ER, Finally: OSU Just Went 24/7 for Small Animal Emergencies
Oregon State University has officially joined the 24 7 emergency club for cats and dogs, and for veterinary professionals across Oregon and beyond, this is a big deal. The Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now offering round the clock small animal emergency care for both walk ins and referrals, expanding access for pet owners while strengthening real world training for future veterinarians.
For Dr. Pia Martiny, assistant professor of clinical sciences at OSU Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine and head of the small animal emergency service, the move was a necessary step in the hospital’s evolution into a fully functioning multispecialty center. Emergency cases are not just inevitable in a referral hospital setting. They are essential to training clinicians who can think fast, work collaboratively and manage patients that often need complex and ongoing care. The new emergency service focuses exclusively on cats and dogs. Exotic species such as birds, reptiles and rabbits are still best served by species specific practices. Large animal emergency services for livestock and horses have already been available at OSU on a 24 7 basis for years, making the addition of small animal emergency care a natural expansion.
Although the service officially launched recently, it has been building quietly for about a year. The hospital soft launched emergency care on a case by case basis while staffing and infrastructure scaled up. On a typical day, the ER is staffed with one to two receiving doctors, up to four final year veterinary students and as many as three certified veterinary nurses per shift. Like most emergency facilities, staffing and capacity can fluctuate depending on hospital volume. Geography plays a major role in the need for another emergency option. Corvallis is a key access point for pet owners traveling from the Oregon Coast and the mid Willamette Valley. When nearby emergency clinics hit capacity, options become limited quickly. OSU also receives referrals from several hours away, including clients traveling south from Washington.
To help manage patient flow, pet owners are encouraged to call ahead before arriving. Initial phone conversations are handled by veterinary students who consult directly with emergency clinicians to determine urgency and next steps. This approach helps triage cases effectively while giving students early exposure to emergency decision making. One of the biggest strengths of OSU’s emergency service is its proximity to multiple specialty departments. Anesthesiology, cardiology, internal medicine, oncology and surgery are all under the same roof. For unstable patients or those with significant pre existing disease, this allows for seamless transitions from emergency stabilization to advanced diagnostics and long term management. Not every emergency requires a team of specialists, but when it does, having them close by can change outcomes.
From an educational standpoint, student demand has been a major driver behind the expansion. Emergency medicine is often one of the most intimidating areas of clinical practice for students. Unlike elective cases where there is time to research and reflect, emergencies require decisions in minutes, sometimes seconds. Exposure to these scenarios with close mentorship helps build confidence and competence. Fourth year students on emergency rotations take an active role from the moment a patient arrives. They perform initial triage exams, gather histories from owners and conduct preliminary physical exams. After the attending clinician evaluates the patient and discusses options with the owner, students are given time to independently assess the case before regrouping to develop a treatment plan together. This structure encourages critical thinking while reinforcing teamwork.
Beyond medical skills, the ER provides intensive training in client communication. Students regularly interact with owners who are anxious, scared or overwhelmed. Learning how to listen, communicate clearly and respect the owner’s perspective while navigating high stakes medical decisions is a skill that takes years to develop. Observing experienced clinicians and gradually participating in these conversations prepares students for the emotional realities of practice. For veterinary professionals in the region, OSU’s new 24 7 small animal emergency service represents both a referral resource and a training hub. It adds capacity in a system that is often stretched thin and helps prepare the next generation of veterinarians for the pace and pressure of emergency care.
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