What to Expect

WE ARE AN EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE FACILITY.
YOUR EXPERIENCE TODAY MAY VARY FROM WHAT YOU ARE USED TO.
YOU WILL FIND THAT WE OPERATE LIKE A HUMAN EMERGENCY ROOM.

When you are looking for an emergency veterinary care clinic, you should be able to count on superior care and excellent service. We, at CPVETS in State College, PA, have assembled an expert team of veterinary professionals to bring you the best possible healthcare for your pet. We have a state of the art veterinary facility which is clean, comfortable, and efficient.

If possible, bring in any medical history you have of your pet when you come to our vet clinic. It's best to keep a journal of your pet's health throughout his or her life, including behavioral shifts. If you have something like this, share it with our team. If not, let us know everything that you think will be important.

In some circumstances, our doctors will refer you to a specialist who has advanced expertise in areas such as internal medicine or surgery. Below is what to expect in a typical visit:

1. Check in and triage
When you arrive at the hospital, your pet will be taken to our Intake area to be examined and assigned a triage priority. Your pet will remain in our triage area for monitoring while you are consulting with our medical team about your pet's condition and recommendations for care. While our medical staff is performing an initial evaluation, a Client Service Representative will verify the information on your intake form and collect the examination fee at the beginning of your visit.

In the case of pets experiencing an immediate and severe life threatening emergency, they may be taken directly to our STAT triage room, which contains any equipment that may be needed to evaluate and stabilize a critical patient. CPVETS prioritizes patients based on severity of condition. Critical cases and euthanasia take priority over cases that are stable. This means that you may have a wait if your pet is stable.

2. Consultation
Following triage, a thorough medical history will be obtained, then you will speak with a veterinarian to discuss their physical examination findings and recommendations. Most diagnostic testing, including bloodwork, urinalysis, and imaging is performed on site and interpreted by the veterinarian immediately. This provides valuable real-time information in order to quickly determine how best to treat your pet.

3. Admission to the hospital
If your pet needs to be admitted, they will be moved to our ICU, which features separate areas for large dogs, smaller dogs, and cats. Before admission, our medical staff will review the treatment plan with you. This plan contains an itemized estimate of cost.
You can expect to hear from a veterinarian at least once a shift. Calls are usually made between 7:00-9:00 both morning and night, unless otherwise discussed or there is a significant change in your pet’s status. You are welcome to call in once between doctor updates to receive an update from your pet’s nursing staff.

4. Discharge from the hospital
Whether your pet is treated as an outpatient or spends time in our ICU, our medical team will review your pet’s discharge instructions and medications with you prior to reuniting you with your pet. They will be happy to answer any questions that you may have to ensure that you feel comfortable continuing your pet’s medical care at home.

Following discharge, a complete medical record, including x-rays and the results of any diagnostic testing, will be sent to your primary care veterinarian.

OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE FOR YOUR PET. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING