The summer is the craziest, says Dr. Emily Dudley, DVM, who has worked at Grady for about a year and has spent considerable time on the after-hours shift. Winter can be hectic, too, but the weather from May to August provides an opportune time for emergency situations. Vets might see 20 or more animals a night. Dudley sees mostly minor cases, like incessant scratching, vomiting or diarrhea at night, but the shift can get ugly. We'll see emergencies until midnight, sometimes until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.
Surgeries follow, then come the non-emergency procedures like sewing up lacerations.
But if a pet comes in with immediate needs, the vets drop everything and get to that case. And most of the time, they discourage owners from staying overnight, since they facility isn't equipped for a comfortable overnight stay. Pets are not the only animals Grady vets help. If someone brings in an animal that isn't theirs, they can pay for the care themselves. But sometimes, unclaimed animals go home with Grady employees.