Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services

To our Rochester community:

With a heavy heart, we want to share that we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close the VSES hospital. Our last operating day will be no later than November 27th, 2023.

Despite our efforts to explore various solutions to remain operational, including recruitment and staffing rotations with doctors from other clinics in the area, the shortage of qualified candidates with emergency and surgical care experience has left us with limited options.

In the meantime, we are committed to continuing to serve our community as long as we can ensure a reliable schedule of care for our patients.

Starting this Friday, August 25th, VSES will be open from Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If your pet has been the patient at our Specialty veterinary care services and you wish to receive a copy of your pet’s records via email, please contact [email protected]. Your pet’s medical records will be available in our system and can be forwarded even after our hospital’s end date.



If your pet is experiencing an emergency outside of our operating hours, please contact Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center at 716 662 6660 (press option 2) or Green Acres Veterinary Center at 716 694 0122.



It has been our pleasure serving you and your beloved pets. Thank you for trusting us with your pet’s emergency and specialty healthcare needs.

International Blind Dog Day, observed on August 23, is a day meant to appreciate blind dogs. Blind dogs are just like any other group of animals or humans with a disability.

Pictured is Fig, who is living his best life!

Today is National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day!

Cats are known for their crazy acrobatics as well as narrow escapes, which may be what earned them the erroneous claim of having nine lives. Felines might seem invincible, but they’re not! Take care of their one life the best you can by scheduling regular wellness visits with your vet. 🐈

Pictured is Princess Carolyn at her last vet visit.

To our Rochester community:

Our doors will remain open for you and your pets Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

We no longer provide overnight hospitalization from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Please note that we still accept drop-offs for scheduled specialty appointments from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

If your pet is experiencing an emergency during night hours, please contact Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center at (716) 662-6660 (press option 2) or Green Acres Veterinary Center at (716) 694-0122.

Happy International Cat Day from some of the many cats of VSES!

If you have a feline friend, post them in the comments! 😸

Happy Dogust! - August 1 is the universal birthday for all shelter dogs!

Today is National Mutt Day! Pictured are Morty and Scruffy, a couple of mixed breed cuties who belong to some of our awesome employees!

Not only do we love mutts for their unique personalities and looks, but these dogs also have less risk of developing health issues that can be common among purebreds thanks to their blended genetics!

Celebrate them today by sharing a photo of your mixed breed dog in the comments. 🐶

Happy National Dog Photography Day from some of the dogs of VSES!
Share your canine friends in the comments!

Noelle was so pleased with the care that her dog, Dittles, received here at VSES, she let us share her adorable face with you! We are so glad she's feeling better!

Started by the Kennel Club and ADT in 2009, was created to raise awareness around learning how to keep pets safe in the event of a fire.

Our tip: Make a family evacuation plan and practice it with your pets to make sure you keep those you love safe from harm.

Today is National Kitten Day! Here's a great resource for anyone adopting or fostering kittens 😸

Kitten Care Cheat Sheets for Foster Families and Adopters These 8 downloads will help foster families and adopters with feeding, housing, and bathing kittens.

Enter the Rochester Hope for Pets photo contest for a chance to have your pet featured on the inaugural 2024 Paws Around the World Calendar! You can also donate and vote for your favorite pet!

Check out 2024 Paws Around the World Calendar Contest benefiting Rochester Hope for Pets. 2024 Paws Around the World Calendar Contest

Thanks Perinton Veterinary Hospital for more great information! Happy World Chocolate Day - but only for humans!

Today is World Chocolate Day. Please make sure your pets do not get any though.

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at VSES!

Pictured is Alfie, all decked out to celebrate and Charlie feeling patriotic in front of the stars & stripes!

Fireworks can be terrifying for our furry friends. Here's some helpful tips for dealing with the July 4th holiday celebrations.

Important information from VSES. Any questions or concerns, call us at 585-424-1277.

more important information shared by Perinton Veterinary Hospital! Thank you for sharing!

Take your pet to work week day 5!

Take your pet to work week day 4!

Take your pet to work week day 3!

Take your pet to work week, day 2!

June 19th-23rd is Take Your Pet to Work Week! This week, we'll be posting shots of employee pets enjoying their time 'in the office'!

RIP Carl. Thank you for your kind words, Tom.

Gauge has been donating blood through the Amy Karch Memorial Blood Bank to help other animals.

Gauge will be celebrating his 8th birthday soon and has aged out of the blood bank program. (Dogs can donate between the age of 1 and 8.) To celebrate his last donation, we threw a little party complete with party favors and treats!

We appreciate all of our blood donors at VSES and their ability to provide life-saving support to other pets.

On Saturday, June 3, VSES volunteered to help with a vaccination clinic at the 17th Annual "The Fast & the Furriest" event, which benefitted the Verona Street Animal Society.

Over 150 dogs were vaccinated by VSES medical staff Morgan, Kendra, Christine W and Katie, and our very own Christine M ran with Ember in one of the races!

