Emergency assessment and triage
BayVETS is an emergency vet in Collingwood for evenings, weekends and holidays. Call us at 289-985-0855 during our hours. Outside our hours, call the 24/7 teletriage line at 647-695-5411 or go to the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital.
We assess and triage every patient who walks through our door. Triage means that the team checks each pet quickly on arrival and decides who needs care first. The most urgent cases are seen first.
How triage works
With emergency care, the most life-threatening problems are treated first, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Veterinary staff do a rapid check of the pet and give priority to the most urgent problems. They ask you what happened and for a short medical history.
After the vet checks whether the pet is conscious, the vet evaluates the airway, breathing and circulation. When the pet is stable, the vet asks more questions about past illnesses, medications and allergies, and examines the pet fully.
This means that the order in which pets are seen can change. A pet with a breathing problem can go ahead of a pet that arrived earlier with an ear infection.
Problems that need care right away
Merck lists problems that need immediate treatment, for example:
Trauma, such as being hit by a car
Breathing difficulty
Severe bleeding
Seizures that do not stop
Loss of consciousness
Poisoning
Blocked urine flow
Heat stroke
Open wounds that show bone
If your pet has one of these problems, come in at once during our hours, or call the teletriage line or go to the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital when we are closed.
When a pet needs more than we offer
We are equipped to perform diagnostics, hospitalize during our hours and perform select surgeries. If your pet needs more advanced, critical or specialized care, we assess your pet, work to stabilize your pet and keep your pet comfortable, and help arrange a referral to the most appropriate facility that is available.
What to bring
Your pet's medications, or a list of them
The package or label of anything your pet swallowed
Your family vet's name, so that we can send the report
Questions
Why was another pet seen before mine?
We see the most urgent cases first. A pet that arrived later can have a more serious problem.
Can I call before I come?
Yes. Call us at 289-985-0855 during our hours. You can also walk in or request an appointment online.
What if you are closed?
Call the 24/7 teletriage line at 647-695-5411 or go to the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital.
Call us
Call us at 289-985-0855 during our hours, or walk in. We are open Monday to Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends and statutory holidays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Outside our hours, call the 24/7 teletriage line at 647-695-5411 or go to the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital.