Emergency Vets in Rapid City, SD
Are you looking for an emergency veterinarian in Rapid City South Dakota? Emergencies can happen at all times of the day.
Our pets can get sick or hurt to the point that our regular veterinarian cannot care for them. In some cases you will need to find an emergency vet or animal hospital near you.
If you do not know of an ER Vet near you, your local veterinarian can help guide you. If your pet is experiencing an emergency, then time is of the essence.
You need to get them seen as quickly as possible. For that reason we have listed contact details, including directions to your closest emergency vet or animal hospital.
Emergency Veterinary Hospital
Number: 605-721-0789
Address: 1655 S Valley Dr, Rapid City, SD 57703
Website: animalclinicrc.com
Description: The Emergency Veterinary Hospital is here to serve your critical care needs after hours, on weekends, and holidays. We are equipped with a state of the art treatment facility that includes an intensive care unit and runs with heated floors. You can rest easy knowing your pet is in good hands.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Tuesday – Friday: 7:00 am – 5:30 pm
- Saturday: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Sunday: Closed
Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic
Number: 605-342-7498
Address: 1571 E, 2218, SD-44, Rapid City, SD 57703
Website: dakotahillsveterinary.com
Description: we offer 24 hour patient care services. In addition to being open 7 days a week, our registered veterinary technicians provide round-the-clock care should your companion require hospitalization.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 am – 5:30 pm
Noah’s Ark Animal Hospital, LLC
Number: 605-343-3225
Address: 1315 Mt Rushmore Rd, Rapid City, SD 57701
Website: noahsarkhospital.com
Description: Noah’s Ark Animal Hospital offers the Rapid City animal community routine medical services in addition to surgical and dental veterinary care. Because we have an in-house pharmacy, lab and digital radiology, our facility enables you to make one stop for your pet’s medical care.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Sunday: Closed
Should You Go To An Emergency Veterinarian In Rapid City South Dakota?
If you do not know if your pet is injured or sick enough to see an emergency vet, you can always give your regular veterinary a quick call. They are best equipped to give you advice on where you need to go.
Some local vet practices have on-call staff for emergency care, while other vet clinics might refer you to another animal hospital in the area.
Keep in mind that emergency vets or animal hospitals might be located in a nearby city. Not all locations have emergency care readily available. For that reason be prepared to drive a distance to get the help your pet might need.
If your pet is experiencing an emergency, time is of the essence. If your local veterinarian is not open, then your best option is to find the closest Emergency Vet Clinic or Animal Hospital near Rapid City.
In all cases, you will want to give that clinic a call to let them know the situation of your pet and why you are bringing them in. They can help triage your pet over the phone to determine how urgent your pet needs to be seen.
Some emergency vets will still have a wait, kind of like a walk-in urgent care clinic. They will always take the most urgent or sickest pets first so be prepared to possibly wait when you arrive.
Here are some common signs of a pet emergency:
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe injury, broken bone, broken knee
- Severe diarrhea
- Limping or indication of pain, which could mean broken bones
- Trauma, hit by vehicle
- Inability to urinate, could be a sign of a blockage which is an emergency
- Severe seizures
- Severe vomiting
Keep in mind that our pets sometimes hide their pain until it’s unbearable for them. They could have been injured days ago by something you know nothing about.
If your pet is experiencing any of the symptoms above then its best to contact an emergency vet in Rapid City SD right away.
What To Expect At A Rapid City Emergency Animal Hospital
When you arrive at the emergency vet clinic in Rapid City, a specialist will conduct a full physical examination of your pet. This may include their breathing rate, heart rate, temperature as well as bloodwork, and a physical exam if they are injured.
Additionally they will evaluate your pet’s gum color, mental state, their ability to walk (if uninjured), skin, abdomen and possibly a chest evaluation.
If your pet is injured then expect X-rays to be done as well as further evaluations of possible broken bones, cracked ribs and signs of pain or bleeding.
If your pet comes to an emergency vet because they are sick or maybe ate something they should not have, then expect bloodwork and urine and fecal samples to be taken.
Your veterinarian will need to know details of what happened, what they ate, when they ate it so that they can properly care for your pet. The more details you can provide the faster your emergency vet can provide the care your pet needs.
What Does An Emergency Vet Visit In Rapid City Cost?
The cost of an emergency vet in Rapid City will depend on the type of treatment your pet needs. For example, an overnight stay at an animal hospital can really run up your bill.
The average treatment on minor emergency care can be between $1,000 – $3,000 per visit. If you have a dog that blew out its knee, the cost of surgery alone can run as high as $5,000.
A blocked cat can be between $3,000 – $7,000 for surgery and after care.
The cost of your vet visit will depend on the reason for your visit and the length of that visit. If you have a dog for example that was hit by a car, your emergency veterinarian will most likely have them stay a few days and nights to be monitored. The constant care to save their life is what causes the price to increase.
For more severe problems, additional specialist may be needed or called in from other emergency vets near Rapid City.
Diagnostics, x-rays, IV fluids, medications and monitoring equipment, all add to the cost of caring for your pet while they are at an animal hospital.
Some pet insurance will cover the cost of an emergency vet visit, but for those without pet insurance there are other payment options available.
You will want to speak to your vet about what options you have, because most will require full payment before you are able to leave.
If you cannot qualify for a payment option, then your only other option is to pay up front. For that reason many pet owners put money aside for “in-case-of-emergency” situations and they save what they can, kind of like a regular health savings account.