Savannah Animal Hospital offers 24-hour help

Middle-of-the-night pet emergencies will be treated in the Cape Region starting June 1, when Savannah Animal Hospital begins around-the-clock service for pets.

Pet hospital owners Dr. Robert Pedigo and Dr. Andrea Richter realized visitors and pet owners in the Cape Region need a vet who can care for animals in an emergency.

New veterinarians Dr. Amy Revenis and Dr. James Kozelka will join the Savannah staff starting next month to provide the 24-hour help to all pet owners.

“We have been doing on-call service, and we wanted to improve it,” said Richter. “This will allow people to come here at any time and receive care for their pets.”

Pedigo said in addition to two new vets, Savannah Animal Hospital has also hired four veterinary technicians to provide 24-hour service.

In the past, owners of established patients could call the Lewes-area animal hospital and meet the vets at the facility, but often patients would have to wait. In many cases, Savannah doctors talked owners through emergencies on the phone.

“During the course of the week we would probably see 10 to 15 emergency cases,” Richter said. “With the new service, we expect that number to grow.”

Common emergency issues include gastroenteritis, car accidents, lacerations, dog fights, bloating and acute problems that escalate, Richter said.

The animal hospital will serve established patients, area residents and tourists and their pets. Richter said appointments will still be during day hours, but in cases of emergency, a pet owner can call the office and a staff member will answer to help them through the situation and decide if an office visit is necessary. Pet owners are encouraged to call ahead to let staff know they are on their way in an emergency. Emergency charges may apply.

Opened in 1988, Savannah Animal Hospital serves about 3,300 patients per month.

In 2011, the hospital served nearly 33,000 dogs and more than 22,000 cats.

“We hope this new service will add to what we already provide and be as successful,” Richter said.

“People are traveling more with their pets, and pets are really a big part of many lives, so we are hoping to fill that need here,” she said.

Savannah Animal Hospital will start serving clients 24 hours a day on June 1. Call for rates. Regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 302-645-8757 or go to www.savannahanimalhosp.com.