Veterinary care
Same-Day & Emergency Vet Care in Port Coquitlam, BC
When your dog or cat needs urgent attention, Tricity Animal Hospital in Port Coquitlam is available for same-day and emergency veterinary care during our open hours. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (doctor on duty 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM), Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (doctor on duty 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM), and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM for retail and bookings. Walk-ins are welcome when availability permits. For emergencies outside our hours, please contact a 24-hour emergency veterinary facility in the Tri-Cities or Metro Vancouver area.
Breathing Difficulty
Breathing difficulty in dogs and cats is always an urgent situation. Open-mouth breathing in cats, labored breathing, blue or pale gums, and rapid shallow respirations are all signs that your pet needs immediate evaluation. These symptoms can indicate respiratory infections, heart conditions, foreign body obstruction, or other serious underlying causes. If your pet is struggling to breathe, call us at (604) 942-2225 immediately and bring them in. Oxygen support and diagnostic imaging are available on-site to help identify and address the cause.
Seizures or Collapse
Sudden collapse or seizure activity is frightening and can point to neurological, metabolic, cardiac, or toxic causes. If your pet experiences a seizure, keep them away from furniture and hard surfaces, do not place your hand near their mouth, and time the episode if possible. A seizure lasting more than two minutes, or multiple seizures in a short period, requires urgent veterinary evaluation. After the episode, call us right away. We will assess your pet, recommend appropriate diagnostics, and discuss next steps for management.
Trauma and Accident
Pets involved in accidents, including vehicle impact, falls from height, or encounters with other animals, need prompt assessment even if they appear to be walking normally. Internal injuries and soft tissue damage are not always visible from the outside. Call us on your way in so we can prepare for your arrival. Our team will evaluate your pet for shock, fractures, wounds, and internal concerns, and provide stabilization and a clear plan for follow-up care.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions can range from mild skin irritation to severe, rapidly progressing responses involving facial swelling, hives, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Bee stings, insect bites, certain foods, and environmental exposures are common triggers. If your pet develops sudden swelling around the face, persistent vomiting, or appears distressed after a potential exposure, seek care promptly. We can assess the severity of the reaction, provide supportive care, and help you identify potential triggers to avoid future episodes.
Urinary Blockage
Urinary blockage is a painful, potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt attention. It is most common in male cats but can occur in other pets. Signs include straining to urinate with little or no output, vocalizing, frequent trips to the litter box without result, and in advanced cases, lethargy and loss of appetite. If you suspect your cat or dog cannot urinate, do not wait. Contact us immediately. Urinary blockage can become fatal within hours if left unaddressed.
Pyometra and Reproductive Emergencies
Pyometra is a serious uterine infection that can develop in unspayed female dogs and cats, typically within weeks of a heat cycle. Signs include lethargy, increased thirst and urination, vomiting, and sometimes an unusual discharge. Pyometra is a surgical emergency in most cases. If your pet is unspayed and showing any of these signs, contact us right away. Prompt intervention significantly improves outcomes.
Foreign Body Removal
Pets, particularly younger dogs, frequently swallow objects that can become lodged in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. Signs of a swallowed foreign body include vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and changes in behavior. X-rays and ultrasound can help locate the obstruction and determine the safest approach for removal. In some cases, endoscopic or surgical retrieval is necessary. If you know or suspect your pet has swallowed something, contact us without delay.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke can occur in Port Coquitlam during warm weather, particularly in pets left in vehicles, confined spaces, or exercising in high temperatures. Signs include excessive panting, drooling, weakness, disorientation, and vomiting. Brachycephalic breeds, overweight pets, and elderly animals are at higher risk. If you suspect heatstroke, begin cooling your pet gently with room-temperature water on the way to the clinic, and call us immediately so we can prepare.
Limping, Lacerations, and Wound Care
Limping, cuts, bite wounds, and lacerations should be assessed promptly to reduce the risk of infection and support proper healing. Our team evaluates the injury, cleans and closes wounds as needed, and provides pain management. X-rays may be recommended to rule out fractures or joint involvement. After initial care, we provide discharge instructions and follow-up guidance to ensure your pet heals without complications.
Parvovirus Care
Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral illness affecting unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated puppies, causing severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, and dehydration. It requires intensive supportive care including fluid support, monitoring, and symptom management. If your puppy is showing these signs and is not fully vaccinated, contact us immediately. Early supportive care significantly improves the outcome. Keeping your puppy's vaccination schedule current is the most effective way to prevent parvovirus.
Oxygen Support
For pets experiencing respiratory distress, recovery from surgery, or conditions that compromise oxygen delivery, supplemental oxygen support is available at our clinic. Oxygen support helps stabilize your pet while we investigate and address the underlying cause. It is commonly used alongside other emergency assessments for pets presenting with breathing difficulty, suspected cardiac conditions, or post-operative recovery needs. Our team monitors oxygenation throughout any period of supplemental support.
Explore More Services
Situations requiring urgent same-day care include breathing difficulty, collapse, seizures, suspected poisoning, inability to urinate, severe vomiting or diarrhea, eye injuries, trauma, and any situation where your pet appears to be in serious pain or distress. When in doubt, call us and describe what you are seeing. We will help you assess next steps.
Yes. Walk-ins are welcome when availability permits. Call ahead at (604) 942-2225 so we can prepare for your arrival, especially in urgent situations. We are open seven days a week during our posted hours.
If your pet needs emergency care outside our operating hours, please contact a 24-hour emergency veterinary facility in the Metro Vancouver or Tri-Cities area. We recommend identifying your nearest after-hours emergency clinic before a crisis occurs.
A blocked cat will typically strain repeatedly in the litter box without producing urine, may vocalize while straining, and may groom their lower belly excessively. In later stages, they may become lethargic and stop eating. This is a life-threatening emergency. Call us immediately if you observe these signs.
If your pet needs same-day or emergency care in Port Coquitlam, call Tricity Animal Hospital at (604) 942-2225. We are open seven days a week and will see your pet as soon as possible. For after-hours emergencies, please contact a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic.