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VEG Cary
OPEN 24/7

VEG Emergency Vet in Cary, North Carolina

24-hour animal hospital

call now and speak to a doctor:

24 Hour Emergency Vet Hospital and Urgent Pet Care in Cary, North Carolina

Dr. Heather Rhoden

Dr. Heather Rhoden

Medical Director

Oklahoma State University; NC State University (MBA); Texas A&M (internship)

Dr. Rhoden, a Nebraska native, has been passionate about veterinary medicine since the age of 3. Her journey has taken her from the quiet fields of rural Nebraska to a multifaceted career in veterinary medicine. She earned her DVM in 2014, completed an internship in 2015 and most recently added an MBA in 2025.

Her career path has been diverse and fulfilling: from being a General Practitioner for 8 months, to an Emergency Doctor and Interim Department Manager at a busy multispecialty hospital to serving as a clinical instructor in Emergency and Critical Care at NC State's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Heather has also worked as a Relief Veterinarian (think substitute teacher for vets) across several states, a business consultant, career mentor, and national Continuing Education (CE) provider. She’s had the privilege of wearing many hats, each contributing to her deep commitment to improving veterinary practices and mentoring others.

Heather joined VEG as a curious Per Diem doctor, unsure if the VEG way would be the right fit for her. But it didn’t take long for her to realize that VEG isn’t "normal," and the unique approach made providing care when pets and people need it most, not only easier but far more fulfilling.

Now, as the Medical Director, Heather is excited to focus on what she’s truly passionate about—delivering high-quality care for emergency and critically ill patients, and fostering leadership development. She loves teaching emergency medicine and helping the hospital run more smoothly and efficiently. What she values most about working at VEG is the opportunity to make a real impact—both in her field and on the lives of her colleagues.

VEG animal hospital in Cary, North Carolina is open 24/7 to handle any veterinary emergency in Wake County – big or small. Our animal care team provides pet emergency care for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and even exotic animals. 


Parking for our 24-hour animal hospital in Cary, North Carolina

VEG in Cary is accessible from the Crescent Commons Shopping Center entrance on Kildaire Farm Road. You can also access VEG from the entrance on Tryon Rd. You’ll find convenient parking in the large lot outside our door. Need help getting your pet into the hospital? Call ahead – one of our VEGgies will meet you out front.


Cary emergency vet hospital—always open

Our 24-hour veterinary clinic for pet emergencies and urgent care is conveniently located just southwest of Raleigh, within minutes of Apex, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Holly Springs. 


Whether your dog seems unusually tired after exploring downtown Cary with you or your cat needs ate something potentially toxic, call us or just walk in for immediate emergency vet care in Cary — no appointments taken. 


Our hospital in Cary has an open plan design, where you can stay by your pet’s side at all times. Get expert pet medical services from our team of compassionate, ER-trained veterinary doctors, vet nurses, and assistants. We’ll share records and collaborate with your family vet for a smooth care experience. Overnight hospitalization is available and pet parents are always welcome to stay with their pet. 


Our Cary emergency vet hospital is also a blood bank for dogs

VEG Cary is a VEG Blood Bank location, which provides blood for canines. These donations help save the lives of dogs in need of transfusions. The blood we store can be available to a VEG hospital or shared with a local veterinarian. It’s one more way VEG can give back to the community. You can help by signing up your dog to be a blood donor. To find out more, ask one of our VEGgies about the VEG Blood Bank.

OPEN 24/7

2030 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, NC 27518

Why Choose VEG ER for Pets

customer-focused veterinary emergency care

call us 24/7

Pet emergencies shouldn’t be put on hold. Call and speak with a veterinarian 24 hours a day to get your medical questions answered.

see a vet now

No appointment needed, walk in 24/7 – VEG is always open. Emergency vet care starts the moment you walk in the door.

stay together

No waiting and wondering in a lobby. Stay with your pet the entire time and get as involved as you like in their care.

stress less

At VEG, we make a scary situation less stressful. We sit on the floor with your pet, or wherever they’re most comfortable.

Emergency Care

Exotic Pet Care

Pet Urgent Care

End-of-life Care

Vet Surgery

Endoscopy

Pet Ultrasound

and X-rays

Diagnostics

and Testing

Treatment and

Hospitalizations

open now for:

Emergency vet care, always open and ready

bark blog

Care, health, and safety blogs about every kind of pet, from fur to feathers, and shells to scales!

