Tampa, FL (April 2023) – UrgentVet, the first dedicated urgent care clinic for pets, announced today it is expanding into the Austin area for the first time. The company will open a new clinic in the suburb of Lakeway and begin serving pets and pet parents on Thursday, April 13.
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.
Located at 2009 Main Street, Suite 450, UrgentVet-Lakeway is part of the Oaks at Lakeway complex, a multi-use retail district that serves as the town center, and is easily accessible via Ranch Road 620. The clinic is 2,796 square feet with two exam rooms exclusively for small dogs, two for large dogs and two for cats.
“When we decided to enter the Austin area, we knew we needed a place that was both pet-friendly and shared in our belief of building a cohesive community—and we quickly learned that Lakeway was that place,” said Dr. Jim Dobies, DVM and Founder of UrgentVet. “We’re excited to meet our new friends and neighbors and contribute to making this one of the finest places to live in all of Texas.”
Along with species- and size-specific exam rooms, UrgentVet-Lakeway 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.
While UrgentVet-Lakeway is the first UrgentVet clinic in Greater Austin, there are currently more than 10 locations serving the Houston and Dallas metro areas. UrgentVet is also planning to open additional clinics in Austin and other parts of Texas in the coming month.
Along with veterinary staffing shortages resulting in longer wait times and limited care options, the impacts of a continued economic downturn are also a major cause for concern in the industry. Nearly 50% of pet parents say they’ve decided to forego or delay veterinary treatments amidst inflation.
“While our organizational roots were first planted in the Carolinas, Texas has felt like home from the day we first entered the state,” Dr. Dobies said. “We’re looking forward to extending that same courtesy to pet parents when they come to our Lakeway location in their pet’s time of need.”
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.
With all of its clinics, UrgentVet aims to develop strong relationships with neighboring primary care veterinarians, a practice that clinic staff has already started. 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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:
Josh Hall | Sage & Sterling Communications
P: 813-884-9333