When your dog or cat faces a sudden health crisis during business hours, Pawtown Veterinary Care provides emergency and critical care right here in Bend. We prioritize urgent cases Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm, so Central Oregon pet owners have direct access to compassionate emergency veterinary care without the uncertainty of an unfamiliar large-volume facility.
Dr. Erin Miller and Dr. Lauren Stayer co-founded Pawtown because they believe Bend pets deserve focused, relationship-based care — including in a crisis. When your pet arrives in distress, you’re not triaged by rotating emergency staff; you’re seen by the same veterinarians who know your pet’s health history. That continuity shapes how quickly we can assess what’s wrong and how confidently we can act. For a full picture of everything we offer, visit our veterinary services page.
What Counts as a Pet Emergency?
Pet emergencies are situations where delaying care by even a few hours can cause permanent harm or death. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, certain conditions require immediate veterinary attention and should never be treated as “wait and see” situations.
Signs your dog or cat needs emergency veterinary care right away include difficulty breathing or labored panting, pale or blue gums, collapse or inability to stand, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion, seizures, severe trauma from a car accident or fall, eye injuries, and a distended abdomen with unproductive retching — a hallmark sign of bloat in dogs that requires critical care within the hour.
Urgent situations are different: minor cuts, mild vomiting without other symptoms, or mild lameness can often be monitored and seen same-day. Our urgent care team can help you assess over the phone whether your pet needs to come in immediately or can safely wait for a same-day appointment. When in doubt, call us at 541-313-3607 — we will help you decide quickly.
Emergency and Critical Care Services at Pawtown
During business hours, Pawtown is fully equipped to handle most emergency and critical care situations affecting dogs and cats. Our clinic maintains IV fluids, oxygen therapy, and medications for immediate stabilization. We perform in-house diagnostics including blood panels and digital x-rays so we can assess your pet’s condition quickly without sending samples offsite and waiting for results.
When surgery is needed without delay — for bloat, foreign body removal, lacerations, or trauma repair — our surgical suite is ready. Pain management is built into every emergency and critical care protocol we follow. We stock a range of medications to keep your pet as comfortable as possible throughout treatment, and IV catheters are placed on all dogs and cats receiving emergency care to maintain access and support blood pressure under anesthesia.
For cases requiring overnight monitoring or specialty services beyond what we can provide in-house, we stabilize your pet first — starting fluids, administering pain medication, and performing initial wound care — before coordinating a transfer to Bend Animal Emergency and Specialty Center or the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon. Our team communicates directly with receiving facilities and sends complete medical records so your pet’s care continues without interruption.
Emergency Situations Common to Central Oregon
Living and adventuring in Bend puts pets in situations that urban practices rarely encounter. Dr. Miller and Dr. Stayer are deeply familiar with the injuries and illnesses specific to this region, and that local knowledge matters when decisions need to happen quickly.
Hiking injuries are common — trail falls, paw lacerations from sharp volcanic rock, and overexertion in high desert heat all require prompt evaluation. Snake bites and porcupine quill encounters happen regularly in Central Oregon, and identifying the severity is critical for appropriate treatment. Wildlife confrontations with coyotes, deer, and birds of prey occasionally leave dogs and cats with puncture wounds that carry significant infection risk if not cleaned and treated the same day.
Seasonal emergencies follow predictable patterns here. Spring and summer bring heat stroke and dehydration risks for dogs active on hot trail days, and tick exposure increases during hiking season — tick-borne illness can present as a neurological emergency in its acute phase. Winter introduces antifreeze toxicity risks, ice-related injuries, and hypothermia concerns for pets spending extended time outdoors. Year-round, our familiarity with Central Oregon’s environment helps us recognize what we’re seeing and treat it accurately.
What to Do If Your Pet Has an Emergency
If your pet is showing signs of a medical emergency during our business hours (Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm), call us immediately at 541-313-3607. Tell the front desk what you’re seeing — we will let you know right away whether your pet needs to come straight in. Walk-ins are accepted for urgent cases, but calling ahead helps us prepare a triage space and have the right medications and equipment ready before you arrive.
