MU Small Animal Hospital cuts back on some after-hours emergency service

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A shortage of veterinarians led to one of the University of Missouri's animal hospitals to cut back on some emergency service hours.

The MU Veterinary Health Center's Small Animal Hospital stopped overnight emergency service for animals not already patients of the center. The hospital's website said it will still offer help "when animals are suffering serious or life-threatening illness or injuries that require immediate care."

The Small Animal Hospital is one of a few locations in town providing emergency help for people's pets, like cats and dogs. University spokesman Christian Basi told ABC 17 news that an uptick in pet adoptions during the COCIVD-19 pandemic has also created more work for the hospital.

"We do anticipate getting back to regular hours in the next few weeks as we have been able to hire some additional veterinarians," Basi said.

Horton Animal Hospital Discovery also offers emergency animal health care.

The ASPCA reported in May that one in five homes in the U.S. adopted a pet since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey also found that 90 percent of dog adopters and 85 percent of cat adopters planned on keeping their pets.