Fort Lauderdale Emergency Vet · Open Now

Emergency & Critical Care in Fort Lauderdale.

When your pet needs help right now, walk in or call. Our emergency team is ready to stabilize, diagnose, and treat, any time we are open.

Call (954) 772-0420 Book a Telehealth Consultation

No appointment needed. Walk-ins welcome. Weeknights 5 PM to 8 AM Weekends & Holidays 24/7 Independently owned · Transparent pricing

Emergency veterinarian examining a small dog with a stethoscope at Pet Emergency Center in Fort Lauderdale

Call Any Time We're Open Walk In. No Appointment. Critical cases triaged first.

You Are in the Right Place

Take a Breath. You Found Us, and We Are Ready.

Pet Emergency Center is Fort Lauderdale's independently owned emergency veterinary hospital. For over 40 years, we have cared for dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets during the hours when most daytime practices are closed. Our team is built for this. Every shift, every night, every weekend.

Call us. Walk in. We will take it from here.

Call (954) 772-0420

When to come in

When to Bring Your Pet In Right Now.

If your pet is showing any of these signs, do not wait. Call us or come directly to our Fort Lauderdale hospital. We will handle the rest.

Difficulty Breathing

Labored breathing, rapid breathing, wheezing, gagging, or open-mouth breathing in cats. Pale, blue, or gray gums are an emergency sign. Respiratory distress can escalate quickly and needs immediate attention.

Severe Bleeding or Trauma

Any significant bleeding that does not stop within a few minutes, visible wounds, or injuries from being hit by a car or falling from height. Internal injuries are not always visible, which is why any trauma deserves an exam.

Collapse, Weakness, or Unresponsiveness

If your pet suddenly collapses, cannot stand, seems confused, or does not respond to you the way they normally would, come in. These are signs of serious underlying issues that need immediate evaluation.

Suspected Poisoning or Toxin Ingestion

If you think your pet ate something toxic, do not wait to see if symptoms develop. Chocolate, xylitol, human medications, grapes, onions, lilies (for cats), rodent bait, antifreeze, and many household items are dangerous. Bring the packaging if you have it.

Vomiting or Diarrhea That Will Not Stop

Repeated vomiting, vomit with blood, or severe diarrhea can cause dehydration fast, especially in smaller pets. If your pet cannot keep water down or you see blood, they need care now.

Distended Abdomen or Unproductive Retching

A bloated, hard belly (especially in large or deep-chested dogs) paired with unsuccessful attempts to vomit can indicate GDV (bloat), a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate surgery.

Seizures

A single brief seizure in a pet with a known history may not be an emergency. But a first-time seizure, repeated seizures, or a seizure lasting more than two to three minutes needs immediate evaluation.

Inability to Urinate

This is an absolute emergency in male cats. Straining to urinate with nothing coming out is a urinary blockage, which can be fatal within hours. Dogs and female cats with these signs also need prompt attention.

Eye Injuries or Sudden Vision Loss

Swollen, red, or discharging eyes, a pet holding one eye shut, bumping into things, or visible damage to the eye. Eye emergencies can progress to permanent damage quickly.

Heatstroke

In South Florida, heatstroke is a year-round risk. Heavy panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, or collapse after time outdoors or in a car requires immediate care. Do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

Cane Toad Exposure

Common in South Florida. If your pet has had contact with a cane toad (Bufo toad), symptoms include drooling, pawing at the mouth, red gums, disorientation, or seizures. Rinse the mouth with running water and come in immediately.

Bite Wounds

Dog bites, cat fights, or wildlife encounters can leave deep puncture wounds that look small on the surface but damage tissue underneath. Bite wounds need professional cleaning and often antibiotics.

Labor Complications

If your pet is in active labor and more than an hour passes between puppies or kittens, or if she is straining without delivering, come in.

The safety net

Not Sure If What You Are Seeing Is an Emergency?

Call us at (954) 772-0420. We will help you decide.

Call (954) 772-0420

On arrival

What to Expect When You Arrive.

When you walk through our doors, our team is already thinking about your pet.

Step 01

Triage First

We assess every patient immediately on arrival. The most critical cases are seen first. If your pet's condition is life-threatening, they will be moved to treatment right away, even if there are other patients in the waiting area.

Step 02

Transparent Pricing, Up Front

Before we proceed with any major treatment or testing, we walk you through an estimate. You will know what each step costs and what it covers. No hidden fees. No upselling. We Work with Families wherever we reasonably can.

Step 03

Clear Communication

We explain what is happening in plain language. You will understand the diagnosis, the options, and the plan. Ask us anything. If something does not make sense, we slow down.

What to Bring If You Can

A list of medications your pet is currently taking.
Any information about what they ate or got into, including packaging if relevant.
Recent records from your primary veterinarian if you have them.
Your regular vet's name and phone number so we can coordinate follow-up.

