The VMC is the only veterinary facility in the Greater Syracuse Area to meet the rigorous requirements of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) for a full-service Emergency and Critical Care Center. We are staffed with Emergency and Critical Care Veterinarians, Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT's) and support staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, our Board-Certified specialists are available for on-site consultations and referrals.

Emergencies happen at all hours. During the busiest times our emergency nursing staff evaluates your pet in the waiting area to establish the order in which patients are seen. This triage system ensures that the most critical pets are seen first. Throughout your pet's stay, he or she is monitored by our nursing staff and attended to by our veterinarians around the clock. We remain in contact with your family veterinarian even after discharge to ensure seamless medical care for your pet.

We are committed to your pet's comfort throughout his or her stay with us and while recovering at home. To ensure optimal pain control, we maintain a wide range of medications tailored for your pet's specific medical condition. Our nursing staff monitors patient comfort as part of their regular assessments and veterinarians adjust pain medication as needed to allow patients to rest comfortably. We maintain a high nurse-to-patient ratio, which allows us to give each patient the individualized medical and emotional attention that is so important for a speedy recovery. To bolster your pet's spirits while hospitalized, we encourage you to visit your pet during his or her period of hospitalization.

The Emergency Team - Consists of doctors, nurses, receptionists and assistants who specialize in emergency patient care. We are very proud of our emergency team. These highly dedicated, compassionate and skilled individuals work days, nights, weekends and holidays. They see patients during some of the most stressful situations including serious trauma, toxins, lacerations, infections or acute onset of disease.

Here are a few things you should expect if you ever need us.

• Call First (if you can) to let us know you are coming and what you think is wrong with your pet.
• We do not see scheduled appointments. Patients are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis, with most critical patients seen first.
• If your pet is needs hospitalization, we will provide you with a detailed estimate of anticipated costs. However, it must be understood that estimates are provided with the limited information the veterinarian has upon admission, and depending upon the outcome of diagnostics, your pet's condition and his or her response to therapy, the actual costs may vary significantly.
• We can not bill for services. Payment must be made at time services are rendered. If your pet is hospitalized, we require a 75% deposit of the higher end of the estimate. We accept all major credit cards and Care Credit.