(206) 580-4640

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22014 7th Ave S, Suite 100

Des Moines, WA 98198

Mon - Sat: 8am-6pm

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URGENT PET CARE
AND HOSPITALIZATION

close up smiley man holding dog paw
As much as you love your pets, you can't always keep them completely out of the way of danger.
Sometimes, your dog or cat can start exhibiting unusual symptoms without any obvious causes. In these cases, you don’t need to be told that you need urgent pet care.

At Saltwater Animal Hospital, we want to help you scale through these situations, ensuring the safety and well-being of your pets. However, it is essential to note that we are not an ER hospital.

Our vets can provide stabilization and urgent care in certain situations. But, there are cases we will need to transfer to an ER facility or send your pet to one directly. We understand how scary it can be when your pet is having an emergency. Call us before you bring your dogs or cats so our helpful staff we can guide you correctly.
As much as you love your pets, you can't always keep them completely out of the way of danger.
At Orting Hospital, we believe in providing comprehensive care for all your pets. In some cases, we can provide pet hospitalization care during our business hours. Our team will work together to ensure your pet is comfortable and starts feeling better in no time.

However, we are NOT an emergency facility. Some emergencies require advanced equipment or prolonged hospitalization. In those cases, we can get your pet stabilized for transport to the closest ER facility for continued care.

We understand how scary it can be when your pet is having an emergency. Call us before you bring your dogs or cats so our helpful staff can guide you.
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When You Should Come In

In cases that are generally non-life-threatening, our vets can provide urgent care to your dogs and cats.

For urgent care cases in the green column (see the color-coded triage below), please book an appointment online (click here) or call us to make a prompt appointment for your pet. Our team of vets and clinical staff will make sure to take the best care of your pet.

For those cases where your pet may fall into the yellow column (see the color-coded triage below), these can be more urgent cases that may require immediate attention which we want to prioritize immediately. We can also provide hospitalization during our business hours for specific cases. Therefore please call us as soon as possible to discuss what is going on with your pet and get a plan in place promptly for your pet’s care.

When You Should Go to ER

In cases where your pets exhibit symptoms in the red zone (see the triage below), you should take your pet to the nearest ER immediately.

If you are unsure if the symptoms fit in the red zone or don't know where the nearest ER facility is, call us, and we will help you through the next steps.

Triaging Urgent & Emergency Cases

GREEN

FOR URGENT CARE CASES IN THE GREEN COLUMN

(see the color-coded triage below)

  • Occasional coughing
  • Hot spot, rash
  • Allergies/itchy skin
  • Fleas
  • Broken toenail – no active bleeding
  • Ear infection
  • Vomited 1-2, otherwise acting normal
  • Diarrhea, soft stool
  • Parasites (worms) noted in stool or vomit
  • Anorexia < 24 hours
  • Constipation, straining to defecate – no blood
  • Limping, but weight bearing on leg
  • Stiff/difficulty getting up/down
  • Break through seizure - previously controlled seizure disorder
  • Lethargy, more tired
  • Inappropriate vocalization
  • Urinating on inappropriate items or inappropriate places
  • Frequent urination
  • Loss of control of urination
  • Blood around rectum, no active bleeding
  • Hematochezia (blood in stool), otherwise acting normal
  • Fecal parasites
  • Ocular discharge / Runny eyes - clear
  • Squinting, pawing at eye
  • Red tissues around the eye
Please book an appointment online (click here) or call us to make a prompt appointment for your pet. Our team of vets and clinical staff will make sure to take the best care of your pet.

YELLOW

FOR THOSE CASES WHERE YOUR PET MAY FALL INTO THE YELLOW COLUMN

(see the color-coded triage below)

  • Excessive coughing
  • Breathing heavy after exercise/activity
  • Laceration, cut, wounds, abscess
  • Vaccine reaction – hives, red spots
  • Fleas + lethargic
  • Broken toenail - actively bleeding
  • Swollen ear (Aural hematoma)
  • Vomiting >2 times, or vomiting with additional clinical signs
  • Inappropriate ingestion: Marijuana, alcohol
  • Diarrhea with blood
  • Item stuck in mouth, breathing normally
  • Anorexia >24 hours
  • Possible foreign body ingestion
  • Constipation, straining to defecate – blood
  • Trauma – walking on all 4 legs, wounds
  • Decreased use of hind-leg(s)
  • Seizure – 2 in past 24 hours or first-time seizure
  • Stumbling/disoriented
  • Dazed/confused
  • Reactive to light/sound
  • Straining to urinate but producing urine
  • Bloody urine
  • Dribbling urine (not a male cat)
  • Bleeding from rectum
  • Hematochezia (blood in stool) + Additional clinical signs
  • Bleeding mass
  • Foreign material coming from rectum
  • Ocular discharge / Runny eyes – purulent or colored
  • Protruding / “Popped out” / Ruptured eye
  • Discolored eye / “Cloudy eye”
These can be more urgent cases that may require immediate attention which we want to prioritize immediately. Therefore please call us as soon as possible to discuss what is going on with your pet and get a plan in place promptly for your pet’s care.

RED

FOR EMERGENCY CASES IN THE RED COLUMN

(see the color-coded triage below)

  • Increased respiratory rate or effort, gasping, wheezing
  • Unable to catch breath
  • Pale, blue, white. Gray gum color
  • Actively choking
  • Skin discoloration – bruising, yellow (icterus/jaundice
  • Red spots (petechiae / ecchymosis) on gums
  • Penetrating chest or abdominal wound
  • Vaccine reaction – difficulty breathing
  • Vomiting, known foreign body ingestion
  • Inappropriate ingestion: Call poison control
  • Item stuck in mouth, breathing abnormally
  • Broken leg
  • Trauma – unable to walk or suspected fracture/broken leg
  • Paralysis, unable to use back or all 4 legs
  • Actively seizing
  • Cluster seizures – having seizure after seizures, >2 seizures in 24 hours
  • Unresponsive, limp, not conscious
  • No urination in >8 hours (Male cats especially!)
  • Dribbling urine – male cat
  • Penetrating wound to the rectal sphincter
  • Different sized pupils
  • Bleeding in eyeball
  • Penetrating wound to the eye
We will have to transfer your pet to the closest ER facility. You can call us once you notice the symptoms. We will give you directions and call the closest ER to give them a heads-up. The ER team you are transferred to will handle the case promptly upon your arrival.

Red triage cases can be life-threatening or require advanced or prolonged care. Often these cases need to have treatment and care started promptly so we recommend going directly to the closest ER rather than coming into our hospital. Providing the Best Care for Your Pets Always!

Care Like Family Always

Whether your pet is exhibiting symptoms in the red, yellow, or green zone, we see your pets like our family, and we treat them as such.

Never fear about your pets getting into emergencies while you stay in Des Moines and its surrounding areas. Our family of vets is always ready to help. Give us a call today!

Care Like Family Always

Whether your pet is exhibiting symptoms in the red, yellow, or green zone, we see your pets like our family, and we treat them as such.

Never fear about your pets getting into emergencies while you stay in Des Moines and its surrounding areas. Our family of vets is always ready to help. Give us a call today!

We Treat Your Pet Like Family

Orting Animal Hospital provides emergency pet care and hospitalization for dogs and cats in Orting, Tehaleh, Bonney Lake, Graham, Puyallup, and the surrounding areas.
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adorable brown and white pet dog
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22014 7th Ave S, Suite 100, Des Moines, WA 98198

Call Us

(206) 580-4640

Our Hours

Mon - Sat: 8am - 6pm

Call Us

(206) 580-4640

Our Hours

Mon - Sat: 8am - 6pm

We accept

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