If your pet is experiencing an emergency, don’t wait—call us immediately. Our experienced team at Tenafly Veterinary Center will provide guidance on the best steps to take and ensure your pet gets the urgent care they need as quickly as possible. Your pet’s safety and well-being are always our top priority.

Signs Your Pet Needs Emergency Care

Seek emergency veterinary care immediately if your pet shows any of the following:

Difficulty breathing, labored respiration, or open-mouth breathing in cats
Collapse or inability to stand
Suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion
Trauma (hit by car, fall from height, animal attack)
Uncontrolled bleeding
Seizures, especially multiple seizures or a seizure lasting more than 3 minutes
Severe vomiting or diarrhea (especially with blood)
Abdominal bloating (particularly in large breed dogs — this can be life-threatening GDV/bloat)
Loss of consciousness or extreme lethargy
Eye trauma or sudden vision changes
Urinary obstruction (straining to urinate with little or no output — a medical emergency in cats)
Difficulty giving birth (more than 2 hours between offspring, visible distress)

Emergency Care During Business Hours

Walk-ins are always welcome for emergencies during our business hours. Please call 201-567-7878 on your way to the clinic so we can prepare to receive your pet immediately. Having advance notice allows us to have the right team and equipment ready the moment you arrive.

For our Tenafly Clients:

If you are experiencing an emergency after hours but it is before 8:00 PM, please call our Overpeck Creek Location which is open until 8:00 PM Monday-Friday and have full access to your pet’s records.

After-Hours Emergency Resources

If your pet experiences an emergency outside of our business hours, we have partnered with VetTriage to provide 24/7 telemedicine triage. VetTriage veterinarians are available around the clock via live video chat to assess your pet's condition and determine whether immediate in-person emergency care is required or whether the situation can be safely monitored until we reopen.

Access VetTriage after hours: Visit www.vettriage.com/tenafly on any device with a camera.

Poison Emergencies

For any suspected poisoning, act immediately:

NJ Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 (free consultations)
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (consultation fee applies)

Common pet toxins include chocolate, xylitol (sugar-free gum), grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, certain plants (lilies are fatal to cats), rat poison, and many essential oils.

24/7 Emergency Hospitals in North New Jersey

If you need emergency care outside of our hours, these 24/7 facilities serve our area:

Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) — Paramus: 141 NJ-17, Paramus, NJ 07652 · (551) 258-1998
Blue Pearl Pet Hospital — Paramus: 545 Route 17 South, Paramus, NJ 07652 · (201) 527-6699
Oradell Animal Hospital — Paramus: 580 Winters Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652 · (201) 350-1802
Eclipse — Whippany: Papermill Dr, Whippany, NJ 07981 · (862) 404-0991
Animal Emergency & Referral Associates — Fairfield: 1237 Bloomfield Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 · (973) 226-3282

Tenafly Veterinary Center - VetTriage

Tenafly Veterinary Center offers after-hours and emergency assistance to clients by partnering with VetTriage.

Steps to Connect:

Go to www.vettriage.com/tenafly using your mobile device or computer with camera.
Follow the instructions on the VetTriage page to purchase and request your session with a vet.
The vet will join in minutes and triage your pet.

Overpeck Creek Animal Hospital - VetTriage

Overpeck Creek Animal Hospital offers after-hours and emergency assistance to clients by partnering with VetTriage.

Steps to Connect:

Go to www.vettriage.com/overpeck using your mobile device or computer with camera.
Follow the instructions on the VetTriage page to purchase and request your session with a vet.
The vet will join in minutes and triage your pet.