Port City Emergency Veterinary Hospital

Home
Canada
Saint John, NB
Port City Emergency Veterinary Hospital

24 Hour Emergency, Referral and Urgent Care Veterinary services in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Port City Vets
Making your pet a priority 24/7
(2)

05/29/2026

🐾 Why do wait times vary at an emergency veterinary hospital? 🐾

Just like a human emergency room, veterinary emergency hospitals use a triage system to prioritize patients based on the severity of their condition, not the order in which they arrive.

Triage is a critical part of emergency medicine because it helps ensure that pets with life-threatening conditions receive immediate care. A pet experiencing difficulty breathing, actively seizing, or suffering from severe trauma needs urgent attention right away, while pets with more stable conditions can often wait safely a little longer.

Every patient is assessed upon arrival so our team can quickly identify those who require immediate intervention. Because emergencies are unpredictable and patient needs can change rapidly, wait times may vary throughout the day and night. At any given moment, a critically ill or injured pet may arrive and require immediate treatment, which can affect the wait time for other patients.

We understand that waiting can be stressful when your pet isn’t feeling well, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Please know that while your pet may not be seen immediately, they have been evaluated, and our team is continually working to ensure every patient receives the appropriate level of care when they need it most. ❤️🐶🐱

05/18/2026

This week, we’re celebrating the heartbeat of our hospital — our Veterinary Assistants 🐾💙

In emergency medicine, every second matters, and our assistants are there through it all: comforting scared pets, supporting grieving families, helping our doctors and technicians, and keeping our hospital moving during the busiest nights.

Their compassion never wavers, even during the hardest cases. Their dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. And their impact on our patients, clients, and team is immeasurable.

Veterinary assistants wear many hats, and they do it with incredible strength, patience, and heart. We are endlessly grateful for everything they do behind the scenes and at the forefront of patient care.

Please help us thank our amazing veterinary assistants during Veterinary Assistant Appreciation Week! 🩺✨

05/14/2026

Meet Penny 🖤🐾

At just 3.5 months old, this sweet black Labrador Retriever came to our emergency hospital in need of emergent care after developing an intussusception — a serious condition where part of the intestine telescopes into itself, causing a life-threatening obstruction.

Penny underwent emergency surgery requiring an intestinal resection and anastomosis with Dr. Nick Rahavi. While her initial procedure was successful, our team later identified a significant mass effect developing within her abdomen, prompting a second exploratory surgery.

During this procedure, Dr. Jane O'Reilly discovered a large conglomerate mass of severely adhered intestines. Adhesions can develop when inflammation occurs within the abdomen, often after intestinal injury, infection, or surgery. As tissues heal, scar tissue may form and cause loops of intestine — and sometimes nearby organs — to stick together abnormally.

Within Penny’s adhesion complex, her bladder had also become incorporated into the scar tissue, adhering both to surrounding intestinal loops and the linea alba. Through meticulous blunt and careful dissection, our surgical team was able to safely free the bladder and surrounding tissues.

We are incredibly happy to share that Penny has recovered well from her surgeries and is back home with her family, where she can continue healing surrounded by love and comfort. 💕

Cases like Penny’s remind us why rapid intervention, advanced surgical care, and dedicated postoperative monitoring are so important in emergency medicine.

Please join us in wishing Penny a smooth continued recovery! 🐶✨

05/10/2026

💐 Happy Mother’s Day to the moms behind the leashes, carriers, and cuddle sessions 💐

From comforting nervous patients to noticing when something isn’t quite right, your love makes all the difference. Thank you for being your pets’ safe place — on the good days and the hard ones. 🐾

We’re grateful to be part of their care. Wishing all the amazing pet moms a beautiful Mother’s Day filled with love, slobbery kisses, and extra snuggles. ❤️

05/04/2026

Luckily, your pets don’t need a lightsaber to protect from fleas and ticks 🐾✨

Fleas and ticks aren’t just annoying—they can carry diseases, cause allergic reactions, and lead to serious health issues for your furry family members. The good news? Keeping them safe is much easier (and safer) than going full Jedi.

Regular flea and tick preventatives are your pet’s best defense. These products are designed to stop parasites before they become a problem, saving your pet from discomfort and you from unexpected emergency visits.

As an emergency veterinary hospital, we often see the complications that come from untreated infestations. Trust us—prevention is far easier than treatment.

If you’re not sure which option is best for your pet, reach out to your primary vet. A simple monthly routine can make all the difference.

