For Patients

If your pet is experiencing a medical crisis or needs to see a specialist, we are here to help. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 516-420-0000.

VREC Westbury emergency and critical care department offers 24 hour admissions for urgent, critical, or emergency situations in Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Queens. We also offer continuous care on weekends and holidays, to cater to any and all needs that might arise for your cat or dog. We are dedicated to one thing: helping your pet get well.

Our team works closely with you and your family veterinarian to provide an unparalleled level of comprehensive, specialized care from diagnosis through aftercare. You have our assurance: from the moment you arrive at our hospital, you'll be assisted by experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate members of our staff. Specialists are on hand to provide emergency and critical care; internal medicine; neurology and neurosurgery; oncology; and general surgery.

At the Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury, we pride ourselves on our caring nature and our knowledgeable, well-trained staff. Our full-service hospital is uniquely qualified to address major, life-threatening, or otherwise challenging health problems in your dog or cat's life.

While the professional aspects of our hospital take a prominent role, we never forget our primary mission: keeping people with their pets to enjoy longer, happier, healthier lives. Our goal is to make sure that your experience with us is the best it can be.

We are Fear Free Certified

VREC Westbury has taken on an important initiative designed to further the hospital’s purpose of improving the quality of life for patients, clients, the family veterinarian, and our staff. Less stress means greater safety and well-being for patients, and The Fear Free initiative will help to create better medical outcomes and experiences for your pet.

How Fear Free Works
A typical example of how Fear Free works is when a stressed, fearful pet is sitting in the lobby, and a VREC Westbury team member takes that pet out of that environment as soon as possible (into a quiet room or area). In the new, less stressful space, pheromones are sprayed on towels and blankets to help soothe the patient, and the doctor and technician speak calmly and move slowly to prevent the patient from being startled. Treats are employed to coax the patient through the treatments and exams. This allows us to turn a negative atmosphere into a positive one.

What VREC Westbury did to Take Veterinary Care to the Next Level
The Fear Free initiative provides veterinary team members with the knowledge and tools to not only look after a pet’s physical well-being, but his/her emotional well-being, too. We know that stress and anxiety associated with taking a pet to the veterinarian is a significant obstacle in delivering medical care. Fear leads to trauma for patients, and as a result, pet parents visit their veterinarian less frequently or not at all. The Fear Free initiative is a solution that can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, resulting in a better experience for all involved, including pets, pet
parents, and veterinary health care teams.

Many of our team members are Fear Free Certified and we continue our commitment to enhancing the level of care we provide to our patients.

You may find more information about this initiative and how you can make your own home Fear Free at fearfreepets.com.