(727) 473-3845

24/7 Emergency Vet in St. Petersburg, FL

EPIC Specialty & Emergency is a locally owned, 24 hour emergency and specialty hospital for dogs and cats in St. Petersburg, FL. Open nights, weekends, holidays, and every day of the year, our emergency service is led by a board certified criticalist. This ensures that every pet receives skilled, timely care supported by advanced diagnostics and a team that knows how to support pet owners through the stress of an emergency visit.

We are located at 3250 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713, in the Historic Kenwood neighborhood, with quick access from I 275 for families across St. Pete and Pinellas County. Abstract image featuring two overlapping, irregular rounded shapes in light grey and pale purple on a white background. The smooth edges evoke a calm, modern design—ideal for a vet clinic or Pet ER seeking a minimalist aesthetic. A large, abstract, purple blob with smooth, irregular edges is centered on a light gray background—perfect for a modern emergency vet clinic or veterinarian’s waiting room.

Does your dog or cat need emergency care right now? Realizing that something isn’t right with your pet is one of the worst feelings as an owner. Whether you know you have an emergency that needs immediate attention, or you’re still trying to figure out your next step, we’re here to help you make that call. Here’s when your pet should be seen right away, and when it’s better to call us so we can guide you. Two veterinary professionals are examining and treating a small dog on a table in a bright, modern clinic. One person holds the dog while the other works with medical supplies, including a bottle and gauze.

Emergency vet care for pets in St. Petersburg: when is something an emergency?

Come in Now

    • Trouble breathing
    • Collapse, fainting, or a seizure
    • Heavy bleeding
    • Toxic ingestion
    • Heatstroke signs
    • Trauma from a fall, car, or accident
    • Straining to urinate in cats

Call us for Advice

  • Repeated vomiting
  • Sudden weakness or lethargy
  • Not eating or drinking
  • Pain or discomfort
  • Straining to urinate in dogs
  • Limping that worsens

Safe to Monitor

  • Mild stomach upset
  • Small wound
  • Minor limping
  • If symptoms change or worsen, call us.

Need advice now? Call us

What to Expect When You Arrive

Emergencies are stressful. From the moment you walk in, our team focuses on stabilizing your pet, setting clear expectations, and supporting you throughout the visit. If you are on your way, call now so we can prepare: (727) 473-3845.

As soon as you arrive, our team will complete a brief triage assessment. This helps us understand how serious your pet’s condition is and how quickly they need to be seen. Critical patients are taken straight to treatment so life saving care can begin without delay. Triage is not a full exam but a medical safety check to ensure your pet gets the right level of attention as quickly as possible. If your pet appears critical while en route, call now.

Once your pet is triaged, we gather essential information to create or update their medical record. This includes your contact details, your pet’s history, current medications, and any recent changes you have noticed. During this time, our team continues to monitor your pet and escalates care if symptoms change.

After a full physical exam, the veterinarian outlines the next steps based on your pet’s condition. This may include bloodwork, imaging, stabilization, or pain control. We explain each diagnostic option, why it matters, and how it will help us understand what is happening. No tests are ordered without a clear medical reason.

We communicate often and clearly while your pet is with us. If your pet is stable, we update you as diagnostics come back and as the plan evolves. If your pet is critical, you receive more frequent updates so you always know what is happening and why. Transparency is a priority at Epic.

Once we understand your pet’s condition, we present a clear treatment plan and a written estimate. We talk through each recommendation, answer questions, and help you understand where you have choices. If hospitalization or surgery is needed, we explain timelines and what to expect. When your pet is ready to go home, you receive discharge instructions and complete medical records for your family veterinarian.

Why locally owned emergency and specialty care matters Most advanced emergency and specialty hospitals in Tampa Bay are corporate owned. Epic was created to offer something different. Local ownership allows:

  • Treatment plans made by the clinicians who know your pet’s case, not a corporate handbook
  • Faster, more transparent decision making
  • Ongoing investment in people, equipment, and training
  • A culture shaped inside the hospital, not by external shareholders
Our structure lets the medical team prioritize your pet without outside pressure. A veterinarian wearing blue gloves examines a small, curly-haired dog on an exam table with an "Epic Specialty & Emergency Pet Care" banner. White cabinets and a metal cage are in the background. A veterinarian wearing gloves gently examines a large, light brown dog in a modern veterinary clinic with medical equipment in the background.

Emergency vet services and advanced diagnostics in St. Petersburg Our St. Petersburg hospital is the flagship location for Epic’s specialty and advanced diagnostic services for dogs and cats. This allows us to treat both routine emergencies and complex medical cases in one location.

On site capabilities include
  • 128 slice CT for advanced imaging
  • Ultrasound and digital radiography
  • In house laboratory with rapid results
  • Emergency surgery
  • Internal Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Critical Care
  • Intensive care and oxygen therapy
  • 24 hour hospitalization and continuous monitoring

What’s the difference between emergency pet hospitals and urgent care?

Many St. Petersburg pet hospitals or urgent care can stabilize patients, but don’t have the team or equipment for advanced, round-the-clock care. Epic is equipped to manage the vast majority of emergencies without transferring your pet to another provider.

Service EPIC St. Petersburg Urgent Care Regular Veterinarian
24 hour emergency care Yes No No
24 hour hospitalization Yes No No
CT machine Yes No No
Emergency surgery Yes No Sometimes
On site ultrasound Yes Yes Sometimes
On site bloodwork Yes Yes Yes

This allows for rapid diagnosis, efficient treatment, and continuity of care under one roof.

Serving St. Petersburg and the Pinellas community

Epic Specialty & Emergency Pet Care is located at 3250 5th Ave N in the Historic Kenwood neighborhood. We care for pets across St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Gulfport, Seminole, Tierra Verde, and surrounding areas. With easy access from I-275, our hospital serves both local families and referring veterinarians.

Frequently asked questions

We encourage calling if your pet is stable enough for you to do so. A short call allows us to gather essential details, prepare for your arrival, and alert the medical team if your pet may need immediate attention. If your pet is in distress, come directly to the hospital and call while you are on the way.

Emergency care follows a triage system. Pets with life threatening symptoms are seen immediately. Stable pets may wait longer depending on how many critical patients are in the hospital. We set expectations early, update you often, and reassess your pet if anything changes.

Some symptoms need immediate ER care, including trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, toxin ingestion, uncontrolled bleeding, heatstroke, and a painful swollen abdomen. Other symptoms, such as vomiting, limping, coughing, or eye irritation, can range from mild to urgent. A phone call helps our team ask questions and advise you on the best next step for your cat or dog.

Costs vary based on your pet’s condition and the level of care required. Every case begins with an examination. After the veterinarian evaluates your pet, you receive a clear treatment plan and written estimate. We explain why each diagnostic or treatment is recommended and help you understand all treatment options.

Yes. Our hospital is designed specifically for canine and feline emergency and specialty care. This focus allows our protocols and equipment to be tailored to these species, which improves accuracy and response time during emergencies.

Yes. We work with all major pet insurance providers, and recommend Cherry for pet owners exploring payment options. You pay at the time of service and submit your claim for reimbursement. Our team provides detailed invoices, medical records, and guidance on what insurers typically require. Tell us at check in if your pet is insured so we can help you capture the information your policy needs.