Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas

"It's very much like a human ER," Dr. Libby Ramirez said. "We're open 24 hours, and we never know what we're going to see and treat day to day."

The hospital stays busy most of the time, said Ramirez, who started working there in 2003. She expects this summer to be busy.

"People are more active outdoors when it's warmer than in the winter, and they are more likely to take their pet with them wherever they go," she said. "Unfortunately, around this time we see more animals get hit by cars, dogs swallowing fish hooks and other injuries."

Ramirez recommends keeping a closer watch on animals and making sure pets are vaccinated because heartworm cases also rise during the warmer months.

The animal hospital concentrates on meeting the needs of dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and other small exotic pets presented on an emergency or critical care basis.

To accomplish this, the hospital is fully staffed with about eight doctors and support staff 24 hours a day to meet the needs of the community.

Grapevine resident James Whiltes said he went to the hospital about three years ago after his dog, Chips, was hit by a car.

"I thought I was going to lose her," he said. "But the hospital staff was very understanding and helpful."

Chips survived the accident and Whiltes said it's all because of the doctors at the hospital working quickly to save her.

"They even went beyond just treating Chips. They gave me information that I could use to take better care of her, and she hasn't been hit by another car since," he said with a laugh.

The animal hospital is just one part of the The Animal Emergency Hospital and Veterinary Specialty Center, which is comprised of six individual practices with a common goal of providing quality health care. Though the clinics are separated by specialty, doctors and staffs work as a team to offer a broad array of services.

Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas, 2700 W. Hwy. 114,, Grapevine, 817-410-2273, www.aehnt.com