Medical emergencies happen at all hours of the day and night. That’s why Papaya Veterinary Care in Encinitas never closes. Our highly experienced veterinary team is on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to diagnose and treat critically ill or injured dogs and cats.
The emergency services we provide
At Papaya, we provide comprehensive medical and surgical services around the clock on an emergency basis. To give your pet every advantage, we’ve invested in an array of sophisticated diagnostic and treatment technology, including:
- Diagnostic imaging—In-house digital x-ray and ultrasound
- Onsite laboratory—For fast diagnosis so we can begin treatment as soon as possible
- Oxygen unit—For critical oxygen-dependent patients
- Endoscopy (scheduled)—For evaluating the GI tract to assess disease or retrieve a foreign object
- Surgery—Performed in our state-of-the-art surgical suites
- Intensive care unit (ICU)—For high-level monitoring of critically ill patients
- Transfusion medicine—For pets needing blood or blood products
- Isolation ward—To limit exposure of contagious or potentially contagious animals
Importantly, we’re staffed around the clock to provide continuous monitoring and supportive care when your pet is hospitalized overnight.
When is it a medical emergency?
If you’re at all uncertain whether emergency care is necessary, please call us anytime, day or night, at 619-430-4445. Our experienced staff will help you figure out if it makes sense to bring your pet to Papaya for emergency care.
In general, though, it’s wise to seek emergency care right away in these situations:
- Allergic reaction (itching, hives, swelling)
- Birthing and labor issues, including prolonged straining without delivery
- Bleeding that won’t stop within a few minutes
- Difficulty breathing, or choking
- End-of-life care
- Extreme pain causing whining, shaking, trouble getting comfortable
- Gums that are white, gray or blue instead of their normal pink
- Heatstroke (heavy panting, weakness, fever, collapse)
- Inability to urinate, straining to urinate (particularly in cats), blood in urine
- Ingesting a foreign body or toxic substances (human drugs, chocolate, pesticides, household cleaners, poisonous plants)
- Loss of balance, inability to stand or walk, collapse
- Loss of consciousness, disorientation, convulsions or seizures
- Snake bite
- Swollen or distended abdomen (bloat)
- Trauma from a fall or being hit by a vehicle
- Uncontrolled or prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, urine or stool with blood
Is your pet in need of immediate medical attention?
Call us now at 619-430-4445. While no appointment is ever necessary for emergency care, calling us in advance (when possible) helps us prepare for your pet’s arrival.