Same-Day and Emergency Vet Care in Nanaimo
When your dog or cat is injured, in distress, or showing sudden signs of serious illness, getting to a veterinarian quickly is critical. Coastal City Animal Hospital in Nanaimo accepts walk-in urgent care appointments during our regular hours, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. If your pet has an emergency, call us at (778) 441-3989 on the way and we will be ready for your arrival. For after-hours emergencies, please contact your nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary facility.
Breathing Difficulty
Labored breathing, open-mouth breathing in a cat, or gums that appear bluish, white, or very pale are signs of a respiratory emergency. These signs indicate your pet is not receiving enough oxygen and the situation can deteriorate within minutes. Call us immediately at (778) 441-3989. If your pet is in active respiratory distress, keep them as calm as possible during transport and describe the signs you are seeing when you call. Do not wait to see if breathing improves on its own. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Seizures
A seizure lasting more than two minutes is a medical emergency. If your dog or cat is seizing, time the episode if you can, keep them away from furniture or stairs to prevent injury, and do not put your hand near their mouth. Dogs do not swallow their tongues during seizures. Call us as soon as the seizure ends. Clusters of seizures, where multiple episodes occur in a short period, are particularly serious. We will ask for a description of the seizure activity, duration, and any events that preceded it to help guide our assessment.
Trauma and Accident Injuries
If your pet has been hit by a vehicle, fallen from a height, or suffered blunt trauma, treat it as an emergency even if they appear to be moving and acting normally. Internal injuries and spinal trauma are not always visible externally. Call us immediately at (778) 441-3989. Keep your pet as still as possible during transport. If your pet cannot move a limb, support that limb gently but do not attempt to splint it yourself. We are prepared to receive urgent trauma patients during our operating hours and will prioritize your pet’s care as quickly as possible.
Suspected Poisoning
Many common household items are toxic to dogs and cats, including certain foods, plants, cleaning products, and over-the-counter human products. If you believe your pet has ingested something toxic, call us immediately at (778) 441-3989. Do not induce vomiting at home unless specifically instructed to do so by a veterinarian, as this can worsen certain types of poisoning. Have the product or substance name available when you call. You may also contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for immediate triage guidance at any hour.
Allergic Reactions
Acute allergic reactions in dogs and cats can progress rapidly and include facial swelling, hives, sudden vomiting, difficulty breathing, or collapse. Insect stings, vaccines, and certain foods or products can all trigger acute allergic responses. If your pet shows any of these signs, call us immediately. We can assess the severity and provide appropriate care during our operating hours. Mild reactions such as localized swelling after a bee sting without other symptoms can sometimes be monitored for a few hours, but rapid progression or any sign of breathing difficulty always requires an urgent response.
Urinary Blockage
Urinary blockage, particularly in male cats, is a life-threatening emergency that can result in death within 24 to 48 hours if not addressed. Signs include repeated visits to the litter box producing little or no urine, crying or straining in the litter box, and progressive lethargy. Male cats showing these signs require immediate veterinary assessment. Do not wait overnight to see if the situation improves. Call us at (778) 441-3989 right away. Urinary blockage in male dogs is less common but equally serious when it occurs. Female cats can also develop urinary blockages, though less frequently.
Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea
A single episode of vomiting or a brief bout of diarrhea is common in dogs and cats and often resolves on its own. Severe vomiting, blood in the vomit or stool, a distended abdomen, or vomiting combined with lethargy and loss of appetite can indicate a more serious underlying problem. Gastric dilatation and volvulus in large and giant breed dogs is a life-threatening emergency presenting as unproductive retching, a bloated abdomen, and rapid deterioration. If your dog shows these signs, call us or proceed directly to an emergency facility without delay.
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Yes. We accept walk-in urgent care appointments during our regular hours, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Calling us at (778) 441-3989 before you arrive allows our team to prepare so we can see your pet as quickly as possible when you get here.
Signs that require immediate veterinary attention include difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, seizures, collapse, inability to urinate, suspected poisoning, severe trauma, suspected spinal injury, or any situation where your pet appears to be in significant pain. When in doubt, call us. A brief phone call is always the right first step, and we will tell you honestly whether the situation can wait or needs to be seen right away.
For after-hours emergencies, please contact your nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary facility. [CLIENT NOTE: Insert facility name and number before publishing.] We recommend keeping this number saved in your phone so it is accessible when needed.
Keep the environment as calm and quiet as possible during transport. For cats, confine them to a safely closed carrier to prevent escape. For dogs, minimize movement if spinal or limb injury is suspected. Avoid applying pressure to injured areas. Call us on the way so we can prepare for your arrival and advise you on any specific precautions based on what you describe.
If your dog or cat needs urgent care in Nanaimo, do not wait. Call Coastal City Animal Hospital at (778) 441-3989 right away. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.