What to Expect

Arrival

No appointment is necessary to bring your pet to Hershey Animal Emergency Center. We see patients only on a walk-in basis.

If you called us prior to arrival, this will expedite the check in process. If you were unable to call, don’t stress, when you arrive we will ask for information to start a medical record for your pet. It is helpful to bring any medications your pet is currently taking as well as any medical documents you may have. Following the check in process, a veterinary technician will direct you into our triage room where your pet will be assessed to determine if they are stable and how serious their condition is. If your pet is deemed critically ill, we will ask for permission and financial authorization to take the patient into our treatment ward for further assessment, diagnostics and to potentially start immediate medical care. If your pet is stable you will be directed to the waiting room where you will be seen in the order of arrival and urgency.

Triage Assessment 

The triage assessment is meant to prioritize the severity of your pet’s illness at the time of arrival. Pets are seen in order of stability – those with life threatening emergencies will be seen first.

Depending on the number of pets in our care at a given time,  there may be significant delays for stable emergencies or recommendations to seek care with your primary veterinarian for non-emergent conditions. As pet owners ourselves, we understand you are worried about your pet.  Please be assured if your pet is in the treatment room with our doctors and staff, they are being monitored and kept comfortable throughout this wait time. We strive to have open lines of communication and will keep you informed at all times. Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you have concerns. 

Going Home

Once your pet has been assessed by a veterinarian, they will discuss the plan best suited for your pet. For those patients who are considered “outpatient” or owners that elect to treat at home after the emergency visit, you will receive discharge instructions. A nurse will go over these discharges, any medications given or being sent home, and answer any questions you may have. All payment will be due at time of discharge.

If you have any additional questions prior to leaving, please feel free to ask our doctors and nursing staff. We want you to feel comfortable and confident with the plan for your pet. You can expect records of your visit, including all testing and treatments performed, to be emailed to you and your primary care veterinarian in a timely manner.

If your pet requires hospitalization, the veterinarian will discuss the treatment plan including the recommended duration of hospitalization and when you should expect an update. Following discussion with the veterinarian, a nurse will come in to discuss estimated costs, resuscitation status, and best contact information. We will call if your pet experiences an issue or there are any medical concerns - day or night. We kindly ask that you keep your phones close by, remove the do not disturb, and leave the ring on. You are welcome to call for updates at any time. If there are particular times you are unavailable, please inform the nurse during the admission process. 

Our veterinarians round (discuss all pets in the hospital) between 7am-8am and 7pm-8pm.  This time is vital to allow our doctors to communicate with each other and provide safe and thorough care to your pet.  Please understand that during these times they will be unavailable for updates.  

Payment 

While we do not offer in-hospital payment plans, we do accept Care Credit, Scratch Pay, All Pet Card, all major credit cards and cash. At this time, we DO NOT accept personal checks.

Payment is required in full at time of discharge. If you have questions regarding payment options, we will be happy to discuss and provide further information. 

Links to CareCredit, Scratchpay and All Pet Card are located under the Patient Center tab on our Homepage.