When your pet needs urgent medical attention, our team is trained and equipped to evaluate, stabilize, and treat a variety of urgent conditions during regular business hours, starting at 8am. In emergency situations, every second matters.
If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency during business hours, please call Acorn Hill Animal Hospital at 210-654-7117 so our team can triage the situation by phone and prepare for your arrival.
After-hours and Emergency Referrals
For emergencies outside of regular business hours, please seek care immediately at one of the 24-hour emergency veterinary hospitals listed below.
Emergency situations bring lots of human emotions. We will always do our best to balance medical objectivity for your pet and empathy for you and your family. Unfortunately, some decisions must be made very rapidly. Based on all information available, we will give you the best recommendations and care for your pet.
Many diagnostics and treatment options are available in our hospital. Of course, your pets needs will dictate how we proceed.
When to Seek Emergency Veterinary Care
Pet emergencies don't always look the way you'd expect. Some are obvious — a hit-by-car, a seizure, a deep wound. Others sneak up: a dog who suddenly seems "off," a cat who hasn't urinated in a day, a bloated belly that wasn't there at breakfast.
Call us immediately or head to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital if your pet is experiencing:
- Difficulty breathing, gasping, or blue-tinged gums
- A bloated, distended, or hard abdomen (especially in deep-chested dogs)
- Seizures, collapse, or loss of consciousness
- Inability to urinate or repeated unsuccessful attempts (especially in male cats — this is life-threatening)
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
- Suspected ingestion of toxins (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, antifreeze, rodenticides, lilies for cats)
- Trauma — hit by car, fall, animal attack, deep wounds, suspected fractures
- Sudden weakness, paralysis, or inability to stand
- Eye injuries or sudden blindness
- Difficulty whelping or queening
- Unproductive retching (could indicate gastric dilatation-volvulus / "bloat")
- Heatstroke — heavy panting, drooling, collapse, especially after time outdoors
