Emergency Veterinary Care for Dogs & Cats in Orange County, CA

We are here for your pet when it matters most.

Because emergencies don't wait, and neither do we.

When something goes wrong with your pet, the fear that sets in is real. Your hands are shaking. You're not sure if it's serious enough to panic. You don't know where to go or what to do first.

At The Animal Doctors of Orange County, we want you to know this: call us first. During our open hours, our team at our Buena Park, Anaheim, and Mission Viejo locations is trained to triage, and communicate urgent situations, and to guide you calmly and clearly through every step. We have seen dogs who've eaten half a bottle of ibuprofen, cats who've stopped breathing in the car on the way in, puppies seizing without warning, and senior dogs who collapsed on a walk. We have been there. We know what to do. And we will be honest with you, every single time, about what your pet needs.

If we are closed, we have a trusted network of after-hours emergency hospitals standing by. We do not leave you without a plan. Ever.

Emergency Veterinary Care in Buena Park, Anaheim & Mission Viejo

We Handle Urgent and Emergency Cases During Our Open Hours

Our three Orange County locations are equipped to handle a wide range of urgent and emergent situations when your call comes in during business hours. If your pet is in crisis, call your nearest location immediately. We will tell you whether to come straight in, what to do on the way, and whether a direct transfer to an emergency hospital is the faster and safer choice.

• The Animal Doctors of Buena Park — (714) 521-4595
• The Animal Doctors of Anaheim — (714) 535-1141
• The Animal Doctors of Mission Viejo — (949) 472-3555

Real Emergencies We See and What You Should Do

Because knowing what counts as an emergency can save your pet's life

These are the situations we see. If any of these sound familiar right now, stop reading and call us.

Your dog ate something toxic

It happens more often than you think, chocolate left on the counter, a bottle of ibuprofen knocked over, a child's xylitol gum. Xylitol, grapes, raisins, certain medications, antifreeze, and rat poison are among the most dangerous household toxins for dogs and cats. If you know or suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, call us immediately, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (available 24/7). Time is everything with poisoning. Do not wait to see if symptoms develop.

Your cat is straining to urinate and producing nothing

This is one of the most life-threatening emergencies in veterinary medicine, particularly for male cats. A urinary blockage can become fatal within 24 to 48 hours if left untreated. If your cat is crying in the litter box, squatting repeatedly with little or no output, or licking at their abdomen obsessively, This cannot and should not wait. Call us or go directly to an emergency hospital.

Your dog is retching but not vomiting, with a swollen belly

This is a classic presentation of GDV, gastric dilatation and volvulus, commonly called bloat. GDV is one of the most rapidly life-threatening conditions in dogs, particularly in large and deep-chested breeds like Great Danes, German Shepherds, and Standard Poodles. The stomach fills with gas and rotates, cutting off blood supply. Without emergency surgery, most dogs do not survive. If your dog is pacing restlessly, drooling excessively, and trying to vomit without success, do not wait. Call us or go directly to an emergency hospital.

Your pet is having a seizure

Watching your pet seize is terrifying. Most seizures last less than two minutes and the pet recovers on their own, but if a seizure lasts longer than two minutes, your pet has multiple seizures in a row, or they do not recover normally afterward, this is an emergency. Keep your pet safe, away from furniture or stairs, do not put your hand near their mouth, and call us the moment it is over.

Your pet was hit by a car or suffered trauma

Even if your pet is walking and seems okay after being struck by a vehicle, being attacked by another dog, or falling from a significant height, they need to be seen immediately. Internal bleeding, organ damage, and shock can be present without obvious external signs. Trauma is one of the leading causes of emergency veterinary visits in dogs and cats, and early assessment can be the difference between a full recovery and a tragedy.

Your pet is breathing abnormally

Labored breathing, open-mouth breathing in a cat, blue or gray gums, or a pet who cannot get comfortable and keeps stretching their neck to breathe — these are all signs of a respiratory or cardiovascular emergency. This is a true emergency. Do not drive to a regular appointment. Call us on the way so we are ready when you arrive.