AIR QUALITY ALERT! The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an alert for Western New York, Long Island, New York City Metro, Eastern Lake Ontario and Central New York.

It's important to prioritize the well-being of our furry friends, especially those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. The signs of possible smoke or dust irritation in animals that you mentioned, such as coughing, difficulty breathing, eye irritation, and fatigue, are indeed important to watch for.

Following the tips provided by the AVMA is a responsible approach to protect our pets. Keeping them indoors as much as possible and closing windows can help minimize their exposure to poor air quality. Birds, in particular, are highly susceptible, so it's crucial to ensure they are not allowed outside during this period. Additionally, avoiding intense outdoor exercise is advisable, as it can lead to increased inhalation of pollutants.

If pet owners notice any of the symptoms you mentioned or have concerns about their pet's health during this time, consulting a veterinarian is the appropriate course of action. Veterinarians can provide guidance specific to each individual pet's needs and offer appropriate treatment or advice.

It's important to stay informed about the air quality conditions in your area and take necessary precautions to safeguard the well-being of our pets.

Ghost's owners were so grateful for the care they received, they left a lovely review and said we could share Ghost's adorableness with you!

Tomorrow VSES will be represented at the 17th Annual The Fast and the Furriest Event, being held at Verona Street Animal Shelter. We hope to see you there!

June is National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month! Shelter cats like Luna, Mango and Binx make wonderful companions!

Happy Memorial Day from all of us here at VSES!

Pictured staff pets Fred (orange cat), Mr. Darcy (black cat) and Mya (dog).

Next week, VSES will have a booth at this year's "The Fast and the Furriest Event"! We hope to see you there! For more information about the event, go to www.vsas.org.

Montana was a treasured member of her family who needed help crossing the rainbow bridge. Montana's family was so grateful for the compassion and care showed by our team that they let us post this tribute to their loving companion of many years.

"Montana was an 11-year-old German Shepherd. We raised her and her sister /litter mate Brooklyn from 12 weeks. Montana was the sweetest girl who especially loved her human siblings Noah and Kendall. She loved all visitors and would lay her head in the laps of anyone who allowed her to. She was a huge dog with a huge personality. I’m happy to know that Brooklyn and Montana are reunited again. "- Montana's owner

Pictured is Montana, Montana and her sister Brooklyn, and the lovely review written by their human.

Mr.Darcy the cat wants you to know that today is Heat Awareness Day!

As the temperatures rise, it’s important to know the signs of overheating in pets. Heatstroke can happen more quickly than you think, and action needs to be taken fast. 🌡

Learn what to watch out for and get more tips on keeping your pets safe this summer by visiting our website: https://www.thrivepetcare.com/thrive-guide/protecting-you-pet-from-heat-risks

Our Medical Director Dr. Simon Kirk sat down with WXXI to share this important information.

Here's what to do if your dog ingests cannabis Rochester veterinarians are reporting a sharp rise in dogs getting cannabis poisoning, usually from getting hold of edibles. The ASPCA has also seen a surge in calls to its national poison control center hotline for cannabis intoxication.

Please be advised of the following changes to our receiving status

Thank you again Perinton Veterinary Hospital for posting this!

Keeping your pet safe this holiday weekend, lets plan ahead to avoid any problems.

Happy National Turtle Day from VSES!

Pictured is staff pet, Katya who loves to eat hibiscus when she can! Did you know that all tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises?

Today is National Rescue Dog Day!

Pictured is Bubba, who was rescued through Operation Freedom Ride by one of our amazing employees!

from NationalRescueDogDay.com:

"NATIONAL RESCUE DOG DAY is proudly observed annually on MAY 20 to bring awareness to the countless number of amazing dogs in shelters around the country who deserve a second chance at a forever home.

The day was founded in 2018 by Lisa Wiehebrink, children’s book author and Executive Director of Tails That Teach, an organization that helps children learn the kind and proper treatment of their pets. Lisa’s inspiration for National Rescue Dog Day came from her beloved rescue dog Cooper (pictured below) who was rescued as a puppy from a Los Angeles shelter in 2009 after being found living in a vacant lot. “There is something so special about Cooper. He is a gentle giant with a kind soul. His grateful spirit and unconditional love make me believe that he knows he was rescued. It’s for these reasons that I wanted to encourage others to consider adopting a dog from a shelter,” states Lisa.

Rescue dogs are truly remarkable! They overcome extreme obstacles and are incredibly resilient. They make wonderful family pets and a child’s best friend. But, rescue dogs are capable of much more. With training, they contribute to the independence of people with disabilities and give comfort to the elderly. As emotional support companions, rescue dogs help to relieve anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. The possibilities are endless, but most of all, they are love in the purest form and it is hard to imagine a more loyal, worthy companion."

Parasites Are NOT a Wait and See Problem Parasites are found almost everywhere. It is important to take proactive steps to help keep your pets and other members of your household safe from the issue...