Same-day evaluation during our open hours, about five to ten minutes from central Wilton Manors.
When your dog swallows something off the counter or your cat is struggling to breathe, minutes matter, and so does knowing where to go. Oakland Park Animal Hospital is about five to ten minutes north of central Wilton Manors, and during our open hours we evaluate urgent and emergency cases the same day. Walk-ins are welcome, and calling ahead helps the team prepare before you arrive. We are not a 24-hour hospital, and this page explains exactly where to go when we are closed.
We have been a family-owned, doctor-led practice since 1987. Dr. Spencer Ratnoff, our Owner and Medical Director, has spent more than 40 years caring for the pets and families of this part of Broward County, so the doctor examining your pet in a hard moment is one your neighbors already know. You can read more about how we handle urgent cases on our emergency care page.
Wounds, bite injuries, limping and swelling.
Chocolate, xylitol, medications or objects swallowed off the floor.
Difficulty breathing or respiratory distress.
Evaluation after a collapse or seizure episode.
Same-day evaluation for dogs overheated after time outdoors.
Cats and dogs that cannot urinate, which can be an emergency.
Evaluation, and referral if emergency surgery is needed.
Imaging or lab work when it is needed to guide treatment.
If a test would help us decide on treatment, our advanced diagnostics team can be brought in during your visit. Calling ahead helps the whole team prepare for your pet’s arrival, and lets us tell you what to do on the way, whether that means keeping your pet still, cool or calm.
An emergency hospital is staffed around the clock for life-threatening cases that need overnight monitoring, intensive care or emergency surgery. Urgent care at a general practice like ours covers sudden problems that need a veterinarian the same day, during regular open hours. Oakland Park Animal Hospital provides the second kind of care.
If you are not sure which one your pet needs, call us. We will tell you whether to come in, to go straight to a 24-hour hospital, or to monitor at home until a same-day appointment. When a pet does need a 24-hour facility, we share what we know about your pet so that visit starts with useful history.
Not every scary moment needs an immediate hospital visit, but some signs should never wait. Use this as a general guide, and remember that you know your pet best.
If you cannot tell which category your pet falls into, call us anyway. It is better to make a call that turns out to be nothing than to wait until a small concern becomes a real emergency.
Stay as calm as you can. These steps help most pets get to care safely.
Our clinic is not staffed overnight. After we close, our emergency phone line, (954) 731-4228, is for true emergencies only, and an on-call veterinarian can help you decide on the safest next step by phone. Hands-on care overnight, however, has to happen at a 24-hour animal emergency hospital. If your pet is in distress outside our open hours, do not wait for us to reopen.
These Fort Lauderdale facilities handle nights, weekends and holidays. Call ahead when you can, and save the one closest to you in your phone now so you are not searching while your pet is in trouble.
| Facility | Location | Hours reported by the facility |
|---|---|---|
| VEG (Veterinary Emergency Group) | 1620 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale | Open 24/7 |
| BluePearl Pet Hospital | East Fort Lauderdale | 24-hour emergency and specialty care, no appointment needed |
| Pet Emergency Center | 921 East Cypress Creek Road, Fort Lauderdale | Weeknights 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., and 24/7 on weekends and holidays |
If your pet’s condition needs overnight monitoring or emergency surgery, even during the day, we will direct you to the nearest 24-hour specialty facility and share what we know so that visit goes smoothly.
Knowing what happens next takes some of the fear out of a hard day.
Wilton Manors calls itself the Island City, and it is built for walking. Wilton Drive’s patios draw dogs of every size, and the canal path at Colohatchee Park fills up every evening. That lifestyle is a big part of why people live here. It also means heat stress, off-leash encounters and swallowed scraps off a sidewalk come up more often than they would in a car-dependent suburb.
South Florida heat is a real risk on walks. A dog that is panting hard, drooling, stumbling or collapsing after time outside may have heatstroke, which is an emergency. Older pets and flat-faced breeds can struggle first, so watch them closely.
Evening walks bring another local risk. Cane toads, also called Bufo toads, are toxic to dogs, and University of Florida wildlife specialists advise rinsing the mouth with running water with the head tilted down so the water drains out, then calling a veterinarian right away. Rinsing alone is not enough.
When you call us in a crisis, you are not reaching a call center. You are reaching people who have cared for this community, in many cases across generations of the same family’s pets. We listen first, ask the right questions, and help you understand quickly whether your pet needs to come in right now or can be monitored until a same-day appointment.
Older pets often show the signs of an emergency differently than younger ones, and our senior pet care approach reflects that. Whether your pet is seven weeks old or seventeen years old, you will see familiar faces instead of a rotating cast of new doctors.
From central Wilton Manors, head north on Andrews Avenue or Dixie Highway. Most drives take five to ten minutes. Saturday hours run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are independently owned and operated on Oakland Park Boulevard, and calling ahead lets our team meet you at the door.
Emergencies bring financial stress at the worst moment. We offer financing through Cherry and CareCredit, and our team gives you an upfront estimate before treatment begins, so cost is never a surprise while you are already worried about your pet. If money is a concern, tell us early and we will talk through your options.
Oakland Park Animal Hospital has served pets from Wilton Manors since 1987, and Dr. Ratnoff’s team has more than 40 years of experience with the families in this part of Broward County. We would rather you call with a question that turns out to be nothing than wait until a small concern becomes a real emergency.
If your pet is showing signs of distress during our open hours, please call (954) 731-4228 so our team can help. After hours, call our emergency phone line or use the 24-hour options above, and request an appointment for a follow-up visit once your pet is stable.
Schedule a visit with our compassionate team and let’s partner in your pet’s lifelong well-being.
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