OSU launches 24/7 small animal emergency service

Oregon State University’s Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital has launched 24/7 small animal emergency care for cats and dogs, expanding from a case-by-case soft launch over roughly the prior year into full-time service for walk-ins and referrals. The service is led by Dr. Pia Martiny and is designed to work alongside OSU’s specialty services, with the university saying it should improve emergency access for pet parents in Corvallis, the mid-Willamette Valley, the Oregon Coast, and even some referral traffic from Washington. OSU said staffing varies by shift, but the ER is currently supported by one to two receiving doctors, up to four final-year veterinary students, and up to three certified veterinary nurses each day. (today.oregonstate.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is both a regional access story and a training story. Oregon has faced ongoing shortages of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, with state leaders and clinicians describing demand that outpaces available staffing. In that context, a university-based 24/7 ER adds referral capacity and gives students more exposure to high-acuity cases and handoffs into specialty care, which OSU explicitly says is part of the rationale for the service. (today.oregonstate.edu)

What to watch: Watch whether OSU can sustain staffing and case flow as awareness grows, especially in a state where emergency and after-hours veterinary capacity has been strained and 24/7 coverage remains difficult to maintain. (today.oregonstate.edu)