Urgent Care
Urgent Care & Same-Day Vet Visits in Salem, OR
When your dog or cat suddenly feels unwell, waiting a week for a routine slot is rarely realistic. Liberty Animal Hospital offers urgent care and same-day appointments during open hours for Salem and South Salem families who need thoughtful evaluation sooner, not a crowded overnight ER when the situation is stable enough for outpatient care.
We are a full-service day clinic. We do not provide overnight hospitalization or 24-hour emergency care. If your pet collapses, has uncontrolled bleeding, is hit by a car, cannot breathe, or is otherwise in immediate life-threatening danger outside our hours, go directly to WilVet Salem Emergency, 120 Ramsgate Square S, Salem, OR 97302, (503) 741-8858 (open 24 hours, walk-ins accepted).
Call ahead at (503) 339-7065 so we can triage symptoms, prepare the team, and tell you whether to come in now, later today, or go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital. We are a full-service day clinic led by Dr. Kolby Virgin, DVM.
When to Call for Same-Day / Urgent Care
- Sudden vomiting, diarrhea, or refusal to eat
- Limping, yelping, or obvious pain
- Ear infections, itching storms, or eye discharge that worsens quickly
- Urinary straining, especially in male cats
- Mild to moderate wounds or limping that still need same-day evaluation
- Fever, lethargy, or a pet that just is not themselves
- Post-surgical concerns during open hours
- Suspected toxin exposure with mild signs during open hours (severe signs go to ER)
What Same-Day Care Means Here
Same-day and urgent visits are worked into the open-hours schedule when medically appropriate and when the team has capacity. Calling first matters. It lets us triage, advise whether you should come in now, wait for a later window, or go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital. Capacity varies by day, and true emergencies after we close still need a 24-hour facility.
- Please call ahead for urgent visits so we can triage and prepare
- Dogs and cats; ask when you call about other species
How to Request an Urgent Visit
Call the clinic.
Phone (503) 339-7065. Online forms are slower than a live call when your pet is sick. Have your pet’s age, species, and prior records nearby if you can.
Describe what changed and when.
Share main symptoms, when they started, appetite, energy, breathing, vomiting or diarrhea, and whether your pet can walk, breathe normally, or control bleeding. Mention any toxins, medications, or recent surgeries.
Follow triage guidance.
We may give you a same-day arrival window, ask you to come immediately, suggest monitoring with a check-in call, or direct you to emergency care if the case is beyond day-clinic scope.
Arrive prepared.
Bring a leash or carrier, a list of medications, and any recent lab results. If your pet may vomit in the car, bring towels. Stay available by phone so we can update you during diagnostics.
What We Can Often Handle During Open Hours
- Sick-pet exams with in-house lab work
- Digital X-rays and ultrasound when indicated
- Pain assessment and initial pain control
- Wound evaluation and many soft-tissue issues
- Ear, skin, and eye flare-ups
- Urinary and GI upsets that are stable enough for outpatient care
- Pharmacy fills related to the visit
- Same-day rechecks after recent procedures during open hours
What Belongs at a 24-Hour Emergency Hospital
- Difficulty breathing or blue/pale gums
- Collapse, seizures that cluster, or unresponsiveness
- Major trauma (hit by a car, high-rise fall, severe bite wounds)
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Known toxin ingestion with severe signs
- Bloat (GDV) suspicion in deep-chested dogs
- Any critical case outside our open hours
- Pets that need continuous overnight monitoring or oxygen/ICU support
Nearest 24-hour emergency hospital: WilVet Salem Emergency, 120 Ramsgate Square S, Salem, OR 97302, (503) 741-8858. Open 24 hours every day, walk-ins accepted. Keep this information saved in your phone before you need it.
Diagnostics That Support Urgent Visits
Same-day decisions are stronger with on-site tools. Our in-house laboratory can run many blood and urine panels during the visit. Advanced digital X-rays and ultrasound help us evaluate bones, chest, abdomen, and soft tissue when the exam points that way. Dr. Kolby Virgin explains findings in plain language before you leave whenever results are ready, so you are not waiting days for a basic next step. Some specialty tests still go to outside labs; we will tell you which results are same-visit and which need follow-up.
Why Salem & South Salem Families Use Liberty for Same-Day Needs
- Owner-led care with Dr. Kolby Virgin, DVM
- Clear, structured explanations of findings and next steps
- On-site lab, digital X-rays, ultrasound, and pharmacy under one roof
- Call-ahead triage instead of guessing whether to wait
- On-site diagnostics that support same-visit decisions
- Clear routing to 24-hour emergency care when that is safer
- Practical aftercare and pharmacy support before you leave
If your dog or cat needs to be seen today in Salem or South Salem, call (503) 339-7065 now. For after-hours emergencies go to WilVet Salem Emergency, 120 Ramsgate Square S, Salem, OR 97302, (503) 741-8858 (open 24 hours, walk-ins accepted).
Urgent Care FAQs
What to expect when your dog or cat needs same-day care during open hours.