Most owners sit in two uncomfortable places: waiting too long on a pet that is getting worse, or driving across town for a problem that can wait until morning. This guide is a decision aid. It is not a diagnosis, and it is not our urgent-care service page. For daytime urgent visits — what to do while we are open, what we do not claim — read emergency and urgent vet care, then call.
Huntington Beach Veterinary Hospital is at 724 E Utica Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Phone (714) 536-7591. Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 am–6:00 pm · Saturday 8:00 am–6:00 pm · Sunday closed. We see dogs and cats. We are not a 24-hour hospital.
Start with the whole pet, not one symptom
Before you decide, look at the animal in front of you. Is your dog or cat breathing easily? Can they stand and walk? Have they eaten or drunk anything in the last few hours? Are they passing urine and stool? A pet that is bright, eating, and moving, with a mild itch or a vaccine that is a few weeks overdue, is usually a candidate for a scheduled visit. A pet that cannot settle, cannot breathe comfortably, or cannot stand is not a “wait and see” case.
Write down one sentence: what changed, when it started, and whether there was a toxin, trauma, or a missed litter box. That sentence is what the front desk needs. Do not drive to 8851 Adams Avenue — that is a different clinic.
Call during open hours — now, not after a nap
Call (714) 536-7591 during posted hours if you see any of the following in a dog or cat:
- Trouble breathing, choking, pale or blue gums, or a pet that will not lie down because air seems scarce
- Collapse, a seizure, or you cannot wake them
- Bleeding that soaks a towel, a pet hit by a car, a fall from a balcony, or bite wounds
- Known or suspected toxin: chocolate, grapes or raisins, xylitol, rat bait, lilies (cats), or a human pill
- A male cat straining in the box with little or no urine — treat that as urgent, not “constipation”
- A bloated, hard belly, or a dog that is restless and retching without producing food
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea with blood, or a puppy or kitten that cannot keep water down
We will tell you whether to come to E Utica Avenue or go straight to a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital. We cannot promise a wait time, and we cannot promise every case stays here. That decision belongs to the veterinarian, not this webpage.
This can usually wait for an appointment
Book a regular slot — request an appointment or use the PetDesk app — when the pet is otherwise themselves and you are dealing with:
- A vaccine that is a few weeks overdue, or a puppy/kitten series you still need to start
- Mild itch, a small skin flake, or a nail that is long but not bleeding heavily
- Planning boarding or a routine spay or neuter
- A dental concern you noticed on a calm mouth, with normal eating
After hours and Sunday
If we are closed — evenings, overnight, and all day Sunday — we do not staff a night desk. Do not leave a voicemail and wait if your pet cannot breathe, is collapsing, or ate a toxin. Go to a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital. We do not name a default after-hours hospital on this site.
For poison questions, ASPCA Animal Poison Control (not affiliated with HBVH; a consultation fee may apply) is 1-888-426-4435.
Read the service page: daytime urgent care. Then book if it can wait, or call (714) 536-7591 if we are open and it cannot.