Current State of Emergency Care
Here in Duluth, and across the country, animal emergency hospitals are being overwhelmed with demand. Locally, current wait times can range from three to five hours and in some circumstances, the ER may become unavailable for care during certain periods.
In order to assure the ER remains available for serious emergencies, we all have to work together to reconsider the role the ER plays in the care of our animal companions.
Here in Duluth, and across the country, animal emergency hospitals are being overwhelmed with demand. Locally, current wait times can range from three to five hours and in some circumstances, the ER may become unavailable for care during certain periods.
In order to assure the ER remains available for serious emergencies, we all have to work together to reconsider the role the ER plays in the care of our animal companions.
How can I help?
There are many conditions that can be worrisome for our pets to experience (diarrhea, ear/skin infections, limping, etc.). Many of these conditions may not be emergencies and can be treated at our hospital during normal appointment hours rather than at the emergency hospital. If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, please do the following:
- Visit Petriage.com, download the free Petriage app and use the Pet Symptom Checker to determine whether your pet is experiencing symptoms that require immediate care or whether treatment can be delayed until the next day (or later) when your pet can be seen by your regular veterinary provider.
- For any non-serious after-hours concerns regarding your pet, please wait and contact us or your regular veterinarian first thing in the morning (218) 525-1937 on the next business day to book an appointment or to get medical advice for your pet.
- We have additional resources from Blue Pearl Emergency Service on pet emergencies for your reference.
Thank You
Every time a non-serious case is seen at the emergency hospital, there is an increased possibility that someone with a serious or life-threatening emergency will not be able to be seen promptly, or at all. Thank you for your assistance in helping fellow pet owners and the community during this temporary surge in demand.
Not sure if it is an emergency?
To provide the best care for all patients, we treat the most serious cases first.
With Petriage, you can quickly determine the urgency of your pet health concerns, any time, day, or night.Within seconds, you and your vet will receive a next-steps recommendation generated by a sophisticated algorithm.When the Symptom Checker provides a non-urgent outcome, Petriage allows you to request an eConsult (virtual consultation) with one of our veterinarians.
Your Petriage benefits may include
- A Direct Line of Communication with North Shore Veterinary Hospital
- Petriage Analysis 24/7 – Assess your pet’s needs any time with our AI-Driven Triage Tool and receive a clear recommendation of what to do next.
- Petriage Live – After hours nurse line that provides quick, professional advice at any hour.
