Same-Day & Urgent Vet Care in Clifton, NJ

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Urgent and Same-Day Care: When the Unexpected Happens

At Clifton Ave Animal Hospital, we know that illnesses and injuries don’t adhere to a schedule. When your pet suddenly falls ill or gets hurt, waiting days for a regular appointment isn’t an option. Watching your companion suffer is incredibly stressful, and you need answers quickly.

That is why our clinic is equipped to handle Urgent and Same-Day Care. We bridge the gap between routine wellness visits and true “drop-everything” emergencies, providing fast relief, compassionate care, and advanced diagnostics when your furry family member needs them most.

Our Approach to Urgent Care

When you bring your pet in for an urgent issue, our dedicated medical team moves swiftly to assess, comfort, and diagnose.

Fast, Expert Triage

Immediate assessment to ensure stability and safety.
As soon as you arrive, our veterinary technicians will evaluate your pet to confirm they are stable. We prioritize getting eyes on your pet quickly to determine the severity of their condition and formulate an immediate action plan.

Immediate Pain Control

Pets instinctively hide their pain, but our trained staff knows exactly what to look for. Once your pet is stabilized, our next priority is making them comfortable. We utilize safe, fast-acting pain management protocols to alleviate their distress so they can rest while we investigate the underlying cause.

Advanced On-Site Diagnostics

When your pet is sick, time is of the essence. We utilize our fully-equipped, in-house laboratory, digital radiology (X-rays), and ultrasound to get accurate answers the very same day. This allows our doctors to start the correct treatment immediately, rather than waiting days for outside lab results.

What Counts as “Urgent”?

Urgent care is designed for conditions that require medical attention today, but are not immediately life-threatening. While our doctors may be managing scheduled appointments, we always work diligently to fit in sick pets who need our help.

🩺 Urgent Care Checklist: When to Call Us Today

If your pet is experiencing any of these sudden, uncomfortable issues, please call us to arrange a same-day urgent care visit:

Gastrointestinal Upset: Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 12-24 hours, especially if accompanied by lethargy or loss of appetite.
Sudden Limping or Lameness: Refusing to bear weight on a leg after a walk, jump, or play session.
Ear or Eye Issues: Squinting, noticeable redness, discharge, or constant head shaking and scratching.
Minor Wounds: Small cuts, scrapes, broken toenails, or torn paw pads that are not profusely bleeding.
Urinary Discomfort: Frequent trips outside/to the litter box or accidents in the house. (Note: A male cat straining but unable to pass urine is a Priority 1 Emergency—seek help immediately.)
Mild Allergic Reactions: Sudden hives, mild facial swelling, or intense itching without breathing difficulties.

Our Commitment to You

We value your time and your trust. Our goal is always to see every patient as quickly as possible while maintaining the highest standard of medical excellence, pain control, and diagnostic accuracy.

Need to be seen today?

Call us at Clifton Ave Animal Hospital immediately so we can evaluate your pet’s symptoms over the phone and prepare for your arrival. Your pet’s comfort and recovery are our top priorities.

Serving Clifton and the surrounding area

Serving Clifton, Passaic, Nutley, Montclair, Bloomfield, and Little Falls. We are at 851 Van Houten Ave Suite # 3, Clifton, NJ 07013, with reserved parking in front of the clinic.

When to go straight to an emergency hospital instead

Some situations need a 24-hour emergency team, not us.

We are a daytime practice with full diagnostics on site, not a 24-hour emergency hospital. Outside our open hours, or if you cannot reach us, If your pet is in a life-threatening emergency and we are closed, go to the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital. We cannot assess a pet over the internet, so if you are unsure whether something can wait, call (973) 894-3410 and speak to our team.

Costs and payment

You get an estimate before treatment.

Urgent visits are quoted the same way as any other: we examine your pet, explain what we have found, and give you a written estimate before anything goes ahead. Cherry payment plans can spread the cost if you need them.

Request an appointment

Request a same-day slot

Leave your details and we will call you back to confirm whether we can see your pet today.

For urgent problems, please call (973) 894-3410. This form is not monitored continuously.

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Related services

Imaging & In-House Lab

Digital radiography and an in-house laboratory, plus ultrasound scheduled with a technician.

Wellness & Preventive

Annual exams, vaccines, and parasite prevention.

All services

See everything we treat under one roof in Clifton, NJ.

From our team

Frequently asked questions

How do I book an appointment?

You can request a time online through our booking portal at any hour, or call (973) 894-3410 during our open hours.

What are your hours?

We are open Sunday Closed, Monday 9:00am - 7:00pm, Tuesday - Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm, Saturday 9:00am - 2:00pm.

Where are you located and where do I park?

We are at 851 Van Houten Ave Suite # 3, Clifton, NJ 07013. There are reserved spots in front of the clinic, and the 702 bus stops across the street.

Are you taking new patients?

Yes. Our new patients page explains what to bring and how we help transfer your pet's records.