Central Oregon pet owners often have questions about urgent care and common seasonal hazards like cheat grass, wildlife encounters, and parasites. Whether your pet is vomiting, limping, hiding, or you’re unsure if a wound needs attention, our top 10 urgent care FAQs cover everything you need to know. This guide is designed to help you make quick, informed decisions for your dog or cat’s health.
Question: Do we have fleas and ticks in Central Oregon?
- Answer: Yes, we do have some fleas and ticks in the warmer months, but the prevalence is much less than in western Oregon and other parts of the country.
Question: When should I come in for a wound?
- Answer: Any time there is significant bleeding, contamination of a wound, a bite wound, or open skin, your pet companion should be brought to a veterinarian.
Question: When should I come in for vomiting and diarrhea?
- Answer: Your pet should be brought in to see a veterinarian if there is severe and intractable vomiting and/or diarrhea. Vomiting or diarrhea which contains blood. Mild vomiting and/or diarrhea that does not resolve within 2-3 days.
Question: What is cheat grass, and how can I prevent it from getting on my dog?
- Answer: Cheat grass (Bromus tectorum) is part of the grass family and a common weed in Central Oregon. It has the shape of an arrowhead head, or some say the tail of a fox. Cheat grass dries out in mid to late summer, falls to the ground, and can catch in fur and migrate into the skin, ears, eyes, or be inhaled. To help mitigate the risks of cheat – 1) keep your dog on leash and away from the plant, 2) remove it from your property, 3) provide a head and ear covering during cheat grass season when your pet is outside (for example, one product is OutFox)
Question: Can I come to Urgent Care for wellness care and vaccines?
- Answer: No, we do not provide primary care such as annual wellness visits, vaccines, and dental care.
Question: Do you provide dental care?
- Answer: No
Question: I’m not sure if my dog is in pain, but he is limping. Should I come in?
- Answer: Limping is a sign of pain, just like in people. If your pet friend has a persistent lameness or severe lameness, please take them to a veterinarian
Question: My cat is hiding and is acting aloof. Should I bring them in?
- Answer: Cats can be subtle with their signs of illness and hiding can be one way your cat tells you they are not feeling well. If the behavior continues past 24-48 hrs, an evaluation by a veterinarian is recommended.
Question: What wildlife do we have in the area that I should be cautious about?
- Answer: Rattle snakes, porcupines, scorpions, deer, coyotes
Question: Are you associated with the east side hospital?
- Answer: Yes, the east clinic on Oxford Court and our west side clinic on Monterey Pines is the same Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon hospital.
Question: What are your hours?
- Answer: Urgent Care is open 7 days a week from 8am-6:00pm but we are closed on all major holidays.
Question: Can I pick up medications at either location?
- Answer: Yes, but please allow 48hr for refills to be completed and know that the west side clinic does not carry as many medications as the east side clinic.
Question: Do you do surgeries there?
- Answer: We do minor surgical procedures at Urgent Care clinic but not major surgeries.
Question: Do you see emergency cases too?
- Answer: Urgent Care sees minor emergency cases (outpatient cases). Critical patients should always go to our Emergency Department at our east clinic (on Oxford Court). Critical patients include major trauma, those who will need hospitalization or major surgeries, and patients who will need 24-hour care/monitoring or blood transfusions.
