Established clients call our 24/7 emergency line at (217) 543-3533
Your pet's health and your peace of mind are what drive us every day. Thank you for being part of the AVC community.
When you call our office after hours, please leave your name, number, and a detailed message regarding your pet. Our on call doctor will return your call shortly after receiving the message.
Over the past several years, we've all witnessed significant changes in how veterinary care is delivered- changes that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to affect access today. Many general practices in our area have had to scale back or eliminate after-hours and emergency services due to ongoing challenges like staffing shortages, increased demand, and operational pressures. Others now limit emergency availability to early evenings only.
The dedicated emergency clinics that remain often face overwhelming caseloads. This can lead to long wait times, higher costs that make care prohibitive for some families, and situations where pets receive initial stabilization but are then transferred back to their regular veterinarian the next morning with minimal ongoing treatment or monitoring.
We understand how stressful and heartbreaking it can be when your pet needs urgent care outside regular business hours- whether it's a sudden illness, injury, or complication that can't wait. That's why Arthur Veterinary Clinic remains committed to providing 24-hour emergency services for our established clients.
This means:
- Your pet can receive seamless, continuous care from a team that already knows their medical history, personality, and your family's preferences
- No need to navigate unfamiliar facilities or explain details repeatedly during a crisis
- Peace of mind knowing help is available around the clock, without the uncertainty of limited hours or transfers
We offer this service not to every pet in the area, but specifically to our established clients as part of the trusted, long-term relationship we build through wellness visits, preventative care, and routine treatments. This allows us to maintain high standards of care while managing resources responsibly.
Our team receives frequent calls- often daily- from pet owners who are not current clients seeking emergency help in urgent situations. We feel a deep obligation to assist every animal in need, and it pains us when we must turn away cases. However, to continue delivering the consistent, high-quality care our clients rely on, we simply cannot respond to or accept all requests from non-clients. Providing comprehensive 24/7 emergency services to the entire central Illinois region would overwhelm our resources and compromise the level of attention every patient deserves.
When choosing a primary veterinarian for your pet's ongoing needs, we encourage you to consider how after-hours and emergency access fits into your overall plan. A clinic that provides or coordinates reliable emergency support can make a real difference in those unexpected moments that matter most.
If you're already part of our AVC family, thank you for your trust- we're here for you 24/7 when it counts. If you're exploring options for your pet's regular care and value this level of availability, we'd be honored to welcome you. Please reach out to schedule a visit or discuss how was can support you and your beloved companion.
Emergency Service