Emergency Veterinary Care in Nashville

After-Hours Vet Emergency Care

Find a local 24-hour emergency clinic nearest you.

Steps to Take In A Pet Emergency

If you are experiencing a veterinary emergency, follow the steps below.

• Call Ahead If Possible - During regular business hours call us right away. After hours, call one of the emergency animal hospitals listed above to let them know you are on the way.
• Follow Instructions Provided - When you call to let the emergency pet hospital know you are on your way, instructions may be provided to help you apply first aid or otherwise make your pet as comfortable. Follow these instructions carefully.
• Remain Calm - Remain calm and be extra careful around your pet. When an animal is in pain they often react negatively towards anyone trying to help and could bite or scratch.
• Bring Your Pet In For Care - Do not put yourself at risk! Safely bring your pet to our Nashville veterinary clinic or one of the after-hours emergency vet locations above.

Emergency FAQs

Read through our most frequently asked questions below to learn more about bringing your pet in for an emergency appointment at Belle Forest Animal Hospital. 

• Do I need to call ahead?

  Belle Forest Animal Hospital provides emergency and urgent veterinary care for cats, dogs, and exotic pets during our regular clinic hours. It's always best to contact us in advance if you can, but we understand that in emergency situations that's not always possible. 

  If we are unable to fit your pet into our schedule, we recommend that you visit one of the after-hours emergency vet locations shown above. 

• When is your clinic open?

  Our veterinarians see emergency cases during our regular business hours:

  • Monday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Tuesday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Wednesday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Thursday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Friday:07:00 am - 06:00 pm
  • Saturday:08:00 am - 01:00 pm
  • Sunday:Closed

   

• What situations require emergency veterinary care?

  The following situations are examples of emergencies that require immediate care:

  • Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Choking, difficulty breathing, or continuous coughing/gagging
  • Fractured bones or severe lameness
  • Seizures and/or staggering
  • Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, or blood in the urine
  • Inability to urinate or pass feces, or pain associated with urinating or passing feces
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea; 2+ episodes in 24-hours
  • Injuries to the eye(s)
  • Your pet has ingested something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
  • Unconsciousness
• How long will we have to wait to see the vet?

  Our Nashville animal hospital is just like a human doctor's office—it can be unpredictable, and you may have to wait. 

  We cannot predict what cases we will see and when they will arrive. If possible, call ahead to find out whether we are able to provide emergency care for your dog, cat, or exotic pet.

  If we are unable to fit an emergency appointment into our vet's schedule, we recommend that you visit one of the animal emergency hospitals listed above. 

• What happens if my pet needs to stay in the hospital?

  Some veterinary emergencies require intensive overnight care. At Belle Forest Animal Hospital we refer cases needing overnight care to local veterinary emergency hospitals.

• What types of animals do you treat?

  Our emergency veterinarians are experienced with cats, dogs, and exotic pets such as birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.