Frequently Asked Questions For Clients

Must be the owner of and 18 yrs of age to make medical decisions for a pet.

Please don’t hesitate to come in if you think your pet needs emergency assistance. It is helpful to call ahead so that we may be prepared for your arrival. This will also give us the opportunity to make recommendations for first aid or safe transport if necessary.

Urgent or emergent needs include:

• Bleeding – Bleeding that does not stop or any bleeding from any part of the body, including blood in the urine or stool.
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea - Several repeated episodes in a short period, or intermittently over a period of days.
• Seizures or fainting - Violent shaking of the head or body, uncontrolled spasms, or loss of consciousness.
• Lethargy - Decreased energy and playfulness, decreased exercise tolerance.
• Pain - Limping, tense, crying when touched.
• Eye problems - Redness, squinting, rubbing eyes, discharge, a foreign object in the eye.
• Changes in appetite - Decreased or increased appetite, refusing food or water.
• Changes In urination - Urinating larger amounts, urinating frequently, straining/inability to urinate, or urinating small amounts.
• Breathing problems - Shortness of breath, extending head and neck to breathe, wheezing, choking.
• Abnormal color of gums - Gums should be pink. Gums that are dark red, white, pale, or blue need medical attention.

The following are examples of emergencies that require immediate attention but not limited to this list:

• Breathing difficulties: short or shallow breathing, gagging, choking
• Severe trauma: hit by car, falls, deep wounds
• Unconsciousness, collapse, extreme lethargy
• Painful lameness or broken limbs
• Severe vomiting/diarrhea with lethargy
• Ingestion of plant, toxin, household chemical, human medication
  • Contact Pet Poison Control

• Ingestion of foreign object
• Bloated abdomen with retching
• Inability to urinate with straining
• Pale or white gums
• Snake bites with swelling
• Heatstroke
• Refusal to eat or drink for 3+ days with abdominal pain
• Hypothermia
• Seizures (especially 2+ in 24 hours)
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Unable to stand or walk
• Illness in intact female dog (increased thirst, vomiting, lethargy)
• Euthanasia needs

Yes, walk-in emergency visits are always welcome. You never know when an emergency will arise- we are here to help!

We recommend calling ahead at 828-328-6697

We are always ready for an emergency however it is helpful to know you are coming so we can best be prepared for your pet’s medical need and arrival. 

If you need help bringing your pet inside the hospital, please call us when you arrive, and a team member can assist you.

We use a triage system to prioritize patients based on the severity of their condition. Life-threatening cases are seen first.

Critical- Priority Level 1 – Immediate Medical Attention Necessary- May survive if life saving measure are applied

• Cardiopulmonary arrest
• Severe trauma
• Severe shock
• Actively Seizing
• Respiratory distress- Difficulty breathing
• Allergic Reactions
• Dystocia (difficult birth)
• Excessive Bleeding
• Bloat- GDV (gastric dilation-volvulus)
• Heat Stroke
• Traffic Accident
• Collapse/Paralysis
• Urinary Blockage
• Anorexic puppies/kittens

Urgent- Priority Level 2 – Likely to survive if care is given within hours

• Minor bleeding
• Toxins/ Poison ingestion
• Persistent melena (dark stool)
• Pale gums
• Actively Vomiting
• Fractures
• Snake Bite
• Diarrhea
• Bowel Obstruction

Stable- Priority Level 3 – Non-life threatening conditions

• Chronic Diseases
• Skin Condition/Abscess
• Lameness
• Sore Eyes/Ears
• Minor Wounds
• Urinary Tract Infection

Note: 

*Triage level is determined by our emergency support team based on your pet's condition and will be determined actual priority level. If their condition changes after initial presentation, please notify us immediately.

*If concern for contagious patients (ex: Parvo, Upper Respiratory Infections) you may be given special instructions on where to wait. In respect of other patients here for medical care- If you have a pet that is under 1 yr of age and is showing symptoms of coughing or diarrhea please call hospital prior to entering the hospital so that we can advise you on direction to remain in vehicle or safe to enter. This is to eliminate any unnecessary exposure.  

Wait times vary depending on our patient caseload and their medical needs. 

While we strive to see everyone promptly, critical cases are always prioritized.  

Stable patients may experience a longer wait.  

