After-Hours Pet Care Option To Open In Philadelphia With First Location In Pennsylvania
Tampa, FL (June 2024) – UrgentVet, the first dedicated urgent care clinic for pets, announced today it is expanding its footprint in Pennsylvania. The company will open a new clinic in Pottstown which will begin serving pets and pet parents on June 20th.
UrgentVet emphasizes compassion, affordability, and convenience within its business model. The groundbreaking concept offers a new solution by bridging the gap between primary practices and 24-hour emergency vets. Open nights, weekends and holidays, the company’s clinics offer pets relief for mild illnesses and minor injuries with rates significantly more affordable than comparable services at an emergency pet hospital. The model is akin to walk-in care for humans when their regular doctor isn’t available and the condition doesn’t warrant an ER visit.
“Just like in human healthcare, there are times when a health concern arises and you can’t get into your general practice doctor, but it’s not serious enough for the emergency room. So, you head to urgent care. We’re urgent care for pets – same day care for minor injury or illness,” Vice-President of UrgentVet Expansion, Lou Palermo explained.
Located at 223 Shoemaker Road, Suite 101 UrgentVet- Pottstown sits along one of the city’s most heavily trafficked routes and is easily accessible via Route 100 and Shoemaker Road. The clinic is 3,200 square feet with 2 exam rooms exclusively for small dogs, 2 for large dogs and 2 for cats.
UrgentVet discharges over 90% of the pets seen to return home after being treated at the clinic. Follow-up with their general practice veterinarian is typically part of the discharge instructions.
The Pottstown clinic is the first Pennsylvania location to open, becoming UrgentVet’s 78th location. UrgentVet is located throughout the United States with locations in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
“It’s always an honor when we open an UrgentVet clinic in a new state,” said Palermo. “We’ve heard from veterinarians in the greater Philadelphia area that more after-hours pet care options are needed and we look forward to partnering with them to be here for their clients during the evening and on weekends.”
Along with species and size-specific exam rooms, UrgentVet Pottstown is intentionally outfitted with non-slip flooring, dimmable lighting, soothing colors, soft music, calming pheromones and quiet exam lift tables, all in support of creating a fear-free experience. The clinic also has revolutionary tempered glass pet enclosures from Casco that are 70% quieter than metal cages—a design cue that helps make the enclosures the most Fear-Free product on the market today. As an added nod to pet comfort, all staff members at the clinic have received unique training to become Fear-Free-certified professionals.
As is the case with all UrgentVet locations, the clinic’s treatment area features an in-house laboratory and state-of-the-art equipment, including digital radiography and ultrasound technology.
With veterinary staffing shortages resulting in longer wait times and limited care options, the impacts of a continued economic downturn are a major cause for concern in the industry. Sadly, nearly 50% of pet parents say they’ve decided to forego or delay veterinary treatments amidst inflation.
“An unexpected injury or illness can be a traumatic experience for both the pet and pet parent,” Palermo added. “Our hope is that our area locations can help to eliminate at least some of that stress for those in and around Philadelphia.”
Positioned to provide care for common conditions that require immediate attention but aren’t serious enough for hospitalization, UrgentVet treats vomiting, diarrhea, limping, itching, coughing, not eating, minor wounds, back pain and more.
UrgentVet aims to develop strong relationships with neighboring primary care veterinarians, a practice that clinic staff has already started in the Philadelphia area. Approximately 90% of pets seen at UrgentVet are treated on site and referred to their primary vet with a detailed letter and records for follow-up care.
For more information, please visit UrgentVet.com.
About UrgentVet
Founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, by Dr. Jim Dobies in 2015 and owned by American Veterinary Group, UrgentVet is the first dedicated urgent care clinic for pets. Offering after-hours services, its clinics provide pet owners, or pet parents as UrgentVet refers to them, with an affordable and convenient alternative to 24-hour emergency vets. It offers immediate relief for mild illnesses and injuries in dogs and cats with rates that are more affordable than comparable services at emergency vet hospitals. For more information, please visit UrgentVet.com.