Brook Farm Veterinary Center

At Brook Farm Veterinary Center, we have been trying to train all pets to have their emergencies during business hours only. It’s not working! So what should you do if your pet is so inconsiderate as to have a problem at night? Well, first of all, don’t just assume that we’re closed. Many nights we are at the office until 7 or 8 pm., and we try to answer the phone until right before we leave the building . Even if we are already gone for the day, calling the office is still the right thing to do . Our answering service is actually live humans, who are really quite good at taking your information and contacting the doctor. In most cases , Dr. Kanouse will call you back promptly.

Now ,there are exceptions . Dr. Kanouse is himself a real human, with a real family , and occasionally cannot be contacted. If he is in a movie with his cell phone turned off, at church, or simply getting poor reception on his cell, the answering service may have to refer you to an all night animal emergency hospital. There are several in the area , and you should have their telephone numbers handy regardless.

Katonah-Bedford Animal Emergency 914-241-7700

Danbury Animal Emergency 203-790-6383

You should also be aware of the fact that it is often extremely difficult to care for an acutely ill pet at Brook Farm after hours without a full staff available. And remember, Dr. Kanouse does not actually stay there all night either. Often, the Dr. can try to make an assessment over the phone as to what the problem may be and how serious it is and whether or not you should wait before seeking medical attention. But in many cases ,the wise choice is to go to an emergency hospital regardless. Then at least, your pet can receive constant observation and treatment, and either stay there for further care [available at Katonah ], or be transferred by you back to Brook Farm at 8am. the next day.

Needless to say , the only good emergency is no emergency. If your pet doesn’t seem to be acting right, act sooner rather than later . Don’t wait till after work, getting home at 6 pm. and then trying to make an evaluation at that time. Don’t let your pet out at night unsupervised. Be diligent about potential hazards to you pet around the house like spilled antifreeze, strings your cat could swallow ,or plants that could be poisonous, like lilies.

We’re very greatful at Brook Farm that you’ve chosen to put your faith in us when it comes to caring for your pet. We just hope to always see you under good circumstances rather than bad.