After-Hours Emergencies

When your pet needs emergency care outside of our regular hours, the facilities listed on this page are here to help. Save this page—or the numbers below—so you’re prepared if an urgent situation arises.
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Is My Pet Having an Emergency?

Some situations require immediate emergency care. Go directly to an emergency facility—or call one on your way—if your pet is experiencing any of the following:

Breathing & Circulation

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  • Difficulty breathing, choking, or gasping
  • Pale, blue, white, or gray gums
  • Collapse or loss of consciousness
  • Suspected heart irregularities

Trauma & Injury

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  • Being hit by a vehicle or significant fall
  • Uncontrolled or severe bleeding
  • Eye injuries or sudden vision loss
  • Suspected broken bones

Toxins & Ingestion

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  • Known or suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion
  • Ingestion of foreign objects causing distress or obstruction

Neurological Signs

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  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Sudden inability to walk or severe loss of coordination
  • Extreme disorientation or unresponsiveness

Digestive & Urinary

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  • Bloated or severely distended abdomen
  • Repeated unproductive retching or vomiting
  • Inability to urinate, especially in male cats—this is a life-threatening emergency
  • Bloody diarrhea combined with lethargy or weakness

Other Signs

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  • Extreme lethargy or unresponsiveness
  • Signs of severe pain such as crying, trembling, or refusing to move
  • Rapid or significant swelling anywhere on the body

If you’re unsure whether your pet’s condition is an emergency, call the nearest emergency clinic. They can help you assess the situation over the phone and advise whether to come in immediately.

What to Do in a Pet Emergency

Stay calm. Your pet responds to your energy. A calm owner makes it easier to assess the situation and act quickly.

Call ahead if possible. Calling the emergency clinic before you arrive allows them to prepare for your pet and advise you on safe transport.

Don’t muzzle a pet in respiratory distress. If your pet is having difficulty breathing, do not apply a muzzle—it can make breathing more difficult.

Minimize movement for potential fractures or spinal injuries. Use a flat surface like a pet carrier or firm pet bed if possible, and keep movement minimal.

For bleeding wounds, apply gentle, firm pressure with a clean cloth. Do not remove the cloth if it becomes saturated—add more material on top.

For suspected poisoning, do not attempt to induce vomiting unless specifically directed to do so by a veterinary professional. Call your local emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately (note: a consultation fee may apply when calling Poison Control).

Bring any relevant information you have—your pet’s medications, the box of the product they may have ingested, or a description of symptoms and when they started.

Stay calm. Your pet responds to your energy. A calm owner makes it easier to assess the situation and act quickly.

Call ahead if possible. Calling the emergency clinic before you arrive allows them to prepare for your pet and advise you on safe transport.

Don’t muzzle a pet in respiratory distress. If your pet is having difficulty breathing, do not apply a muzzle—it can make breathing more difficult.

Minimize movement for potential fractures or spinal injuries. Use a flat surface like a board or firm blanket as a stretcher if possible, and keep movement minimal.

After-Hours Emergency Facilities

The following emergency clinics serve pets in Fountain Valley and the surrounding Orange County area. Hours are listed as reported—always call ahead to confirm current availability.

VCA West Coast Specialty and Emergency Animal Hospital

Location:
18300 Euclid St
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Phone: (714) 241-9001

Open 24 hours

Website: vcahospitals.com

BluePearl Pet Hospital

Location:
1371 Reynolds Ave
Irvine, CA 92614

Phone: (949) 833-9020

Open 24 hours

Website: bluepearlvet.com

Fountain Valley Pet Emergency Clinic

Location:
9475 Warner Ave, Suite D
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Phone: (657) 339-3008

Email: info@fvpetemergency.com

Hours
Monday – Friday: 6:00 PM – 8:00 AM
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Holidays: Open 24 hours

Website: fvpetemergency.com

A Note from Our Team

We know that facing a pet emergency—especially late at night or on a weekend—is frightening. The facilities listed here are trusted resources for the Orange County community, and we feel confident referring our clients to them when after-hours care is needed.

If your pet was seen at an emergency facility, please let us know at your next visit. Continuity of care matters, and we’re happy to review emergency records, follow up on treatment, and adjust your pet’s ongoing care plan accordingly.