OSU expands to 24/7 small animal emergency care

Oregon State University’s Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now offering 24/7 small animal emergency care for cats and dogs, expanding from a softer, case-by-case launch about a year earlier into a full around-the-clock service for walk-ins and referrals. The service is led by Dr. Pia Martiny and is designed to move emergency patients quickly into OSU’s specialty services, including surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, oncology, and anesthesiology when needed. OSU says the ER is staffed by one to two receiving doctors per shift, up to four final-year veterinary students, and up to three certified veterinary nurses daily. (today.oregonstate.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals in Oregon, the move adds another emergency access point in a state where after-hours capacity can be tight, especially for pet parents on the Oregon Coast and in the mid-Willamette Valley. It also strengthens clinical training: OSU says emergency caseload and mentorship were major drivers behind the expansion, with fourth-year students participating in triage, history-taking, physical exams, and case planning under supervision. That could help address a persistent workforce need in emergency and critical care while improving referral continuity inside a multispecialty teaching hospital. (today.oregonstate.edu)

What to watch: Watch how quickly OSU can scale staffing and case capacity, because the hospital says pet parents should still call ahead and the ECC webpage indicates appointments are scheduled rather than true unscreened walk-ins, suggesting operations may continue to evolve as demand grows. (today.oregonstate.edu)