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Prompt, Professional Care When Your Pet Needs It Most
When your pet is in pain, scared, or suddenly unwell, you need more than a vet—you need a trusted lifeline. At River Valley Veterinary Hospital, we provide urgent care with heart, urgency, and medical precision. Whether your dog swallowed something they shouldn’t have or your cat is showing signs of distress, our River Valley family is dedicated to providing care and is ready to jump into action.
Anything can happen in the blink of an eye. A slip on the stairs, a bite from another animal, a sudden seizure—these moments are terrifying. That’s why we offer fast, compassionate care designed to ease your mind while our doctors and staff focus on what matters most: stabilizing and helping your pet.
As knowledgeable, experienced and caring animal health professionals, we’ve seen it all and know how critical it is to act fast, stay calm, and communicate clearly.
Signs Your Pet May Need Emergency Care
If your gut says something isn’t right, it’s time to call. These symptoms often indicate an urgent medical scenario:
- Sudden collapse or trouble standing
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Ingestion of toxic substances (medications, human food, chemicals, plants)
- Seizures or abnormal behavior
- Difficulty breathing or extreme coughing
- Eye trauma, facial swelling, or painful vocalizations
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, especially if blood is present
- Inability to urinate or signs of pain during urination
Don’t second-guess yourself—our team is here to support you through these frightening situations. It’s always better to be cautious than too late, especially during ruff times.
Veterinarian Emergency Services We Provide
Our facility is equipped with advanced tools and a team trained to respond to all types of urgent medical needs. Here’s what we offer on-site:
- Digital X-rays and imaging
- Comprehensive bloodwork and in-house lab diagnostics
- Oxygen therapy and IV fluids
- Necessary surgeries and wound repair
- Pain relief and sedation when necessary
- Monitoring and short-term hospitalization
- Medications to stabilize your pet at our hospital and at home
Whether your pet’s condition is critical or simply concerning, we provide full-service urgent care, all under one roof, to serve you and your pet.
What Happens During an Urgent Vet Visit?
Walking through our doors with a sick or injured pet can be overwhelming. We get it—and we’ve built our process to make your experience as smooth as possible.
Triage & Stabilization – Your pet is assessed right away to determine the severity of their condition. If immediate intervention is needed, we act fast to stabilize them.
Communication & Specialty Diagnostics – While your pet is being evaluated, we’ll talk with you about their history and symptoms to ensure every patient receives the best care. Diagnostics like bloodwork or X-rays may be performed to get answers quickly.
Treatment Plan & Options – Once we understand what’s going on, we’ll walk you through the treatment plan—including costs, care options, and possible outcomes—so you can make informed decisions.
Aftercare & Next Steps – If additional monitoring or specialist care is needed, we’ll coordinate referrals or overnight care. We’ll also send you home with everything you need for recovery, from medication to follow-up instructions, so that we can help you have a healthy pet in the long term.
All Our Services At RVVH
Patient Care
We recommend annual exams as a minimum to maintain the Doctor/Patient relationship necessary to make the proper recommendations for the well being of your pet.
Medical
We can examine your pet and discuss any medical issues that may be causing your pet to be uncomfortable. It is important for your pet to be seen so our Doctor can recommend the best course of treatment to have your pet on the road to recovery.
Vaccinations
Proper vaccination is vital in protecting our pets from many types of diseases . It’s important to consult with us about the unique risks your pet is exposed to based on his environment. We will be happy to discuss the benefits of protecting your pet.
Surgical
From spay and neuter, dental care, and beyond, our surgical team is dedicated to providing the best outcome for your pet’s surgical experience.
Pharmacy
We offer a fully stocked, competitive in-house pharmacy to expedite your medication needs.
Urgent Care
We understand emergencies do happen. We will do our best to accommodate those “unexpected” situations. We will recommend the best options based on your pet’s specific urgent needs.
We help by preventing pet health issues and being there for you when your pet needs medical attention.
Our Vision
To be the preferred veterinary hospital and set the standards for client experience in Allegheny county over the next 5 years.
River Valley’s Mission
To provide exceptional medicine and client experience and to maintain healthy pet lifestyles
We Believe In:
- Compassion: to treat all pets and their people while upholding the veterinarian’s oath
- Integrity: to perform our duties with pride and self-awareness
- Dignity: to provide every patient and owner heartfelt respect
- Honesty: to practice open, truthful, and respectful communication
- Improvement: to continuously seek improvement in ourselves and our services
- Teamwork: our ability to support our beliefs while working together
- Passion: our promise to provide quality services to our clients and their pets
- Excellence: to strive to become stronger at everything we do
- Dedication: to provide our services with a sympathetic consciousness
- Commitment to Clients: to support our beliefs all day… every day
Veterinarian’s Oath
“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.
I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.”
A Local Hospital That Cares for Their Patients Like You Do
River Valley Veterinary Hospital isn’t a corporate chain. We’re a locally owned practice committed to our community’s pets and the people who love them. Our team combines medical expertise with warmth, kindness, and transparency—because we know you’re putting your trust in us during one of the hardest moments of pet ownership.
Being an urgent care veterinary hospital means more than just providing fast care—it means being a steady hand when others are panicking. Our entire staff is trained for urgent care, which is vital in protecting our pets every time you enter our clinic.
Why Pet Owners Trust River Valley For Exceptional Care
- Local Roots, Local Heart – We live and work in the same community you do.
- Team Ready for Anything – Trained in high-pressure, life-or-death scenarios.
- Advanced Technology – In-house diagnostics for faster answers.
- Clear, Honest Communication – No surprises—just support.
- Compassionate Care – We treat your pet like family, not a number.
We’re Here When You Need Us – Contact Us Today!
You don’t always have time to search for answers—you need help, and you need it now. At River Valley Veterinary Hospital, we’re proud to be the emergency vet in Natrona Heights, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that families rely on when the unexpected happens.
Conveniently located for pet owners in Natrona Heights and surrounding areas
Call us immediately at (724) 274-5575 for urgent veterinary care
Your pets depend on you. And when you’re in over your head, you can depend on us. Call us any time with any questions or concerns you have. We love every opportunity to serve you and your furry family members.
FAQs About Emergency Pet Care
Are you open 24/7 for emergencies?
While we are not a 24-hour clinic, we are here for you during emergencies, providing urgent care during business hours, staying late if necessary, and helping you make any important decisions about your cat or dog.
Do I need to call before coming in?
If you can, please call ahead so we can prepare for your arrival and ensure every patient receives timely care. But if it’s truly urgent, don’t wait—come straight in.
How do I know if I need to rush in, or if it's something that can wait?
If your pet is in visible pain, not acting like themselves, or experiencing sudden symptoms like vomiting, collapse, or bleeding—it’s best to come in. When in doubt, call us.
Will my pet be treated right away?
We triage all incoming urgent cases. Pets with life-threatening conditions are seen immediately. Others may be stabilized or briefly monitored before full diagnostics begin to achieve the best care possible.
Do you treat pets other than cats and dogs?
Our focus is on feline and canine patients, providing specialized veterinary care for every patient. For birds, reptiles, or exotic animals, we’ll direct you to a specialized clinic within Allegheny County.
Can I stay with my pet during the exam?
We know how comforting it can be to be by your pet’s side. In many cases, you can stay with them—but for certain surgical procedures or treatments, we may need to take them to our treatment area.