Keep your pet as calm and still as possible during transport. Do not give medications, food, or water unless our team directs you to. For active bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth. Do not attempt to remove embedded objects, pull porcupine quills in bulk, or treat wounds beyond basic first aid before arriving — improper handling can worsen injuries or cause additional pain.
For after-hours, weekend, or holiday emergencies, Bend Animal Emergency and Specialty Center (541-385-9110) and the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon both provide 24-hour care. Saving their numbers in your phone before an emergency occurs is one of the most practical things you can do as a pet owner in Central Oregon. When you return to us after an after-hours visit, we are glad to coordinate follow-up care and continue your pet’s treatment plan from where the emergency facility left off.
Flexible Payment Options for Emergency Vet Care
Emergency veterinary costs can arrive without warning. Pawtown accepts CareCredit and Scratch Pay financing to help manage treatment costs when timing is difficult. Both options allow you to get your pet the care they need immediately while spreading payments over time.
We provide upfront cost estimates before beginning treatment whenever the situation allows. Our team believes transparency about costs — even in stressful moments — helps you make confident decisions for your pet without added pressure. If you have questions about what a treatment will cost, ask us directly. We will give you a clear, honest answer.
Emergency Vet in Bend — Contact Pawtown When Your Pet Needs Help
Dr. Erin Miller and Dr. Lauren Stayer founded Pawtown on the belief that Bend pets deserve a local practice where relationships matter and emergency vet care means seeing doctors who already know your animal. When your pet is in crisis, you deserve a team that responds quickly, communicates clearly, and treats your pet with the same care they would want for their own.
If your dog or cat is showing emergency symptoms during business hours, do not wait. Contact us immediately at 541-313-3607 — the sooner we see your pet, the more treatment options we have. We are open Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm, and walk-ins for urgent cases are always welcome.
Does Pawtown Veterinary Care handle pet emergencies?
Yes. Pawtown provides emergency and critical care for dogs and cats during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm. We accept same-day urgent cases, prioritize patients showing emergency symptoms, and can perform in-house diagnostics, pain management, IV fluid therapy, and emergency surgery when needed. For after-hours emergencies, we will direct you to 24-hour facilities in Bend.
What are the signs my pet needs emergency vet care?
Signs that require immediate attention include difficulty breathing, pale or blue gums, collapse or inability to stand, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion, seizures, severe trauma from a car accident or fall, eye injuries, and in dogs, a distended abdomen with unproductive retching — a sign of bloat that is life-threatening within hours. If you are unsure, call us at 541-313-3607 and describe what you are seeing. We will help you decide right away.
What should I do if my pet has an emergency outside your hours?
Bend Animal Emergency and Specialty Center (541-385-9110) and the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon both provide 24-hour emergency care. We recommend saving their contact information in your phone now, before you need it. For situations that can safely wait, contact us first thing when we open Monday through Saturday at 8 am. After an after-hours visit, we are happy to coordinate follow-up care and continue your pet’s treatment plan.
Do I need an appointment for emergency care at Pawtown?
No. We accept walk-ins for urgent cases during business hours. Calling ahead when possible helps our team prepare for your arrival and have the right equipment ready, but it is not required. If you are unsure whether your pet’s condition is a true emergency or an urgent case, call us and describe what you are seeing — we will triage over the phone and tell you how quickly to come in.
What does emergency vet care cost at Pawtown?
Emergency care costs vary based on what your pet needs — diagnostics, medications, surgery, and the complexity of treatment all factor in. We provide upfront estimates before beginning treatment whenever the situation allows. Pawtown accepts CareCredit and Scratch Pay financing to help manage unexpected veterinary costs. Our team is transparent about pricing and will give you a clear answer if you ask.
Will I see Dr. Miller or Dr. Stayer for an emergency?
Yes. Dr. Erin Miller and Dr. Lauren Stayer handle emergency and urgent cases alongside routine care at Pawtown. When your pet has a crisis, you are seen by the same veterinarians who know your pet’s history — not rotating emergency staff unfamiliar with your animal. That continuity often means faster assessment and more accurate treatment from the start, especially for patients with underlying conditions or complex histories.
