24/7 Emergency Vet
Villa Ridge
If you believe your horse is experiencing an emergency, please call us immediately!
If your dog or cat is having an after-hours emergency, please call Veterinary Specialty Services (VSS) at 636-227-9400.
Immediate Care When Your Pet Needs It Most
Emergencies can happen at any time, and our team at Homestead Veterinary Hospital is prepared to help when it matters most. We provide 24/7 emergency support for large animals and accept small-animal emergencies during regular office hours. If you’re facing a potential emergency, please call us right away so our team can assess the situation and guide your next steps.
How We Support You in an Emergency
Our Villa Ridge emergency veterinarians are available to help determine whether your pet needs immediate attention and will provide direction over the phone whenever possible. If urgent care is required, we’ll prepare for your arrival to ensure fast, effective treatment. Emergency cases are handled by a coordinated team—typically one veterinarian and several skilled technicians—working together to stabilize and care for your pet efficiently.
If our doctors determine that your animal would benefit from specialized treatment, we will help arrange a smooth referral to a trusted partner hospital, such as vssstl.com or stlouisanimalemergencyclinic.org, ensuring continuity of care.
Recognizing an Emergency
Some signs of an emergency are clear, while others can be harder to spot.
Contact us immediately if your pet experiences:
- Trauma or accidents (e.g., hit by a car)
- Bloat or suspected gastric torsion
- Severe bleeding or open wounds
- Toxin ingestion, such as antifreeze or rodenticide
- Sudden collapse, breathing difficulty, or unresponsiveness
When in doubt, always call—acting quickly can save a life.
After-Hours Guidance
For after-hours emergencies, our on-call Villa Ridge emergency veterinarians provides phone-based support. Call 636-451-4655 and follow the message prompts for immediate assistance. We will help evaluate your pet’s condition and advise whether urgent care is needed right away.
MERS
Missouri Emergency Response Services (MERS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue of large animals in critical situations. Their specialized technical rescue team responds to emergencies such as animals stuck in mud, trapped in overturned trailers, or requiring assistance during water or fire incidents.
MERS provides support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across the entire state of Missouri and can extend beyond state lines for large-scale emergencies. For all other calls, their team responds to areas within 2.5 hours of our St. Clair, Missouri training facility.
They never charge for their services and rely completely on donations to help cover operational expenses.