Stomach upset, including vomiting and diarrhea, is a common issue in dogs that we frequently address in urgent care. While some cases can be managed with home remedies, others may require prompt veterinary attention. This article offers essential information on gastrointestinal (GI) upset in dogs and suggests effective home remedies to try before deciding whether a late-night vet visit is necessary.

The Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020 was an extremely scary time for some. Personally, I was 9 months pregnant and due to be induced the second week of April 2020. Having a newborn baby, I imposed my own mandatory stay-at-home orders for the initial 12 weeks of the pandemic. While at home, I witnessed my coworkers struggling with the uptick in emergency visits due to primary care appointment shortages as well as an overall increase in pet adoptions.

Human urgent care facilities have existed since the 1970s, and the first known use of the term “urgent care” was in 1973. There are now over 14,000 urgent care facilities in the U.S., growing at a rate of 7% annually and with patient volumes up 60% since 2019. The main focus of urgent care facilities is treating acute but non-critical injuries and illnesses. By contrast, emergency rooms treat critical conditions, and PCPs and specialists may treat both acute and chronic conditions.

We’re thrilled to share that Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care is going live! We've been hard at work over the past year putting all the pieces together, and we're excited to launch later this year in Atlanta. Special shout-out to our incredible Chief Medical Officer Melissa Ehrlich who has been an incredible partner in building out our vision.