Birds & Exotics
Cats
Common Emergenices

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the services at VEG ER for Pets

IS VEG OPEN 24 HOURS?

Yes, all VEG locations are open all the time – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – even on holidays and weekends to care for pet emergencies.

DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT?

At VEG, we don’t take appointments, because we deal with emergencies. When the unexpected happens, call us or walk in to your nearest VEG location 24/7 for immediate care.

HOW DO I KNOW IF IT’S AN EMERGENCY?

Never self-diagnose your pet. Sometimes you just can’t tell if your pet is having a true emergency. But VEG can. Call your local VEG anytime and a veterinarian will answer your medical questions and determine if you should come in.

CAN I GO TO VEG FOR URGENT CARE?

Yes, VEG offers Pet Urgent Care for injuries and illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, limping, wounds, ear infections, eye problems, and constipation! Visit your local VEG and we’ll triage urgent care for your pet immediately. Learn more about the medical services we offer.

WHERE CAN I TAKE MY PET BIRD OR EXOTIC PET IN AN EMERGENCY?

VEG is skilled to handle emergency care for avians, reptiles, and all types of exotic pets.

DO I HAVE TO CALL BEFORE COMING IN?

Though you can just walk into any of our 24 hour hospitals, we recommend calling first so we’re familiar with the situation when you come in.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT VEG?

When you take your pet to VEG, you’ll be seen by a veterinarian right away, even before filling out paperwork. We’ll even meet you at your car if you need help bringing in your pet. No waiting in the lobby; you stay with your pet the entire time, even if surgery is involved. And yes, we’re pet lovers, but we’re people-friendly too! We’ll openly discuss diagnosis and treatment options. And we always make sure the pet patient and pet parent are as comfortable as possible.

the reviews are in!

August 5, 2026

Jordi Montes
I’m caring for my mom’s dog, Schuyler, for her while she is undergoing cancer treatments, so my family and I are already stressed but when Schuyler had some stomach issues at 1am I needed help and I’m glad I went to VEG ER Cary. As soon as I arrived, I was greeted immediately and Schuyler was triaged and in line to see the Dr. The whole staff, from front desk to vet tech to vet were always kind, had a sense of urgency, empathetic, helpful, listened fully and you could tell they understand how important our pets are to us. I felt like they treated us as if we were their own family. They offer snacks and drinks while you wait, and the wait can be a bit because they make sure critical patients are stable and it is an ER after all, but they constantly checked in on me and Schuyler while we did wait. I will say, and this has nothing to do with the staff or hospital itself, but they have an open concept sort of setup so you do see everyone that comes in and the initial triage steps. I had to witness a few very sad, hard moments as other very critical patients came in and were triaged and that was hard for me. I wasn’t aware of this, so I just wasn’t prepared and I have some trauma from my past that was triggered a bit, so I just want to warn people of this as just a heads up. Now that I know, I will still always chose to come here in the future if unfortunately a best friend of mine needs emergency care, because it is worth it for the care and kindness of the whole team as well as their invaluable knowledge and desire to help our babies. And just side note, they do have private rooms and they did always move those critical patients to have privacy with their families eventually, but the initial triage is done right in the huge room with everyone so they can all tend to the pet immediately and so your pet is never taken away from you and you are able to be with it while they treat it every step of the way which is incredible. If unfortunately at some point your best friend needs medical care, this is the place to go. I’m very grateful to them for all their help and empathy when me and my family were going thru a very stressful time. Each and every one of the staff members at VEG ER Cary are heroes in my book.

July 28, 2026

Beth McLaughlin
VEG took amazing care of our cat, Paisley, over the weekend when her regular vet was closed. From immediate triage, to the care she needed following that, she was treated with care, compassion, and remarkable thoroughness. The staff treated her humans the same way, explaining her care, her diagnosis, (pancreatitis,) and discussing next steps with us and seeking our approval for each stage of her care. Costs were discussed up front. I was expecting her treatment to cost a good bit more than it did, so that was a pleasant surprise. Thank you, VEG, for taking care of our family.

June 3, 2026

Mandi Hofmann
Today was our first visit to VEG and I was pleased with our time there. Our regular mobile vet couldn't fit us in so I headed to VEG to have my dog's eye checked out after an incident. It was busy but I felt like we were seen in a reasonable amount of time at a reasonable price. I liked that my dog was able to sit with me while we waited and during the exam. It helped keep him calm. Everyone we encountered was caring, kind and thorough. Will definitely return if needed.
37,359 Total reviews

4.8

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