FAQs

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 (844) 771-7901 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.

See What Makes Us Different

Small dog being held by emergency vet

Quality Compassionate Care

It’s our mission. Our compassionate oriented ethos allows us to truly do what is best for you and your pet and doesn’t require us to only present one treatment option when more than one is available.

Welcoming Critical and Non Critical Cases

We are able to handle the most serious emergencies but we also welcome less serious concerns. We understand that when your pet is not feeling well you want to provide treatment and relief as soon as possible.

STAY UP TO DATE

Read Our Blog

Real Stories from Real Owners

Great
3.9
Based on 254 reviews
review us on
This is a long overdue review of my experience with the amazing veterinary staff here. In September, my cat Luna experienced a medical emergency resulting in a need to have to make the decision to put her to sleep. She had been experiencing some health issues for a few months prior that were being managed by her regular vet when the situation turned dire one morning and a rush to the emergency vet had to be made. Our regular vet at Elmhurst Animal Care Center called ahead to let the staff here know of the situation. They welcomed my husband and our cat Luna, with open, compassionate arms. They waited until I could arrive from work in Chicago before any decisions were made. We never felt rushed or like a burden. The vet on staff that day, Dr. Heather, went over all of the information as many times as we needed to process. The tech that day, Jenny, sat with us and comforted us while we made the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make. They were compassionate and we could feel that they were loving, caring people. I think we all cried on the floor that day. The euthanasia procedure was explained clearly and Dr. Heather was kind and gentle with Luna and with us. We were allowed all the time we needed. They offered cremation and memorial packages. It’s hard to grasp after such a difficult day but it’s so appreciated. Jenny explained this all so well and she was great comfort to us during this very difficult time. An emergency euthanasia is HARD and emotional but the grace, class, care and empathy of the staff here is exactly what you need on a day like that. Thank you all, truly.
Dr. Smith and her team were awesome! Everyone was so friendly. Super professional and attentive. There was no wait and my doggie got taken care of with gentleness. Everything was explained in detail and they made sure I knew that they would be available if I had any other concerns or questions.
Love is an action. Love is patient, kind, humble, gentle, selfless, understanding, truthful, never giving up, never losing faith, always hopeful, & enduring in all circumstances. The women at EVS demonstrated true love through their actions. Not only were they professional and highly knowledgeable, but they were also caring & compassionate. People can be taught textbook things, but they can’t be taught integrity and care. I am very thankful to have met such a group of strong, professional, and caring women who took amazing care of my little dog, Animal. They saved his life. You all were a true blessing to us both.Animal, my 15-year-old Morkie, was transferred to EVS due to dangerously high kidney levels/ renal values.The wonderful staff I met:Brook - What a wonderful and lasting first impression I had of EVS from Brook! She welcomed me at the door with warmth & compassion. She was approachable & kind; she was easy to talk to about hard things. I felt comfortable opening up to her & asking about awkward financial things. She answered my hard questions with grace & understanding. She was sensitive to my situation; professional but personable. It's clear Brook has a high emotional IQ. She's a genuine person who simply cares & is generous too.• Dr. Amy Smith - I felt in good hands right away with Dr. Amy. Professional, sweet, smart, & knowledgeable. Above all, I admired her patience with me and her ability to plainly explain technical things, while also being sensitive. She never displayed one hint of irritation with all my questions & fumbling over my words. A true model of patience. Also, the notes Dr. Amy took were so thorough & detailed. What care & integrity, from the medical side to the bedside!• Abby - What an asset to the team! I needed Abby’s positivity, confidence, & encouragement. I called several times, and Abby was so encouraging each time, even though the situation looked bleak to me. She encouraged me not to lose hope, & I needed those words of comfort & courage! Abby made me feel heard & understood. I was able to go back to sleep soundly after talking to Abby at 3am. Abby was also one of the main technicians who closely watched over Animal and took excellent care of him.• Dr. Heather Hlad - With all her technical knowledge and expertise, Dr. Heather still spoke to me like a true friend. She was very down to earth. Heather shared her expertise & words of wisdom with me, & she was also supportive in whatever I decided to do. What a gift Heather has; to be able to talk to you both as a professional and as a real friend in a time of distress. The level of energy Heather gave to me (especially in the middle of her busy shift), was something I’ve never experienced before from a doctor. Heather truly cared, not only for Animal but for me. I admired her confidence too. Also, Heather’s notes were as thorough as Dr. Amy’s. Very professional.• Jeni / Jenni & Miranda – Wonderful interactions with Jeni & Miranda! They too gave me words of encouragement and were also very understanding. Also, the fact that they genuinely cared to see the reel I made of Animal, said a lot about them. They expressed genuine interest for someone else’s interest. That’s rare. Most people would pretend to watch and care, but not Jeni, Miranda, (Abby and Dr Amy too). Sincerity is always felt. They truly wanted to see what I wanted to share. That small act of kindness said a lot; another thing that reassured me that my dog was in the right place.• Dr Graves was also professional & warm-hearted. Thank you Dr Graves for your expertise and care for Animal!I felt like all these women were my girlfriends. Whoever has these women as friends or sisters in everyday life, you are blessed. Thank you again, for saving Animal’s life and for being a good friend to me for those 48 hours. I'll never forget my experience at EVS with you all. Praise the Lord that He gave me more precious time with Animal through this amazing team of kind-hearted women! God bless you all!Love,Jenna & Animal1 Corinthians 13:4-7 • John 14:16 • Acts 4:12
I brought my cat here seeking treatment for a severe heating pad burn that he sustained during a dental procedure with his primary vet. We came two nights in a row to receive wound care. Dr. Jessica Graves was a very kind, competent advocate who finally got my cat what he needed. Dr. Amy Smith was very sweet and compassionate. No one has fun at the vet ER but we were treated very well here. Most importantly, my cat is finally starting to get better.
js_loader

Hours & Location

Weeknights
M – F :
6:00pm – 8:00am
Weekends
Saturday
: Noon – 8:00am Monday
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Holidays: Open 24 hours

Give Us a Call or Stop In