Just like in a human emergency room there can be long wait times and we ask that you please practice patience and respect towards our emergency team as they assist all patients and clients. 

Please note that we are an active emergency hospital and there may be patient procedures and hospitalized patients medical care that can also take priority for our team which may cause for some additional wait time.

We recognize that emergencies can be stressful and the wait is difficult.

To help make your stay with us more comfortable we have complimentary water, coffee and tea.  We also have snack and drink vending machines available.

FREE WIFI and phone charging station

For the kids, we have coloring books for children to help the time pass by. 

There are several dining options nearby depending on the hour of day while patients are receiving medical care.

We are always staffed with an emergency veterinarian and support team, our facility has state-of-the-art equipment such as in house laboratory, digital imaging including FAST scan and radiology that allows for prompt diagnosis and treatment for your pet.

So, if your neighborhood veterinarian’s office is closed and you have an emergency with your pet, Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency is always open and staffed for pet emergencies. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we are equipped to help with walk-ins and immediate transfers.

When you arrive, our client service representative will greet you and start the intake process- which includes you and your pet’s information.

During the intake process, a member of the emergency team, veterinary technician or assistant will be called to triage your pet upon presentation for triage assessment.

This triage assessment will determine status of your pet’s condition and urgency of medical attention in that moment into 3 categories (1=Critical, 2=Urgent, 3=Stable).

• If your pet is categorized as Critical or Urgent is it considered unstable, a veterinary technician or assistant will quickly assess and take your pet to a doctor for further evaluation in the ICU.  If your pet is considered critical our team will quickly work with it to attempt life saving measures and you will then be escorted to an exam room for the doctor to come and talk with you when they feel it is ok to step away from your pet.
• If your pet is stable, you and your pet will wait in the reception area until a doctor is available, then be brought to an exam room. (If your pet is bleeding or causing commotion in the reception area it will be brought to the ICU to keep contained until time for exam.)

Yes. A doctor will have a detailed conversation each day with a designated family member to update you on your pet's condition, test results, and treatment plan. We will contact you immediately with any significant changes.

Yes, we encourage visitation. 

Please ask our medical team working with your pet to schedule visitation in advance- if allowed please know that since we are an emergency hospital there may be a wait time even with scheduled visitation arranged due to critical patient medical needs from our team. 

We accept Care Credit and Scratch Pay as forms of extended month payment plans.

Easy way to find out approval for financial aid through website

We offer multiple options for repayment to Care Credit depending on amount processed
6 and 12 month deferred interest
24, 36, 48 mos with accrued interest

We accept direct payment for Trupanion Insurance Policy Holders and can provide you with letter to provide to other insurance carriers to have payments sent directly to our hospital.

We accept all major credit cards, cash and check.

We require initial payment for examination consult fee upon arrival prior to examination.  An adult must stay on hospital property while waiting for initial consult

Recommended treatment plans and length of hospitalization will be shared by the doctor to you and an estimate for this recommended medical care expense will be shared by a member of our emergency team for your approval.  Initial payment is required at 100% of the low end of the treatment plan estimate to begin treatment.  Remainder of balance is due at the time of pet discharge.

Any changes to the treatment plan or length of hospitalization stay and expenses associated with these additions will be communicated with you and approved by you before we move forward with additional medical care.

Please note that due to medical necessity there is subject to change due to the nature of the illness or injuries your pet has been diagnosed with.

We treat primarily felines and canines however we can make recommendations of where to seek medical care for other species.

Wildlife animals such as squirrels, hawks, eagles, birds, fox, raccoon, deer should be treated as wild and special safety and care should be considered for handling.  We can make recommendations by phone of who to contact near you but we can not treat these animals.

Exotic animals such as birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, goats and reptiles are different species and sometimes require special care, handling and medications that we do not supply.  These animals should seek medical attention from a Veterinarian that practices with these pets regularly.

We can provide humane euthanasia if necessary however that is up to the Veterinarian discretion.

For best patient care and recovery, please note that your pet will NOT be able to remain hospitalized more than 24 hrs in the Emergency department- this is for best patient care and recovery.

Your pet will be discharged from the emergency department by 1 of 3 options:

1. Discharged to go home for rest and recovery
2. Discharged to go family veterinarian for further medical care
3. Transferred to CASE Specialty Services for further medical care