Why are Veterinary ER Wait Times So Long?

Why are Veterinary ER Wait Times So Long?

     If your pet has ever had an emergency situation after hours or on a weekend, chances are, you’ve had to visit a veterinary emergency room.  If your pet was severely ill, perhaps he or she was seen immediately.  But, just like a human ER, a triage system is in place. If a pet is ill but not emergent, you may experience a long wait time before your pet is seen.

     What happens when I take my pet to an ER?  Just like a human emergency room, pets are triaged and seen according to severity or urgency of their condition. Pets will be assessed as critical, urgent, or stable and seen accordingly. For instance, 2 people arrive to an ER at the same time—one person has a dog who is struggling to breathe and gasping for air.  The other has a cat who has a large abscess on her back. The dog needs immediate care and would be taken for immediate treatment. The cat’s injury is not life threatening and may be asked to wait until more severely ill patients are treated.

     If you have a true emergency, do not hesitate to take your pet to an ER; however, please be understanding and know that your pet will be triaged and may have to wait, possibly for many hours, to be seen if he is not critically ill. If you have to wait, or if your veterinarian refers you to the ER, it does not mean that the veterinary ER team or your regular vet do not care about you or your pet.  It is often quite the opposite. It means that everyone is working to provide the best care to your pet and to other pets whose situation may be more dire.

     If your regular veterinarian refers you to an ER, this may be because the practice is not equipped to handle your pet’s medical situation (such as a pet in respiratory distress who may need prolonged monitoring in an oxygen cage), or he may already be treating a patient with an emergency who needs all hands on deck, may be experiencing a staff shortage, or dealing with another situation in which your pet would not receive the best care for his medical condition.  Just as you would not visit your general practitioner if you were in a car accident or cut yourself, pets may need to go to an emergency room for similar reasons to receive proper care.

     While a 1-2 hour wait is typical, what has been driving excessive wait times of 8+ hours in some veterinary ERs?  Multiple factors can affect wait times at a veterinary ER—time of day, types of emergencies already in progress, and, fewer qualified emergency veterinarians and staff.  After covid, many veterinarians retired or left veterinary practice leaving a bit of a void.  Veterinary students must be trained and licensed before entering veterinary practice so there is a lag time as new vets are graduating.  As you may imagine, emergency work is stressful and difficult so it takes a special commitment to work in a veterinary ER.  All of these things may affect ER wait times.

     What can I do to reduce my wait time? 

First, have a regular veterinarian for your pets.  Using the ER as a sole point of care for your pet is not advised.  If your pet receives regular veterinary care, illnesses are more likely to be caught and managed early and your primary vet may be able to triage or provide advice on whether or not your pet needs to go to the ER or can wait for a regular appointment and may even provide home care options or medications to get your pet through a crisis.

Avoid busy times.  Certain times of day may have higher patient volumes and longer wait times. If your pet has a true emergency, go to the ER no matter the time.  But, if it is something less urgent, consider avoiding peak times such as between 5-7 PM and on weekends.

Avoid using an ER for non-emergencies.  Of course, if you are unsure, go to the ER.  But, if your pet has an ear infection or is limping, yes, he or she may be uncomfortable, but you may be able to contact your vet for advice and schedule a regular veterinary appointment, obtain advice via telemedicine or try an urgent care facility instead of an ER if one is available.

     In short, never hesitate to visit an ER with your pet if he has a potentially life-threatening problem, but, understand the triage protocol and ER flow and be patient with the process and flexible throughout the experience if you have to wait. 

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://pescm.com/blog/5-tips-to-beat-er-wait-times/

https://bluepearlvet.com/pet-blog/triage-emergency-vet/

https://info.instinct.vet/state-of-er-specialty-veterinary-care-2024