When one of your patients can’t wait, sending them to us should be simple. VSP Louisville’s emergency team is here every day until 10 PM to triage, stabilize and treat dogs and cats, and our ER doctors are backed by board certified specialists on call to assist remotely with urgent and emergency cases. This page covers what we accept, how to call ahead, what to send, and what happens if your patient needs care overnight.
What We Accept Before 10 PM
We accept unstable and life threatening cases before 10 PM, including breathing difficulty, seizures, trauma, toxin ingestion and collapse. We also see the same day problems your schedule can’t absorb, from vomiting and diarrhea to urinary issues, wounds, lameness and allergic reactions. The full list is on our emergency and urgent care page for veterinarians.
Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 AM to 10 PM and Saturday and Sunday 8 AM to 10 PM. We’re closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Call Ahead on (502) 901-7990
Please call before your patient leaves your clinic so our emergency team is ready when they arrive. Use our main line, (502) 901-7990, and our team will get you to the right person. It helps most if you can tell us:
- The patient’s signalment, weight and main problem
- How stable they are right now and any changes on the way out the door
- What you’ve given, with drugs, doses and times
- Results you already have, so we don’t repeat them
- The owner’s name, phone number and expected arrival time
If the owner is already on the road, call anyway. A few minutes of notice still lets us set up for your patient.
What Records to Send
Send whatever you have, even if it’s incomplete. The most useful items are the medical history, the last few days of exam notes, recent bloodwork and imaging reports, a list of current medications with doses, and anything given in your clinic today. If a toxin is involved, ask the owner to bring the packaging or the product label.
Email records and imaging reports to info@vetsp.com with the patient and owner name in the subject line.
What Happens When Your Patient Arrives
Every patient is triaged on arrival and the most critical are seen first. Our ER doctor stabilizes your patient, reviews what you sent and talks with the owner about the plan. Owners get a clear, itemized estimate before diagnostics or treatment, and we don’t require large upfront deposits to begin triage.
Because our ER doctors can call on board certified specialists remotely, we can often start a more complete workup during the visit and collect the right pretreatment samples before anything changes the picture. Not every case needs a specialist. When one does, we book a specialty appointment and keep you informed.
When Overnight Care Is Needed
VSP does not hospitalize overnight. If your patient needs overnight care or intensive monitoring, we stabilize, collect pretreatment samples and hand off directly to a trusted 24 hour hospital. Our team speaks with the receiving hospital before the transfer and sends the records along, so care continues instead of starting over.
Keeping You in the Loop
You stay the primary veterinarian. After the visit we send you a summary with our findings, test results and recommendations through our Shareville portal, and your patient comes back to you for ongoing care.
Patients in the Evansville Area
VSP Evansville at 104 S. Heidelbach Ave sees specialty patients by appointment on Wednesdays and Thursdays and does not take emergencies yet. For an emergency, please send your patient to the nearest emergency hospital, or to VSP Louisville before 10 PM if that is practical. Emergency and urgent care will open at our new Evansville hospital at 1120 Professional Blvd in early December 2026, Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 10 PM. For specialty cases, use our Evansville referral page.
Referring a Specialty Case Instead?
For appointments that aren’t emergencies, our specialty referral page has the online referral form, tells you where to send records, and lets you book on behalf of your client. Specialty reports are shared through our Shareville patient portal within 24 hours of the appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What emergencies does VSP accept from referring veterinarians?
We accept unstable and life threatening cases before 10 PM, including breathing difficulty, seizures, trauma, toxin ingestion and collapse, along with same day urgent problems. Call ahead on (502) 901-7990 so our emergency team is ready.
Do I need to call before sending a patient?
Please do. A call lets our team prepare and means we already know what you’ve found and given. If the owner has already left your clinic, call anyway.
What happens if my patient needs to be hospitalized overnight?
We stabilize, collect pretreatment samples and hand off directly to a 24 hour hospital. Our team talks with the receiving hospital before the transfer and sends the records, so nothing has to be repeated.
Can my client come to VSP without a referral from me?
Yes. Pet owners can walk in any day until 10 PM. We still like to hear from you, and we’ll send you our findings after the visit.
Will a specialist see my patient during the emergency visit?
Our ER doctors are backed by board certified specialists on call to assist remotely, which helps them plan the workup. If your patient needs to see a specialist, we book a specialty appointment and keep you updated.