Your dog or cat is collapsed or unresponsive

A pet who cannot stand, has lost consciousness, is extremely pale (best place to check is their gumline), or is limp and unresponsive needs emergency care immediately. This can indicate severe blood pressure drop, internal bleeding, heart failure, or other critical conditions. Get in the car and call us on the way.

Your pregnant dog or cat is in labor and straining with no result

If your pet has been actively straining and pushing for more than 30 to 60 minutes without delivering, or if more than four hours have passed between puppies or kittens when more are expected, call us immediately. Dystocia, difficult birth, can be life-threatening to both mother and offspring.

Your pet's eye is swollen, bulging, or suddenly cloudy

Eye emergencies move fast. Proptosis (an eye that has partially come out of the socket, most common in brachycephalic breeds like Pugs, Shih Tzus, and French Bulldogs), sudden onset glaucoma, or a corneal laceration can result in permanent vision loss within hours if untreated. If something looks wrong with your pet's eye, treat it as urgent.

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Signs That Always Warrant an Emergency Call

Even outside of specific scenarios, call us immediately if your dog or cat is showing any of the following:

• Pale, white, blue, or gray gums
• Uncontrolled bleeding that won't stop with pressure
• Sudden inability to use their back legs
• Known ingestion of a toxin, medication, or foreign object
• Suspected broken bones
• Extreme pain- vocalizing, shaking, or unable to find a comfortable position
• High fever (rectal temperature above 104°F)
• Sudden blindness or disorientation
• Suspected snake bite or venomous insect sting

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If We Are Closed — Your Trusted After-Hours Emergency Partners

We Don't Leave You Without a Safety Net

We have personally selected and trust the following emergency hospitals to care for our patients after hours. All four are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When a transfer is needed during our open hours, we call ahead. When we are closed, go directly, and tell them you are a patient of The Animal Doctors of Orange County.

North County — Recommended for patients from our Buena Park and Anaheim locations:

Orange County Emergency Pet Clinic (OCEPC) 3920 N Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92835 (714) 441-2925 | Open 24/7 Get directions from your location
 

CASE Animal Hospital 1400 N Burton Pl, Anaheim, CA 92806 (657) 999-1150 | Open 24/7 Get directions from your location

South County — Recommended for patients from our Mission Viejo location:

Animal Emergency Care (formerly Animal Urgent Care of South Orange County) 28085 Hillcrest, Mission Viejo, CA 92692 (949) 364-6228 | Open 24/7 Get directions from your location

RISE Pet Health Emergency & Specialty Hospital 24721 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 (949) 787-7473 | Open 24/7 Get directions from your location

(The interactive map above shows all four locations. Click any pin to open turn-by-turn directions from wherever you are.)

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Save This Page Before You Need It

The worst time to search for an emergency vet is when you are already in crisis. Bookmark this page now. Save our phone numbers in your phone today. Know which after-hours clinic is closest to you before the day comes that you need it.

We hope you never have a true emergency. But if you do, we will be here.

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Emergency Veterinary Care Serving All of Orange County

The Animal Doctors of Orange County provides urgent and emergency veterinary care for dogs and cats during open hours at our Buena Park, Anaheim, and Mission Viejo locations, serving families throughout Orange County including Fullerton, Cypress, La Palma, Garden Grove, Orange, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, and surrounding communities.

Whether you are searching for an emergency vet in Anaheim, urgent pet care in Buena Park, emergency veterinary care near Mission Viejo, or an after-hours vet in Orange County, CA The Animal Doctors and our trusted referral partners are here for your pet around the clock.

• The Animal Doctors of Buena Park — (714) 521-4595
• The Animal Doctors of Anaheim — (714) 535-1141
• The Animal Doctors of Mission Viejo — (949) 472-3555

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