Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee: 24-Hour Pet Care in Florence
What Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee offers
Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee is a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic in Florence that treats sick and injured pets when your regular veterinarian is closed. The hospital handles acute injuries, poisonings, difficulty breathing, seizures, severe vomiting or diarrhea, and other conditions that cannot wait until morning. They work with dogs, cats, and some exotic pets, and they have on-site diagnostic equipment including X-ray, ultrasound, and laboratory services.
The hospital operates every day of the year, including nights, weekends, and holidays. You do not need an appointment—you walk in or call ahead to let them know you are coming. If your pet's condition is life-threatening, staff will see them immediately; less urgent cases may have a wait depending on how busy the clinic is that night.
Key Takeaways
- Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and accepts walk-in patients without an appointment.
- The hospital is located in Florence and handles acute injuries, poisonings, difficulty breathing, seizures, and other urgent conditions that cannot wait for regular veterinary hours.
- Calling ahead before you arrive lets the staff prepare and gives you an idea of current wait times.
- The hospital has diagnostic tools on-site, including X-ray and ultrasound, so many conditions can be evaluated and treated the same night.
- You will need to bring your pet's medical records if you have them, and be prepared to discuss what happened and when symptoms started.
When to take your pet to an emergency hospital
Not every veterinary problem requires an emergency visit. If your pet is eating normally, acting alert, and has mild symptoms like a small cut or minor vomiting once, your regular veterinarian can usually see them the next business day. But if your pet is not breathing normally, has been hit by a car, is bleeding heavily, cannot stand or walk, is having seizures, has eaten something toxic, or is in obvious pain, an emergency hospital is the right choice.
Difficulty urinating or defecating, pale gums, extreme lethargy, or repeated vomiting and diarrhea are also signs that warrant an emergency visit. When in doubt, call Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee and describe what you are seeing—the staff can tell you whether your pet needs to come in right away or whether waiting for your regular veterinarian is safe.
What to expect when you arrive
When you walk in or call ahead, staff will ask you for your pet's name, your contact information, and a brief description of what is wrong. If the hospital is busy, you may wait in the lobby while emergency cases are being treated. Bring your pet in a carrier or on a leash so they stay calm and do not run away if they are frightened or in pain.
A veterinarian will examine your pet and may recommend diagnostic tests like blood work, X-rays, or ultrasound to figure out what is happening. The vet will explain what they found and what treatment options exist. Some pets can be treated and sent home the same night; others may need to stay for observation or further care. The hospital will give you a cost estimate before starting treatment whenever possible, though emergency situations sometimes require immediate care before a full estimate can be provided.
Cost and payment
Emergency veterinary care costs more than a regular office visit because the hospital operates 24 hours a day and has staff, equipment, and facilities available at all times. The exact cost depends on what your pet needs—an examination and basic bloodwork will cost less than surgery or overnight hospitalization. The hospital accepts cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
If cost is a concern, talk to the staff about what is medically necessary versus what is optional. Some conditions require immediate treatment to save your pet's life; others can be managed with less expensive options. The veterinarian can help you understand the trade-offs. If you have pet insurance, bring your policy information so the hospital can help you understand what will be covered.
Bringing your pet's medical history
If you have your pet's medical records from your regular veterinarian, bring them or call ahead so the emergency hospital can request them. Knowing your pet's medical history—previous illnesses, current medications, allergies, or surgeries—helps the emergency veterinarian make better decisions quickly. If you do not have records available, tell the vet everything you remember about your pet's health.
Write down the timeline of what happened: when you first noticed something was wrong, what symptoms you saw, and whether anything changed since then. This information helps the veterinarian figure out what is going on and how urgently your pet needs treatment.
After your pet is treated
When your pet is ready to go home, the hospital will give you written discharge instructions that explain what happened, what treatment was given, and what to watch for over the next few days. Follow these instructions carefully, including any medications, activity restrictions, or dietary changes. If your pet gets worse or new symptoms develop, contact the emergency hospital or your regular veterinarian right away.
Schedule a follow-up appointment with your regular veterinarian within a few days so they can review what happened and make sure your pet is healing well. Your regular vet may want to do additional testing or adjust treatment based on what the emergency hospital found. Sharing the emergency hospital's records with your regular veterinarian helps them provide the best ongoing care.
How to find Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee
The hospital is located in Florence, South Carolina. You can find their phone number and exact address by searching online or calling your regular veterinarian—most vets keep a list of local emergency hospitals and can give you directions. If you are not sure whether your pet needs emergency care, call the hospital and describe the situation; the staff can advise you on whether to come in.
Keep the hospital's phone number in your phone or written down at home so you have it ready if an emergency happens at night or on a weekend. Knowing where to go before an emergency occurs means you can act quickly and get your pet help without wasting time searching for information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to call before bringing my pet in?
You do not need to call, but calling ahead is a good idea. It lets the staff know you are coming and gives you an idea of how busy they are. If your pet is having trouble breathing or is unconscious, get to the hospital as fast as you can and call from the car if possible.
What should I do if my pet ate something poisonous?
Call Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee right away and tell them what your pet ate and when. Bring the package or container with you if you have it. The vet may induce vomiting, give activated charcoal, or monitor your pet depending on what was swallowed and how much time has passed.
Can I stay with my pet during treatment?
This depends on the hospital's policy and what treatment your pet is receiving. Ask the staff when you arrive. In some cases you can stay in the room; in others, the vet may ask you to wait in the lobby so your pet stays calm and the staff can work without distraction.
What if my regular veterinarian is open but far away?
If Animal Emergency Hospital of the Pee Dee is closer and your pet is in acute distress, go there. The emergency hospital can stabilize your pet and then transfer care to your regular vet if you prefer, or your regular vet can pick up your pet's records and continue treatment the next day.
Will the emergency hospital contact my regular veterinarian?
The hospital will not contact your vet unless you ask them to. You can request that they send records to your regular veterinarian, or you can pick up copies and deliver them yourself. This helps your regular vet understand what happened and provide follow-up care.