It’s 11 p.m. and your dog is sick. Who you gonna call? Pets After Dark
Pittsburgh pet owners who need veterinary advice after hours now have another alternative to animal emergency hospitals.
Dr. Caroline Simard-Swimmer, a full-time veterinarian and owner of two dogs — 9-year-old puli Dixie Ray and 2-year-old Australian shepherd Mabel Z — says she “understands the stress that afterhours questions and issues can cause and the relief that comes with expert answers, compassionately delivered.”
That’s why she and her husband, entrepreneur Howard Swimmer, created Pets After Dark, a telehealth subscriber network that immediately connects pet owners after hours to a local veterinarian who has access to each pet’s medical history.
The on-call vet conducts an audio or video consultation, makes an expert care recommendation and can arrange an in-person appointment with the pet’s regular veterinarian the next office day. A report is then sent to the pet’s veterinarian that documents the telehealth consultation so that there is continuity of care.
Dr. Simard-Swimmer, a native of Montreal, Canada, has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 30 years. She spent three years in emergency and critical care before opening her own practice in Montreal. She has been in Pittsburgh over 20 years and works at Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic. She and her husband live in Fox Chapel.
The business was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw veterinary emergency rooms filled to capacity and pets and owners waiting hours to consult with a medical professional. Sometimes they were turned away. The idea was to provide pet owners with immediate answers, especially for non-emergencies.
“It filled me with discomfort that people didn’t have anywhere to go,” Dr. Simard-Swimmer said. “I remember one Christmas Eve, BluePearl [Pet Hospital] sent a message that they were closing down at 6:30 p.m. because they were at capacity. How can an emergency facility close?”
The service, which covers all pets ina home, costs $100 per month for a 12-month commitment. If paid
annually, there is no charge for the 12th-month.
Danny and Lyndsay Clark, of East Liberty, are clients of Pets After Dark.
“We spent so much money at [Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center] after hours when there was no need,” Mr. Clark said.
They signed up for the service, which now provides coverage for their 9-year-old German wirehaired pointer, Fred, and 6-year-old Pomeranian, Rose. Mr. Clark often works in the evenings so “having a professional for my wife to call when confronted with a sick animal is helpful,” he said.
The Clarks used the service after Fred had surgery to remove his front leg due to cancer.
“It was great to be able to reach out to someone with questions while he was recovering,” Mr. Clark said. “The fact that I could call and the vet on call could pull up my records was comforting.”
Meg Glimcher and her 3-year -old German shepherd, Vienna, are also clients of Pets After Dark. Dr. Simard-Swimmer is her personal vet.
“She is so compassionate, so kind. She really wants to help,” said Ms. Glimcher, a Squirrel Hill resident. “It’s peace of mind and when it comes to family, you can’t put a price on that.”
She called Pets After Dark recently when Vienna had a scab on her mouth that would not stop bleeding.
“Rather than taking her to PVSEC and waiting for six hours, I was able to make a quick call and have my mind put at ease. It’s like calling the pediatrician,” Ms. Glimcher said.
The service is available from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday. Callers to 855-AFTRDRK (2387375) are connected to the vet on call in less than two minutes. All of the on-call veterinarians are from the Pittsburgh area and are chosen by Dr. Simard-Swimmer to ensure the highest level of veterinary care and compassion, she said.
On-call veterinarians are able to access clients’ veterinary records, which have been preloaded into the computer.
On-call veterinarians are not able to prescribe medications without physically seeing the pet. However, the vet can make a recommendation and, if necessary, schedule a follow-up appointment with the pet’s regular veterinarian the next day. In extreme situations, they can contact the emergency room of the client’s choice, forward the medical records and let them know that the pet is on the way.
The on-call vet will also provide a written summary of the call to the client’s veterinarian, providing continuity of care and potentially eliminating the need for duplicate lab work or medical procedures.
Dr. Simard-Swimmer and her husband have spent months meeting with local veterinarians and emergency veterinary clinics about participating in the service. There is no cost to the vet and it ensures that their clients are cared for when they are not available.
The partnership allows them to have slots set aside for next day follow-up appointments or transmitting medical records ahead of time to emergency clinics.
“The goal is to keep people at home, if appropriate,” said Dr. Simard-Swimmer. “And, if not, we can help to facilitate the pet being seen in person.”
As an example, she spoke of a pet that has a seizure, which usually results in rushing the pet to the ER. By the time the pet is seen, the symptoms have often subsided. On-call veterinarians from Pets After Dark can help determine the seriousness and may recommend the pet see its usual vet the next day.
Missed doses of medication, chronic medical conditions and post-surgical treatment are all examples of calls that on-call vets are prepared to handle. There is no limit on the number of calls to Pets After Dark for subscribers.
While telemedicine can be controversial, Dr. Simard-Swimmer feels strongly that it works for pets.
“You will always speak to a local vet. This is a way to do telemedicine in an ethical way,” she said.
In addition to answering medical questions, Pets After Dark wants to be a resource for any question related to pets, everything from puppies’ play-biting to “zoomies” getting out of hand.
“There is no call (or video consultation) that we won’t welcome.” Dr. Simard-Swimmer says.
As Pets After Dark approaches its first-year anniversary, there are discussions about expanding beyond the Pittsburgh metropolitan area as well as offering discounts for various pet services.
Dr. Simard-Swimmer said her and her husband’s goal is to “bring back what seems to have been lost in the aftermath of the pandemic, which is love, empathy, compassion and a return to what veterinary medicine is all about.”