Emergency Vet Reform
Oklahoma pets deserve better.
Join the fight for better pet care
Imagine rushing your sick or injured dog or cat to an animal ER. You sign the papers and agree to pay thousands of dollars for life-saving care.
Nine hours later a vet who can do general surgery arrives, but by then it’s too late.
That last part doesn’t sound right, does it? But in Oklahoma, it’s totally legal.
3 Reasons veterinary emergency rooms need oversight:
Fast Growth
Emergency vet care is the fastest growing field of vet medicine, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). New emergency and urgent care pet clinics open everyday.
No Extra Rules
Many veterinary fields are considered specialties by the AVMA, with enhanced care standards. But emergency medicine is not. So ER clinics are often just regular clinics that charge a lot more.
High Fees
Desperate pet parents are often willing to pay any price for emergency dog and cat medical care. Without regulations, high emergency fees can be charged by clinics without skilled staff.
Questions and Answers
01
Why do Pet ERs in Oklahoma need oversight?
A lack of transparency and care standards for vet emergency rooms puts pets at risk.
02
Is this only a problem in Oklahoma?
No. There are no national requirements for pet emergency care and most states do not have care standards, either.
03
Should I be wary emergency vets?
Most ER vets are highly skilled animal lovers. But clinics are businesses. You should know what you’re getting – and get what you pay for.
04
Why is transparency in emergency vet care important?
Transparency in vet care is important to ensure that consumers are aware of available services and their rights as customers.
05
How can I be prepared if my pet experiences an emergency?
Having a plan in place – including researching local clinics – will help you make better decisions in moments of crisis.
06
How can I work for better outcomes at animal ERs?
Report bad experiences to your state vet board, push for stronger rules, and leave online reviews (both good and bad).
3 Ways to push for reform
To get the high quality vet care you expect, you can engage with a few different groups.
Pet parents
Online reviews help other pet owners learn about local clinics. Word of mouth is also powerful.
State vet boards
When you believe a vet has acted improperly or misrepresented their services, you can file an official complaint with the vet board.
State legislators
If existing state regulations do not adequately protect pets and pet parents, state legislators can ask for amendments to the state’s Veterinary Practice Act.
Add your name to improve vet care in Oklahoma.
Do you believe that Oklahoma Veterinary Emergency Rooms should be able to provide urgent, critical medical care to pets? We do, too! But there are currently no minimum care standards for this fast-growing, high-cost field of veterinary medicine, which means your dog or cat may not get the life-saving attention it needs.
Add your name to show your support for reforming ER vet care in Oklahoma. By defining minimum care standards for animal emergency rooms, you’ll be giving more pets a chance.