After-Hours Telehealth Support with VetTriage
Duke Veterinary Care has partnered with VetTriage to better serve the pet emergencies in our area. VetTriage is a veterinary telehealth hotline. If you experience a pet emergency after office hours, you can call their 1-800 number or scan our QR code to be directed to a VetTriage veterinarian and they will assess your emergency. If it is deemed a true emergency and you are a client of Duke Veterinary Care, they will contact our doctor and we will provide emergency care for your pet.
How VetTriage Works:
1. Visit https://vettriage.com/dukevc or scan the QR code below to begin
2. Pay a one-time triage fee for a live video consult
3. Connect with a licensed veterinarian in minutes
4. Receive expert advice on whether emergency treatment is necessary
5. Get support and reassurance on how to manage your pet’s condition
Need guidance now? Get care now via VetTriage.
VetTriage Emergency Hotline
- 1 (800) 940-1921
- Scan our QR code!
- Hotline Website Link
Recommended Emergency Clinics Near Perryville, MO
For situations that require in-person treatment, we recommend the following 24-hour emergency vet clinics. These facilities are equipped for surgical, intensive, and overnight care when your pet needs more than virtual support.
Animal Emergency Clinic
9937 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Phone: (314) 822-7600
Website: stlouisanimalemergencyclinic.org
Open 24/7 | Approx. 1 hr 13 mins from Perryville
Veterinary Specialty Services – Manchester
1021 Howard George Dr, Manchester, MO 63021
Phone: (636) 227-6100
Website: vssstl.com
Open 24/7 | Approx. 1 hr 20 mins from Perryville
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) – Brentwood
2101 S Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood, MO 63144
Phone: (314) 970-2545
Website: veterinaryemergencygroup.com/brentwood
Open 24/7 | Approx. 1 hr 22 mins from Perryville
How to Recognize and Respond to a Pet Emergency
A pet emergency can be scary, but knowing how to respond makes all the difference. Common situations that require emergency vet care include trauma, poisoning, or signs of internal issues that cannot wait for a regular appointment.
You may need urgent pet emergency care if your pet experiences any of the following:
- Difficulty breathing or severe coughing
- Continuous vomiting or diarrhea
- Unconsciousness or collapse
- Seizures
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Swollen, hard, or painful abdomen
- Ingestion of toxins (medications, chocolate, household chemicals)
- Straining to urinate or defecate
- Limping or inability to walk
- Sudden behavioral changes or disorientation
When in doubt, it’s always safer to assume it’s an emergency and seek guidance right away.
Top 5 Veterinary Emergencies
Gastrointestinal Obstruction or Foreign Body Ingestion
Common Signs: Vomiting, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, lethargy, straining to defecate, or producing small amounts of stool
Causes: Swallowing toys, bones, string (especially in cats), or other non-food objects
Trauma (Hit by a Car, Falls, Animal Fights, etc.)
Common Signs: Limping, bleeding, shock, difficulty breathing, visible wounds, and/or injuries
Respiratory Distress
Common Signs: Open-mouth breathing (especially in cats), rapid or labored breathing, cyanosis (blue or pale gums), and collapse
Causes: Heat stroke, heart failure, airway obstruction, and pneumonia
Urinary Obstruction (Especially in male cats)
Common Signs: Straining to urinate, crying in the litter box, licking the genital area, vomiting, lethargy
Urgency: Life-threatening within 24-48 hours
Seizures or Neurologic Emergencies
Common Signs: Convulsions, loss of consciousness, paddling limbs, drooling, incontinence, disorientation
Causes: Epilepsy, head injury, toxin ingestion, metabolic issues (low blood sugar)