Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
If your pet is having an emergency, we understand you'll likely have many questions. We work hard at Emergency Veterinary Services of Lisle to provide you with answers and your pet with critical care. Sometimes, you may have so many questions that you don't know where to start. Please reference our most frequently asked questions for more information.
If your pet is experiencing any of the following conditions then they should be seen right away:
Any sort of trauma - This includes being hit by a vehicle, animal bites, burns, puncture wounds, bleeding and falling from heights. Even if your pet seems to be fine there can be an internal injury that would not be observable immediately after the trauma, and your pet should be examined by a veterinarian right away.
Neurologic abnormalities - Signs include seizure, collapse, unconsciousness, disorientation, trouble walking, looking like they are “drunk”, circling, and weakness.
Pain - Animals will often try to hide pain and so the signs of pain are not always obvious. Signs of pain in animals include limping, crying, reluctance to move, shaking, excessive panting, sensitivity to touch, trouble getting comfortable, restlessness, reluctance to jump on/off furniture or to do stairs.
Ingestion of inappropriate substances - Visit us immediately if your pet has ingested any human medications or any medication that is not prescribed for them. Pet toxins that require immediate attention include chocolate, grapes, raisins, garlic, onions, rodent bait, or any other household toxin.
Straining to urinate/defecate or blood in urine/stool - There are a large number of underlying issues that can cause these signs. Cats are especially prone to having a blockage of their urethra which prevents them from urinating. This is a severe life-threatening emergency that needs to be treated immediately.
Abdomen that appears bloated or distended - This can also indicate a severe life-threatening emergency such as stomach bloat or internal bleeding which needs to be treated immediately.
Breathing problems - Signs include coughing, choking, open mouth breathing, breathing with head and neck extended, increased effort to breathe, pale or gray gums.
Prolonged labor - If your pet has been in labor for greater than 60 minutes without delivering a baby, or if there is a baby in the birth canal for more than a few minutes without advancing then an emergency C-section may be necessary. Your pet should be seen immediately in this instance to save the babies and your pet.
Allergic reaction - Signs include Hives, swelling, itching, redness of the skin.
Eye problems - If your pet's eyes are squinting, cloudy, red, or have discharge, they should see us immediately.
This list is not complete. Remember that less obvious emergencies are not less important. If there is anything that you have a concern about, please call us right away. We can help you determine if your pet should be seen right away.
Because we are an emergency/urgent care facility, you do not need an appointment to be seen and we do not take appointments. We do highly recommend calling us at (630) 960-2900 before bringing your pet in so we can be expecting you.
We realize that most emergency situations do not leave much time for planning. If possible, it is very helpful to bring the following: any medications that your pet is taking, recent vet records, and any other medical information for your pet (blood work, x-rays, etc.)
We provide after-hours emergency and urgent care for dogs and cats. As such we do not provide routine wellness exams, vaccinations, or non-urgent surgeries such as spays and neuters. We also do not have access to your regular veterinarian's records. After your visit though, we work with your regular veterinarian to ensure that they receive all information pertaining to your pet's visit with us.
We see patients based upon a triage system. This means that your pet will have a quick evaluation with a technician upon their arrival. Animals with severe life-threatening problems are seen before pets with less severe issues. While we are unable to provide an exact idea of how long it will take to see your pet, we make every effort possible to see patients quickly. This enables us to work on figuring out what is going on to provide relief for your pet as soon as we reasonably can.
Chocolate can be very dangerous for animals. The level of danger depends upon the type and amount of chocolate ingested. Grapes/raisins, onions, and garlic can also be very toxic. If your pet has ingested any of these foods, please call us to discuss whether the amount they ate could cause a problem.
Many human medications which are very safe for us are actually extremely toxic and dangerous for our pets. We do not recommend giving any human medications without first having your pet seen by a veterinarian. Then, you're able to discuss what medications may be safe for your pet and at which dose.
Please call us immediately for advice. The sooner we address the possibility that your pet has ingested a toxin, the better the chances of avoiding problems. We will let you know if there is cause for concern and what needs to be done. Sometimes we ask you to contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline to determine what treatment your pet needs.
As soon as you realize your pet has been sprayed, confine them to one area to prevent them from dragging the smell throughout your home. The spray from the skunk can be very irritating to pets but fortunately is not dangerous. Often times pets will be sprayed in the face which will cause red watery eyes and drooling. Rinse your pet's eyes with eye wash solution (can be found at your local pharmacy) and their mouth with water to help dilute the bitter taste of the spray. Though we're unable to provide bathing services at our hospital, your pet can be bathed with either a commercial skunk shampoo or rinse, or you may use a homemade skunk shampoo. We carry Skunk Off for purchase at our facility or you can find a skunk shampoo recipe here.
If you find a stray animal, please contact your county animal control department or the non-emergency number for your local police. If you bring the animal into our facility, we are able to scan for a microchip to see if their owner can be found. Unfortunately, we are unable to take in or keep any stray animals.
We do require full payment at the time services are provided. We accept Care Credit which is a credit card for medical services. Care Credit allows you to spread the cost of services out over several payments. To apply or read more information, visit carecredit.com. We also accept all other major credit cards and cash.