the level of an emergency can be difficult, especially in the middle of a stressful moment. When in doubt, call us. It is always better to reach out and be reassured than to wait for a situation that needs immediate attention. Some signs that your pet may need urgent veterinary care include:

Breathing Difficulties

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Labored breathing, rapid or shallow breaths, open-mouth breathing in cats, or blue-tinged gums are serious warning signs that require immediate veterinary attention. Respiratory distress can deteriorate quickly and should never be treated as a wait-and-see situation.

Trauma or Injury

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If your pet has been hit by a vehicle, fallen from a significant height, been involved in an animal attack, or sustained a visible wound or laceration, please call us right away. Even if your pet appears to be walking and behaving normally after a traumatic event, internal injuries may be present and require evaluation.

Suspected Ingestion of Toxins

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Dogs and cats are curious by nature, and many common household substances are dangerous or potentially fatal to pets. If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxin, medication, plant, or foreign object, contact us immediately. Time is critical in these situations. You may also contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for guidance.

Seizures

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A single seizure lasting more than five minutes, multiple seizures in a short period, or a pet that does not return to normal behavior within 30 minutes after a seizure warrants emergency veterinary care. Seizures can have a variety of underlying causes, many of which require prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Collapse or Sudden Inability to Stand

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If your pet suddenly collapses, loses the ability to use their limbs, or appears profoundly weak or disoriented, this is a medical emergency. These signs can indicate a wide range of serious conditions affecting the heart, nervous system, or other organ systems.

Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea

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Occasional vomiting or loose stool is common in pets and often resolves on its own—but frequent vomiting, blood in the vomit or stool, or vomiting accompanied by signs of pain or lethargy can signal a more serious problem requiring urgent attention.

Bloated or Distended Abdomen

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A swollen, hard, or visibly distended abdomen—particularly in large-breed dogs—can be a sign of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate intervention. If your dog is retching without producing vomit and has a distended belly, please contact us or seek emergency care without delay.

Eye Injuries or Sudden Vision Changes

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Eye injuries, sudden cloudiness, visible trauma to the eye, or a pet pawing persistently at their eye should be evaluated promptly. Eye conditions can deteriorate rapidly, and early treatment is critical to preserving vision.

Difficulty Urinating

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A pet—especially a male cat—that is straining to urinate, crying out in pain, or producing little to no urine may be experiencing a urinary blockage. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate veterinary care.

Extreme Pain or Distress

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Vocalization, trembling, guarding a body part, or any behavior that suggests your pet is in significant pain warrants a call to our team, even if no obvious injury is visible.

What to Do in a Pet Emergency

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Step 1: Stay Calm

Your pet will take cues from you. Taking a breath and staying as calm as possible will help both of you get through the situation more effectively.

Step 2: Call Us Immediately

Call us at (817) 598-0886 before arriving so our team can prepare for your pet’s arrival and advise you on any immediate steps to take. If the emergency occurs outside of our business hours, please proceed to the nearest emergency veterinary facility.

Step 3: Handle Your Pet Safely

Injured or frightened pets may bite or scratch even if they are normally gentle. Approach your pet calmly, and if necessary, use a towel or blanket to gently restrain them during transport. Avoid putting your face close to an injured pet’s mouth.

Step 4: Transport Carefully

Keep your pet as still and comfortable as possible during transport. For larger dogs, a flat surface like a board or blanket can help support the body if a spinal injury is suspected. For cats and small pets, a carrier is ideal.

Emergency Services We Provide

Our veterinary team is equipped to handle a wide range of urgent and emergency situations during our business hours, including:

  • Wound care and laceration repair
  • Emergency surgery, including emergency cesarean sections
  • Treatment for trauma and injury
  • Management of toxic ingestion
  • Stabilization of critically ill patients
  • Urgent diagnostic testing, including in-house laboratory testing, digital X-rays, and ultrasound imaging
  • Pain management and supportive care

We prefer to plan ahead and schedule surgical procedures whenever possible, but when emergencies develop quickly, our team is prepared to jump into action to give your pet the best chance for a successful recovery. Learn more about our surgical capabilities.

After-Hours Emergency Resources

Foland Veterinary Services operates during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. If your pet experiences an emergency outside of those hours, please do not wait—seek care at the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary facility right away. We will be happy to follow up with your pet’s care when we return to normal business hours.

Additionally, for suspected poisoning cases at any hour, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435.

Emergency Pet Care FAQs

Do I need an appointment for emergency care?

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Please call us at (817) 598-0886 before arriving so our team can prepare for your pet. Walk-ins are welcome in urgent situations, but a quick phone call helps us have the right people and resources ready when you arrive.

What if my pet's emergency happens after hours?

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If your pet's emergency occurs outside of our normal business hours, please proceed to the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary facility. We'll be available to follow up and continue your pet's care the next business day.

My pet seems uncomfortable but I'm not sure if it's an emergency. Should I call?

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Always. If you're uncertain whether your pet's condition requires urgent attention, please call us and describe what you're observing. Our team can help you determine the appropriate level of urgency and guide you on next steps. When it comes to your pet's health, there's no such thing as a question that isn't worth asking.

Will you have my pet's records if we've never been seen there before?

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If you're a new client coming to us in an emergency, we'll do our best to gather as much information as possible when you arrive. Bringing any medical records, medication lists, or prior veterinary contact information with you can be helpful, but it isn't required—your pet's immediate care is our first priority.

Can you treat both dogs and cats in an emergency?

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Yes. We provide emergency veterinary care for both dogs and cats at Foland Veterinary Services.

Experienced, Compassionate Care When It Counts

In an emergency, you need a veterinary team that moves quickly, communicates clearly, and genuinely cares about the outcome—and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Foland Veterinary Services. From urgent wound care and toxic ingestion to emergency surgery and critical stabilization, our team brings the same common-sense approach and wholehearted dedication to every patient we see, no matter the circumstances. Pet owners across the Weatherford area trust us with their pets’ everyday care—and when the unexpected happens, we’re ready for that too.