FAQS

Our veterinarians have over 50 years of combined practice experience and the entire PriorityVet team is knowledgeable and passionate about animals. The owner is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

Our local, state-of-the-art facility is open after-hours, so your dog or cat can get the urgent care they need every evening, seven days a week.

Modeled after human urgent care, PriorityVet is unlike typical veterinary emergency hospitals with potentially longer wait times and reportedly higher fees.

The current fee for an office visit, which includes a full physical examination and consultation with our veterinarian, will be provided when you call ahead or upon your arrival. Following examination by our veterinarian, recommendations for further diagnostics and treatment are discussed and all additional fees for care are approved by you prior to proceeding.

Yes. We have appointments from early afternoon into the evening to fit your schedule. Please call ahead.

In an effort to focus our resources on pets requiring immediate attention, PriorityVet does not offer primary care services such as vaccinations, parasite control and routine surgical procedures. We ask that clients maintain a relationship with a family veterinarian for this routine care.

PriorityVet offers comprehensive urgent care services to dogs and cats in our state-of-the-art facility when your primary care veterinarian is unavailable. We are fully equipped to perform a wide range of in-house testing – including bloodwork, urinalysis, blood pressure, EKG, intraocular pressure and Digital X-rays – to quickly diagnose and treat your pets’ illness.

In an effort to focus our resources on pets requiring immediate attention, PriorityVet does not offer primary care services such as vaccinations, parasite control and routine surgical procedures. We ask that clients maintain a relationship with a family veterinarian for this routine care.

We accept cash, all major credit cards and CareCredit. PriorityVet is unable to accept personal checks for payment.

PriorityVet is currently unable to provide billing services or payment plans. A detailed, written estimate is provided and approved by you prior to any diagnostics or treatment being performed. This approach prevents unexpected costs of care and allows for ample time to arrange for payment at the time services are rendered.

We are unable to provide estimates for care over the phone. An accurate estimate for services to be provided at PriorityVet requires an on-site discussion of your concerns with our staff and a thorough examination of your pet by our veterinarian. The current fee for an office visit, which includes a full physical examination and consultation with our veterinarian, is provided when you call ahead or upon arrival. A detailed, written estimate based on the veterinarians’ recommendations for care is provided and approved by you prior to any diagnostics or treatment being performed.

We are fully equipped to perform a wide range of in-house testing – including bloodwork, urinalysis, blood pressure, EKG, intraocular pressure and Digital X-rays – to quickly diagnose and treat your pets’ illness.

 The vast majority of pets presenting to PriorityVet can be treated on an outpatient basis during our daily operating hours of 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Critically ill animals can be temporarily admitted to our facility during our hours of operation to receive diagnostics, treatment and stabilization with IV fluids or oxygen when indicated. When necessary, pets are referred to a 24-hour care facility for continuation of care overnight.

PriorityVet is open nightly, 7 days a week from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM.  We are closed New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving Day.

PriorityVet is open nightly, 7 days a week from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM. When necessary, pets are referred to a 24-hour care facility for continued overnight care. 

Yes, we accept all pet insurance policies. All currently available plans require that the pet owner pay the provider for care and apply for reimbursement based on selected coverage. PriorityVet does not participate with any membership discount plans or programs, such as Pet AssureⓇ.

PriorityVet is equipped to perform minor surgical procedures such as wound repair and abscess treatment under sedation or general anesthesia. We also perform other anesthetic procedures such as oral, ear and orthopedic examination and X-rays. Pets requiring immediate major surgery, and the overnight recovery care necessary following such procedures, are referred to an appropriate 24-hour care facility. Pets requiring non-emergent procedures such as tumor removal, bladder stone removal, orthopedic surgery or dental care are referred to the appropriate care provider.PriorityVet is equipped to perform minor surgical procedures such as wound repair and abscess treatment under sedation or general anesthesia. We also perform other anesthetic procedures such as oral, ear and orthopedic examination and X-rays. Pets requiring immediate major surgery, and the overnight recovery care necessary following such procedures, are referred to an appropriate 24-hour care facility. Pets requiring non-emergent procedures such as tumor removal, bladder stone removal, orthopedic surgery or dental care are referred to the appropriate care provider.

Most pets requiring orthopedic x-rays or wound treatment, and some pets with general illness, are painful, distressed or uncooperative. In order for proper restraint and positioning for diagnostic x-rays and safer, pain-free, comfortable treatment, sedation or anesthesia may be necessary. Occasionally, a simple injectable or oral sedative/pain reliever may be enough to facilitate care in certain pets. Often, short-acting or reversible sedation can be utilized for rapid outpatient care. A thorough physical exam and diagnostic evaluation prior to a procedure greatly reduces the potential untoward effects of sedation and general anesthesia.

While the age of a pet helps guide care, it is not considered an independent risk for anesthesia. All pets, regardless of age, especially those with medical illness, require careful consideration of the risk and benefits of anesthesia. Quite often, due to a pets’ pain, distress or lack of cooperation, the risks of attempting treatment awake outweigh the risk of utilizing sedation or anesthesia. In certain instances, full general anesthesia can actually be safer than light sedation. A thorough physical exam and diagnostic evaluation can greatly minimize the potential untoward effects of sedation and general anesthesia.

Previous medical records are not required for care. However, records or lab work from your primary veterinarian, if available, may aid in your pets’ care at PriorityVet.

We do not perform euthanasia as a stand-alone service or pre-arranged procedure. We will perform euthanasia when indicated for pets that have come to us for urgent care, diagnostics or treatment. Please contact your primary care veterinarian to arrange for the end-of-life care you desire for your pet. If your pet is ill or in distress please contact us to discuss diagnostic or treatment options.

The proper care and treatment of exotic pets requires specialized staff training, equipment and facilities. PriorityVet currently limits its’ care to dogs and cats. Exotic pets are referred to a facility properly equipped to provide care to such pets.

PriorityVet is not equipped to provide care to wildlife. The safe and proper handling of all wildlife requires specific training and appropriate facilities. Inexperienced handling of wildlife can result in human injury and promote the transmission of wildlife infectious diseases to both humans and pets. Additionally, attempting to aid wildlife perceived to be injured or in distress can be more harmful to the animal or others nearby. Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact local animal control services, either directly or through local law enforcement, for instructions on aiding wildlife.

We will always recommend bringing your pet in to be seen. To aid in proper treatment of your pet in the case of toxicity, we may ask you to contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680. You will be provided with a case number which permits discussion between our veterinarian and a veterinary toxicologist regarding your pets’ care.

PriorityVet does not offer any advice over the phone for pets we have not previously treated in our facility. Appropriate and safe advice regarding the care of your pet, requires an on-site discussion of your concerns with our staff and a thorough examination of your pet by our veterinarian.

PriorityVet provides care to pets when your veterinarian is unavailable and we have no direct affiliation with any other veterinarian facility. We are unable to contact your veterinarian to discuss care while your pet is being treated even if you have been referred to us by them. Rest assured by recommending you to PriorityVet, that your veterinarian has confidence in our care of your pet. Your veterinarian will receive a complete report of your pets’ care, including available results of all tests, usually by the morning following your visit.

 PriorityVet serves Ocean and Monmouth counties with 2 locations. Our Toms River hospital is conveniently located on the westbound side of Route 37 West, 1-mile west of Garden State Parkway Exit 82A in Toms River. We are in Suite 14 of Cedarwood Plaza, directly across the highway from the iconic Miracle Pub. Our Howell hospital is located at the southbound corner of Route 9 snd Aldrich Road in the Howell Plaza Shopping Center next to Harbor Freight.