UF’s WEC hospital in Ocala adds 24/7 small animal emergency care

Version 1 — Brief

The University of Florida Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center in Ocala will begin offering 24/7 small animal emergency care on June 15, 2026, expanding beyond its current daytime small animal schedule. As part of the shift, UF’s standalone Pet Emergency Treatment Services, or UF PETS, clinic in Ocala will close, and UF will consolidate its Ocala small animal services at the WEC campus. UF said UF PETS will close at 8 a.m. on June 15, with round-the-clock emergency care at WEC starting at 5 p.m. the same day; equine services at the hospital are not changing. (hospitals.vetmed.ufl.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals in central Florida, the move creates a single UF access point in Ocala for primary, urgent, and now overnight emergency small animal care. That could simplify referral pathways and continuity of care for local practices, while also expanding after-hours capacity in a growing market. The WEC hospital opened in 2022 as a 40,000-square-foot facility intended to serve both the equestrian venue and the surrounding community, and UF has framed the consolidation as a way to streamline care delivery under one roof. (veterinarypage.vetmed.ufl.edu)

What to watch: Watch how quickly UF updates referral workflows, staffing, and client communications as the June 15 transition moves emergency traffic from UF PETS to the WEC campus. (hospitals.vetmed.ufl.edu)