Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury Introduce
Hello, New York pet parents! When an unexpected health crisis strikes your beloved animal, or when your pet requires specialized medical attention beyond routine care, knowing where to turn for expert, compassionate help is absolutely critical. For those of you on Long Island, particularly in and around Westbury, the Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury (VREC Westbury) stands as a vital lifeline. This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to providing urgent, emergency, and specialized veterinary care, ensuring your pet receives the highest level of treatment when they need it most. This article will provide a clear, engaging, and informative overview of their services, their location, and what makes them a highly recommended choice for local pet owners in times of critical need.
The Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury, often referred to as VREC Westbury or VCA Westbury in customer reviews, is more than just an animal hospital; it's a comprehensive hub for advanced veterinary medicine. They are equipped to handle a wide spectrum of urgent medical conditions and offer specialized services through referrals from primary veterinarians. The team at VREC Westbury operates with a profound understanding of the stress and worry that pet owners experience during emergencies. From the front desk staff to the veterinary technicians and the doctors themselves, every member is committed to providing a supportive, friendly, and professional environment. Their expertise ranges from diagnosing common but perplexing issues like "swimmer's tail" to coordinating care for injured wildlife, demonstrating their broad commitment to animal welfare. The focus is always on thorough evaluations, clear explanations, and effective treatment plans, all delivered with genuine kindness and a proactive approach to follow-up care.
The Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury is conveniently located at 609-5 Cantiague Rock Rd, Westbury, NY 11590, USA. This strategic location on Long Island makes it highly accessible for residents across Nassau County and beyond, especially for those in urgent situations where every minute counts. Cantiague Rock Road is a well-known thoroughfare, ensuring that finding the facility is straightforward, even when you're under stress.
For emergency and referral centers, accessibility is paramount. The location in Westbury provides easy access from major parkways and routes on Long Island, allowing for quick transport of critically ill or injured pets from various communities. Ample parking is typically available at facilities of this size, which is a crucial convenience when you're arriving with an unwell animal. The design of such a center usually includes dedicated entryways for emergencies, streamlining the intake process. This central and accessible location reinforces VREC Westbury's role as a critical resource for emergency and specialty veterinary care, making it a reliable destination for pet owners facing complex or sudden health challenges for their companions.
The Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury provides a comprehensive suite of emergency and specialized veterinary services, designed to address a wide range of critical and complex health issues that pets may face. Their capabilities extend beyond those of a typical general practice, offering advanced diagnostics and expert medical interventions.
Services Offered:
- 24/7 Emergency Care: Immediate medical attention for acute illnesses, injuries, poisoning, sudden lameness, severe vomiting/diarrhea, and other critical conditions, available around the clock.
- Urgent Care Consultations: Prompt evaluations and treatment for conditions that require timely attention but may not be immediately life-threatening.
- Advanced Diagnostic Imaging: Access to advanced tools such as X-rays, ultrasound, and potentially CT scans or MRI (depending on in-house or referral capabilities) for precise diagnosis of internal issues, fractures, and soft tissue injuries.
- In-House Laboratory Services: Rapid blood work, urinalysis, and other essential lab tests for quick and accurate diagnostic results, crucial in emergency situations.
- Internal Medicine Referrals: Expert evaluation and management of complex internal diseases affecting various organ systems (e.g., gastrointestinal, respiratory, endocrine, kidney, liver), often through specialized consultation.
- Soft Tissue Surgery: Emergency and scheduled surgeries for conditions such as foreign body removal, wound repair, tumor excisions, and other internal surgical needs.
- Pain Management: Administration of pain relief medications and strategies to ensure pet comfort during and after treatment.
- Hospitalization and Intensive Care: Facilities for continuous monitoring, intravenous fluid therapy, oxygen support, and other critical care needs for severely ill or injured animals.
- Management of Neurological Issues: Initial assessment and stabilization for conditions like seizures or sudden paralysis, with potential for referral to specialized neurology services if required. (As exemplified by "swimmer's tail" diagnosis and treatment).
- Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Assistance: Demonstrated willingness to assist with injured wildlife, coordinating with rehabilitation centers, showcasing their broad commitment to animal welfare beyond just companion animals.
The Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury is consistently praised for several key features and highlights that underscore their commitment to outstanding patient care and client support during stressful times.
Features / Highlights:
- Highly Responsive and Friendly Staff: From the front desk to vet techs, the entire team is noted for being "super friendly right from the start" and "beyond outstanding" in their helpfulness and kindness, creating a supportive atmosphere.
- Expert and Thorough Veterinarians: Doctors like Dr. George Kartsonas DVM conduct "thorough evaluation" and provide clear, comprehensive explanations of conditions (e.g., "swimmer's tail"), ensuring pet owners are well-informed.
- Proactive Follow-Up Care: The office's initiative to "reach out thru text" days after a visit demonstrates a genuine concern for patient recovery and continued well-being, which is greatly appreciated by pet owners.
- Compassionate Approach: The team's kindness and care, especially during stressful or difficult situations, make a significant difference for both the pets and their human families.
- Comprehensive Emergency Capabilities: Equipped to handle a wide range of urgent and emergency conditions, providing vital services when immediate attention is needed.
- Assistance with Injured Wildlife: Their willingness to help injured wildlife and facilitate their transfer to rehabilitation centers highlights their broad commitment to animal welfare and community service.
