09/30/2024
Pet Parents,
Flathead Pet Emergency has been providing emergency services to the Flathead Valley and surrounding communities since 2008. We strive to provide medical services for your pets when other veterinary practices are closed. The clinic has been trying to hire another full-time veterinarian off and on for the past several years with limited success. We had a period in 2023 where we were fully staffed for 9 months. Sadly, both of our associates had to move on for other personal pursuits and we are left with only one full-time veterinarian. With our schedule as it is, our veterinarian would have to work 12-14 hour shifts 7 days a week which is physically impossible.
Many of you may not be aware but there is a nationwide shortage of veterinarians and many clinics within 200 miles are also hiring with very little success. On top of that shortage, very few veterinarians are looking to work overnight emergency shifts. It’s simply a hard job and a hard timeslot hence the lengthy search for associates.
Unfortunately, we have hit a point where we are forced to make a change. Starting Monday September 30, 2024 we will no longer be able to see patients after midnight during the week and after 10pm on the weekends. We will open at 6pm weekdays and 10am Saturday and Sunday. We will stop seeing non-critical patients 1 hour prior to closing so we have time to finish the appointment. We will still have staff in the building 24 hours a day to provide medical care to stable hospitalized patients and answer your questions when you call. High risk patients or patients that require medical care after we’ve closed will be referred to either of the two emergency clinics in Missoula or WSU emergency in Pullman WA.
We understand that this is not optimal and hope we will find sufficient coverage soon to resume our regular hours.
Thank you for your patience and understanding,
Flathead Pet Emergency Management
