No one wants to think about a pet emergency. But when your dog is vomiting blood at 2 AM or your cat stops breathing on a Sunday, the worst time to start Googling "emergency vet near me" is right then.
This guide is the one we wish every South Bay pet owner had bookmarked before they needed it. Here are the major emergency veterinary hospitals near Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, along with what to expect and what to keep on hand.
24-Hour Emergency Veterinary Hospitals
MedVet Silicon Valley
6740 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose, CA 95119
The region's full-service emergency and specialty hospital. Board-certified specialists on staff with the most advanced diagnostic equipment in the South Bay. If your pet needs emergency surgery, advanced imaging (CT, MRI), or ICU-level care, this is where to go.
Drive time: ~20 min from Santa Clara, ~25 min from Sunnyvale
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) — Campbell
510 E Hamilton Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
VEG's model is unique — pet owners stay with their animals throughout treatment. No waiting in the lobby while your pet is in the back. They handle common emergencies — toxin ingestion, trauma, GI distress, breathing difficulty — and transfer to MedVet or SAGE for complex surgeries.
Drive time: ~15 min from Santa Clara, ~20 min from Sunnyvale
SAGE Veterinary Centers — Campbell
907 Dell Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
Another full-service emergency and specialty hospital with board-certified surgeons. Particularly well-regarded for orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. Emergency department handles walk-ins 24/7.
Drive time: ~15 min from Santa Clara, ~20 min from Sunnyvale
When to Go to the Emergency Vet — Don't Wait
- Difficulty breathing or open-mouth breathing in cats
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Suspected toxin ingestion (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, rat poison)
- Bloated or distended abdomen (GDV/bloat is fatal without surgery)
- Seizures — especially a first seizure or one lasting more than 2 minutes
- Inability to urinate (especially male cats — life-threatening)
- Trauma — hit by car, fall, animal attack
- Collapse or sudden inability to walk
ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (24/7, $95 consultation fee)
What to Bring to the Emergency Vet
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1
Vaccination records
Keep a photo on your phone so they're always accessible.
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2
Current medications and dosages
List everything your pet takes, including supplements and flea/tick preventives.
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3
Details of what happened
When symptoms started, what they ate, any trauma — the more detail, the faster the diagnosis.
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4
Your regular vet's contact info
The ER vet may want to consult your pet's medical history.
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5
Payment
Emergency visits typically start at $150–$300 for the exam alone; treatment can run $1,000–$5,000+ depending on severity.
Our Emergency Protocol
At Pawsides, every sitter has the client's vet information, the nearest emergency hospital address, and the client's emergency contact list before the first visit. If something happens while a pet is in our care, we know exactly where to go and who to call. It's part of the preparation we walk through during every free meet-and-greet.
Having a plan before you need it is the single best thing you can do for your pet. Bookmark this page, save the nearest ER number in your phone, and put together a basic first aid kit. The emergency you hope never happens is the one you should be most prepared for.
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