Keep the force strong… and the fleas gone 🐾 Happy Star Wars Day! 🐾

04/27/2026

We’ve seen a noticeable increase in porcupine quill cases over the past few weeks, and we want to help keep your pets safe. 🐾💛

Porcupines are more active this time of year, especially at dawn, dusk, and overnight. Curious dogs are most at risk, often approaching and getting a face full of quills before they know what happened.

How to help prevent an encounter:
• Keep dogs on leash during walks, especially in wooded or brushy areas
• Supervise pets closely when outside, particularly at night
• Secure garbage, pet food, and compost that might attract wildlife
• Learn to recognize signs of porcupine activity (tracks, droppings, gnawed wood)

If your pet gets quilled:
Please do not attempt to remove the quills at home. Quills can migrate deeper into tissues, break easily, and cause serious complications, including infection or damage to eyes, mouth, and internal structures.

Instead:
• Keep your pet as calm and still as possible
• Prevent them from pawing at their face (an e-collar can help if you have one)
• Seek veterinary care as soon as possible

Most pets require sedation for safe and complete quill removal. The sooner they are treated, the better the outcome and the lower the risk of complications.

We know these situations can be stressful, but prompt care makes a big difference. If you suspect your pet has had a run-in with a porcupine, don’t wait—contact your veterinary clinic or emergency hospital right away! 🚨

04/20/2026

This week, we’re celebrating the incredible people who keep everything running smoothly at the front lines of our hospital—our veterinary receptionists. 🐾

In an emergency vet setting, they are often the very first voice you hear in a moment of stress and uncertainty. They handle urgent calls with calm and compassion, juggle critical cases with efficiency, and support both our medical team and pet families with remarkable strength and empathy.

They are organizers, communicators, problem-solvers—and above all, they are a steady source of comfort when it’s needed most.

To our reception team: thank you for your resilience, your kindness, and the vital role you play every single day. We truly couldn’t do this without you. 💙

Happy Veterinary Receptionist Week!

04/19/2026

Tick season is here—learn how to keep your pet safe from tick-borne diseases 🐾

Tick-borne diseases aren’t just a “summer nuisance.” They can become serious, even life-threatening, for pets if not caught early. Conditions like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis can cause symptoms ranging from fever and lethargy to joint pain, loss of appetite, and in severe cases, organ damage.

Here’s the good news: prevention is highly effective.
✔️ Keep your pet on a veterinarian-recommended tick prevention year-round
✔️ Check your pet daily, especially after walks in wooded or grassy areas
✔️ Remove ticks promptly and properly
✔️ Keep your yard trimmed and minimize tall grass and brush

How do tick preventatives work?
Most veterinary-recommended preventatives either repel ticks or kill them after they attach—before they have time to transmit disease. Some are topical (applied to the skin) and spread across your pet’s coat, while others are oral medications that work through the bloodstream. In both cases, the goal is the same: stop ticks quickly and reduce the risk of disease transmission.

If your pet is showing unusual signs—fatigue, limping, decreased appetite—don’t wait. Early treatment makes a big difference.

We’re here 24/7 if you need us. Stay safe, stay informed, and give those furry family members an extra check today 🐾

04/12/2026

Meet Eggroll! ❤️🐾

This sweet 3.5-month-old English Bulldog, Eggroll, recently came into our emergency hospital feeling very under the weather. She was battling both gastrointestinal upset and pneumonia — a tough combination for such a little pup.

Our team worked closely to provide supportive care, monitor her breathing, and help her regain her strength. Eggroll showed us just how resilient she is every single day 💪

We’re so happy to share that Eggroll is now back home where she belongs, reunited with her brother, Wonton 🐶🐶. She still has some recovery ahead of her, but she’s on the road to healing with her family by her side.

Way to go, Eggroll — we’re all rooting for you! 💕

04/03/2026

We had a fantastic time at the Outlon Career Fair connecting with students and sharing what it’s like to work in emergency veterinary medicine! 🐾🚑

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth, asked questions, and showed interest in the fast-paced, rewarding world of emergency animal care. From curious animal lovers to future veterinary professionals, it was inspiring to meet so many passionate individuals.

A special shoutout to the two amazing technicians featured in our photo — Leslie and Lora — who did a wonderful job representing our team and sharing their firsthand experiences in the field!

At our emergency vet hospital, no two days are the same — and it takes a dedicated, compassionate team to provide critical care when pets need it most. We loved giving a behind-the-scenes look at what we do and the career paths available in this field. 🐾❤

Address

212 McAllister Drive
Saint John, NB
E2J2S5

Telephone

+15066588387

Website

http://portcityemergencyvet.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Port City Emergency Veterinary Hospital posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Port City Emergency Veterinary Hospital:

Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service in Saint John?