Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital - Byron Center

• Mobile Check-In is available and recommended. Register Here or Text “AESH” to 34947 and follow the on-screen prompts. Make sure your phone is not in “silent mode” and that you opt-in to receive text messages. You will receive a text message when it is time to bring your pet in. 

• We anticipate emergency visits to take several hours. Our lobby is currently open. However, most clients elect to return to the comfort of home during the wait. We can communicate with you over the phone for the duration of the visit. 

  Families presenting a pet for euthanasia will be escorted to a private exam room. We have no limitations on the number of family members that can be present for euthanasia.

• After your pet is brought into the hospital and you have checked in your pet, you are welcome to leave as long as you are available by phone. We promise to communicate with you as soon as we possibly can. After your pet has been assigned a doctor, typical wait times are 2-4 hours. Keep in mind that we are always seeing the critical patients, so at peak times, wait times can be extended 8 hours or more. We encourage you to head home after drop off, unless otherwise directed by our staff. We are willing to work with you if it's after midnight to pick up your pet in the morning if your pet is stable, and we've delivered the recommended care. 

• If the mobile check in was not completed, one of our veterinary assistants will call you first to discuss your pet’s medical history. This information will be shared with the veterinarian. 

• A veterinarian will communicate with in an exam room or over phone to discuss your pet’s physical exam findings, diagnostic results (if pre-approved), and recommendations for care (diagnostics and/or treatment). 

If diagnostic tests were preauthorized during admission and performed, one of our team members will call to go over these results once they are complete. We will send these results (and the full medical record) to your primary care veterinarian, but are happy to also email all diagnostic results to you directly upon request. We will discuss treatment recommendations with you at this time.

• When possible, we allow you to visit your pet during hospitalization, please contact us to arrange a visit

• We like to be in contact with owners of hospitalized patients during the daytime. You can get an update on your pet from the nurse anytime. 

• It is best to text for an update and a DVM will be able to follow up over the phone if needed. Please note that during peak times, the line to speak with a veterinarian is long. The vet will call you back once they are able. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we care for you and your pet.

• Click here to learn more about financing and payment options

• Payment is due at the time of service.

• We process payment over the phone whenever possible. Credit cards are easiest to process this way. We will make other arrangements for other payment methods.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, payment plans are available through CareCredit and ScratchPay. Please inquire with our team for assistance with these options.

• We understand that emergency care is never planned for so we do our best to openly communicate with you about the financial aspect of your pet’s medical care. One of our team members will call to communicate the financial aspect of the care recommended by the veterinarian. We can email you a copy of this treatment plan at any time.

• We accept cash, personal check (up to $500), and all major credit cards. We also offer payment plan options through CareCredit (medical credit card) and Scratch Pay (loan program that is not based on credit). These programs break up the cost of your pet’s medical care over weeks or months depending upon the program selected. Let us know if you have interest in one of these options anytime.

No. Pets determined to be in critical or unstable condition are given priority and receive immediate, life-saving care as needed. Stabilizing critical patients may extend the wait time for those with less urgent conditions, but rest assured, every pet is evaluated and treated based on the severity of their situation.

Our emergency department operates similarly to a human ER, prioritizing patients with life-threatening conditions. Pets with stable, non-urgent issues may experience longer wait times. We understand this can be frustrating, but please know that your pet has not been forgotten. If you notice any changes in your pet’s condition, inform us immediately so we can reassess. Triage is a necessary process, and while it can be difficult to wait, it’s a good sign if your pet’s condition doesn’t warrant immediate intervention.

No, we do not schedule appointments for emergencies. We see patients on a walk-in basis. To streamline the process, please text "AEH" (for Grand Rapids) or "AESH" (for Byron Center) to 34947 to alert our team that your pet needs care. If your pet is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, proceed directly to the hospital. For stable pets, we kindly ask that you wait at home until we contact you to proceed to the hospital (via phone or text) after you complete the digital registration.

Contact AESH immediately at (616) 537-1402. A veterinary technician will consult with the veterinarian to determine if your pet needs immediate care. Depending on the situation, you may be advised to contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 (a consultation fee applies) if the toxin is not one that we are familiar with (such as a human medicine not used in animals). Alternatively, you are welcome to bring your pet directly to AESH for evaluation.

Yes, in most cases, visits are welcomed. In some cases (such as contagious infection), visits are restricted. We recommend contacting us via phone or text to schedule a visit.

While we are not directly affiliated with your primary care veterinarian, we collaborate closely with them to ensure your pet receives comprehensive care. Please note that we do not have direct access to your pet’s medical records unless they email them to us before their hospital closes. We share all medical information from your visit with your primary veterinarian.

No, we provide care exclusively within our facility and do not offer house calls or ambulatory services.

Yes, we have a veterinarian and a team of highly skilled veterinary nurses on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays.

Similar to a human emergency room, wait times vary based on the number and urgency of cases at any given time. The average time spent for an emergency visit is 2-4 hours. Patients are seen in order of medical priority. During peak hours, wait times may be longer, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we care for every pet in need.

Euthanasia is commonly referred to as “putting down” or “putting to sleep”. This is a very hard decision many pet owners must make at the last stage of their pet’s life.

Our euthanasia process is designed to be as peaceful as possible. Once you and the doctor have determined that this is the best choice, your pet will have an intravenous catheter placed for administration of medicine that will help your pet relax. We allow you as much time as you’d like to visit and say goodbye to your family member. When you are ready, the doctor will join you to provide an overview of what to expect. Euthanasia is performed by administration of an anesthetic overdose which is peaceful and painless. Aftercare options include taking your pet home for burial or cremation. We partner with Trusted Journey to make arrangements. We are willing to partner with other local crematoriums upon your request. There are options to get ashes returned, paw prints, or other mementos offered through the local crematorium.

Our veterinarians are available to discuss your options. They are very familiar with the experience, and are able to talk about the process and the feelings that come with it. Please contact us for information on options, timelines, and references for support through the grieving process.