- Highly Recommended by Clients: Repeat business and enthusiastic recommendations from satisfied pet owners underscore the high quality of care and positive experiences provided.
- Clear Communication: Explanations are provided in an understandable manner, helping pet owners comprehend diagnoses and treatment plans effectively.
Contact Information:
Address: 609-5 Cantiague Rock Rd, Westbury, NY 11590, USA
Phone: (516) 420-0000
Mobile Phone: +1 516-420-0000
For pet owners on Long Island, New York, particularly those in Westbury and surrounding communities, the Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury (VREC Westbury) is an indispensable resource. Its role as a dedicated emergency and referral center means that when your pet faces a sudden crisis or requires specialized diagnostics and treatment, you have immediate access to expert care.
The consistent praise from real customers highlights their compassionate and friendly staff, expert veterinarians like Dr. George Kartsonas, and a proactive approach to follow-up care. Knowing that there's a facility ready to provide thorough evaluations, clear explanations, and effective treatment, even for unusual conditions like "swimmer's tail," provides immense peace of mind. Furthermore, their willingness to assist with injured wildlife underscores their deep commitment to all animals. For any unforeseen pet emergencies or when your primary vet recommends specialist consultation, VREC Westbury is unequivocally a highly suitable and highly recommended destination for local residents, ensuring your cherished companion receives the best possible care.
Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury Photos










Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury Location
Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury
609-5 Cantiague Rock Rd, Westbury, NY 11590, USA
Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury Reviews
My dog Winston had such an exciting day little hike, then went swimming … then by 8pm he was whining, uncomfortable, not able to sit and not wagging his tail. We took him to an emergency vet & I’m so happy I decided to go to VCA Westbury. The staff was super friendly right from the start! Front desk was super helpful, the vet tech as well. Winston was seen by Dr George Kartsonas DVM, he did a thorough evaluation & turns out Winston had symptoms of ‘swimmers tail’. I have never heard of such a thing but Dr Kartsonas explained everything to us and prescribed some anti inflammatory & pain relief meds. 2 days after our visit the office reached out thru text which meant a lot to us! My dog is back to his happy self after days of rest and meds, tail wagging and all! I can’t thank Dr Kartsonas and the entire VCA staff for such kindness and taking good care of our winsty ❤️Hope we don’t have any other doggie emergencies but if we do, we will return to VCA Westbury! Highly recommend!!
May 17, 2025 · Karol RiveraNancy and the team at veterinarian referral & emergency center of Westbury were beyond outstanding in helping with the injured bird, a Robin, that was on our front porch this weekend! After walking me through the best way to bring it to them unharmed, they took it to a rehabilitation center and made sure it was healthy and then released it. It was a great experience for our family to see an injured animal helped back to its natural environment. Thank you Nancy and the Dr.'s and Team at Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury!
Feb 25, 2025 · Aaron KatzDon't bring your pet here in an emergency. Look elsewhere. My dog had a hard time breathing, so we took her here. They ran tests and told us it was pneumonia. Said to keep her there overnight to see if she gets better on antibiotics and oxygen. Said we can pick her in a few day's, if she gets better. Called us the next day to ask if we can come in to see if her breathing is normal or if it's getting worse. You're an animal hospital and are the experts, but you want me to drive in to give you the answer. We told them we would not visit that night because we didn't want to get her worked up and then leave her again. So we went the day after. I told the Dr that her breathing improved, better than when we brought her in. They insisted on keeping her another couple of day's, but my wife was still worried and made the decision to let them hold her over the weekend. We got home, and a few hours later, she was critical and died while I was over the phone with them, asking if I wanted to resuscitate. It's crazy how she went downhill so fast after we saw her. Our mistake was us leaving her there. They clearly don't know how to take care of English Bulldogs. If you have one, don't take it here in an emergency. If we had taken her home and she stayed in the AC in my house, relaxed and on antibiotics, she would still be alive. Paid almost $10,000 for 4 days, and they killed my baby girl. Hope she didn't die of a broken heart because she thought we were not coming back for her and horrible care by them because they dont know how get a English Bulldog comfortable. If you love your dog, please go elsewhere. My wife's and I life is shattered because of this. R.I.P Bella. 😢
May 25, 2025 · Ernest NadeauI can’t thank Nancy enough for her kindness. I brought my shepherd in tonight because she ingested a small amount of the Hydrogen Peroxide and wasn’t able to throw up. My baby was received by a nurse immediately upon my arrival even before i fill out any paperwork. They performed the vital and told me my puppy will be fine. What is most amazing is that they didn’t charge me anything since it’s a quick vital check. This is a facility that cares! i was so nervous about my puppy’s health and the cost before i went in but so beyond relieved and touched when I was told my baby would be okay and there’s no charge at all. They are there to help not to solely make a profit! If I have any further vet related emergency, I will feel so comfortable knowing my beloved pet families are in good hands with good people. Strongly recommend this clinic for any of your veterinary needs
Apr 10, 2025 · Jessica LiuWhen my cat was not eating last year because of stress and because her long time friend had died recently, the VCA hospital took very good care of her. They prescribed her appetite stimulants that helped her finally eat. We were very grateful for their care. Thank you to the staff as well for having been so caring, polite, and professional. This is my go-to emergency hospital.
Jun 08, 2025 · H. I. Latorre
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