Pet Urgent Care in North Hills, Raleigh, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills is a vet in North Hills, Raleigh, that gives same-day urgent care to dogs and cats. If your pet is sick or hurt and it can't wait for a routine visit, walk in or book online, weekends included.

Urgent care sits between "let's watch it tonight" and a 24-hour emergency hospital. If you can't tell which your pet needs, call first: a lot of scary-looking problems turn out to be urgent care problems, and the front desk will tell you honestly if they are not.

Call (984) 983-4900 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome.

Should my pet go to a 24-hour emergency hospital instead?

Go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet can't breathe well, has collapsed, is having a seizure, has a swollen hard belly with retching, was hit by a car, or is bleeding heavily. Petfolk North Hills does same-day sick care and everyday primary care; it is not set up as an emergency hospital. In Raleigh, BluePearl Pet Hospital at 4640 Paragon Park Rd has a team ready around the clock for pet emergencies, so call them on the way.

What can Petfolk North Hills treat the same day?

Petfolk North Hills treats most problems that need a vet today but are not life-threatening. Common reasons families from North Raleigh, Foxcroft and Five Points come in:

• A dog who has thrown up a few times or has loose stool since yesterday

• A limp after a run at the dog park, or a nail torn to the quick

• A scrape from a fence, or a small bite wound from another dog

• Ears that itch, smell or make your pet tilt its head

• Red, squinting or runny eyes

• Itchy skin, hot spots or hives

• Straining in the litter box (a male cat who can't pee needs help right away)

• Eating something odd, like a sock, a toy or a pill

Because the clinic runs many blood and urine tests in its own lab and takes digital x-rays and basic ultrasound on site, a lot of answers come during the same visit. Many pets also leave with their first doses from the on-site pharmacy.

I needed an urgent visit for my cat and they were able to get him in same day!

Casey R., Google review

How a same-day visit works at Petfolk North Hills

1. Come in, or grab the soonest online slot from your phone in the parking lot.

2. The first person you meet looks at how your pet is breathing and the color of its gums, then asks for the story.

3. The vet does a full exam and tells you in plain words what is most likely going on.

4. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

5. Before you leave, you know the plan, how to give any medicine, and which changes mean a call back or a trip to BluePearl.

A hurting pet is already scared. Every Petfolk clinic follows Fear Free handling, so the North Hills team moves slowly, offers treats and holds your pet as lightly as the exam allows.

Is urgent care more expensive than a regular visit?

At Petfolk North Hills, a sick or urgent exam starts at $135, compared with a wellness exam that starts at $99. Nothing extra, such as lab work or an x-ray, is done until you say yes to it. PetfolkCare membership starts at $199 a year, and members can reach a 24/7 care team by chat, which helps when you are not sure whether to come in.

Summer heat, snakes and lake water

Some Raleigh urgent visits follow the seasons, starting with heat-related problems in humid North Carolina summers. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission says the copperhead is the most common venomous snake in North Carolina. A copperhead bite needs a vet the same day, and a bite to the face or neck that swells fast should go to the 24-hour hospital. After a day at a lake or pond, rinse your dog with clean water if the water looked green or scummy.

Is it okay to wait and see?

Sometimes. A single vomit in an otherwise bright pet can often be watched for a few hours. Call or come in if it repeats, if your pet won't eat or drink, if a limp lasts more than a day, or if anything seems to be getting worse. See vomiting and diarrhea treatment in North Hills and wound and injury care in North Hills for more detail.

Getting here

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills is at 631 E Six Forks Rd, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609, in the plaza with PGA TOUR Superstore and Chick-fil-A. Parking is free. Call (984) 983-4900, book online or walk in.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills, or see all veterinary services in North Hills.