If you do not have any of this, do not worry. Come in anyway. We will figure out the rest together.

Capabilities

What We Can Do, All Under One Roof.

Emergency medicine requires acting fast with complete information. We built our hospital to handle the full spectrum of critical care on-site, so your pet does not need to be transferred elsewhere in the middle of a crisis.

In-House Diagnostics

Blood work, digital radiology (X-ray), ultrasound, and other imaging, all performed on-site while you wait. We get answers quickly so we can act quickly.

Learn more 02

Emergency Surgery

Our surgical team handles wound repairs, foreign body removals, bite wound closures, emergency spays, and many other urgent procedures on-site. When a patient needs emergency surgery, we do not make them wait.

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Hospitalization and Monitoring

Patients who need extended observation, IV fluid therapy, oxygen support, or continuous monitoring stay with us until they are stable. Our team checks on hospitalized patients around the clock.

Pain Management

Effective, compassionate pain control is part of every treatment plan. Pets in pain heal slower and suffer more than they need to. We take pain seriously from the moment your pet arrives.

Learn more 05

Full In-House Pharmacy

Your pet leaves with the medications they need, the same visit. No waiting days for a prescription to ship. Immediate access is part of emergency care, and we built our pharmacy around that reality.

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Coordination

We Work With Your Daytime Veterinarian, Not Around Them.

Most pet owners have a relationship with a primary veterinarian, and that relationship matters. We see ourselves as a partner to your daytime vet, covering the hours and emergencies they cannot. After we treat your pet, we send records and a detailed case summary to your primary vet so they can pick up care seamlessly.

If you do not have a regular veterinarian, we can recommend practices in the Fort Lauderdale area we trust.

Who we treat

We Treat More Than Dogs and Cats.

Our emergency team is equipped and experienced with a wide range of species. Many emergency hospitals in South Florida do not see birds, reptiles, or exotic pets. We do.

Dogs

Cats

Birds

Pocket Pets

Reptiles & Amphibians

Small Farm Animals

Exotic Species

Not sure it's an emergency?

Talk to a Veterinarian First.

If you are reading this page trying to figure out whether your pet's symptoms warrant a trip to the ER, a $75 telehealth consultation may be the right first step. One of our veterinarians will assess your pet over video and help you decide what to do next. If you end up coming in, your $75 is credited toward the visit.

Book a Telehealth Consultation

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions.

Can't find what you're looking for? Call (954) 772-0420 or book a telehealth consultation. We're happy to help.

01 Do I need an appointment to come in? No. Emergencies do not schedule themselves, and neither do we. Walk in any time we are open. We will see you as quickly as possible, with the most critical cases taking priority. 02 What if I cannot get my pet there safely? Call us at (954) 772-0420 before you do anything else. We can connect you with pet transport services, including an ambulance service we work with regularly, or help you arrange an Uber Pet ride. If transport is not possible, book a telehealth consultation so we can assess your pet remotely and help you decide on next steps. 03 How much does an emergency visit cost? Costs depend on what your pet needs. What we can promise is this: we explain pricing up front before we proceed, we work with families on affordability wherever we can, and many clients come to us because we are more affordable than nearby specialty hospitals. Learn more about payment options. 04 Will my pet have to stay overnight? It depends on your pet's condition. Patients who need IV fluids, monitoring, or post-surgical observation may stay with us until they are stable enough to go home. We will explain any recommendation clearly and discuss the options with you. 05 What if my pet needs something you cannot provide on-site? If your pet requires a specialty service beyond emergency stabilization (for example, advanced cardiology, oncology, or certain surgical specialties), we stabilize them first and coordinate the transfer to the appropriate specialist. You will never be left to navigate that alone. 06 Do you see exotic pets, birds, or reptiles? Yes. We treat a wide range of species, including many that most emergency hospitals in South Florida do not see. If you have a non-traditional pet in crisis, call us. 07 Will you communicate with my regular veterinarian? Yes. After your visit, we send records and a case summary to your primary vet so they can continue care. This is a standard part of how we practice. 08 What if I arrive and there is already a wait? We prioritize the most critical patients first. If you arrive with a less urgent concern and other patients need immediate attention, you may wait. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these moments. If your pet's condition changes while waiting, let the team know right away.

Compassionate care. Always Here.

Your Pet Needs Us. We Are Here.

Call our Fort Lauderdale hospital. Walk in. Book a video consultation. Whatever path makes sense for your situation, we are ready.

Call (954) 772-0420 Book a Telehealth Consultation

Pet Emergency Center

921 East Cypress Creek Rd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334

(954) 772-0420

Weeknights 5:00 PM to 8:00 AM
Weekends & Holidays Open 24/7