About Georgia Veterinary Emergency and Triage Services
Your trusted overnight veterinary emergency hospital serving Athens, Watkinsville, and communities across Oconee and Clarke counties.
Located in Watkinsville, GA, we’re here when your pet needs expert, after-hours care — offering advanced diagnostics, emergency surgery, critical stabilization, and more every night, weekend, and holiday.
Our Mission
At Georgia Veterinary Emergency and Triage Services (GVETS), our mission is simple: to provide life-saving, compassionate emergency care when local veterinarians are closed. We are proud to be the only dedicated overnight veterinary emergency hospital in a 60-mile radius, serving pet owners and veterinary professionals across Athens, Watkinsville, Oconee County, and surrounding areas.
Whether your pet is experiencing a sudden illness, traumatic injury, or a life-threatening condition, our hospital is equipped and staffed to act fast, stabilize, and provide critical treatment around the clock — even on holidays.
A Full-Service Emergency Hospital, Not Just Triage
Despite “triage” in our name, GVETS is far more than an assessment point. Our emergency facility provides comprehensive medical and surgical care, from initial stabilization through overnight monitoring and post-operative recovery. We offer:
- Emergency surgeries, including bloat, lacerations, bite wounds, fracture stabilization, splenectomy, endoscopic gastric foreign body retrieval, and C-sections
- Advanced diagnostics: full comprehensive in-house laboratory testing, endoscopy, digital radiology, heated and air-conditioned oxygen cages
- Blood transfusions, fluid therapy, and critical monitoring
- End-of-life care, including compassionate euthanasia during crises
Pets in our care receive attentive, skilled support through the night, with seamless coordination for the morning transfer to your daytime veterinarian or specialist.
Why We’re Different
We’re not just filling a gap — we’re redefining what overnight pet care looks like. As a high-end veterinary emergency hospital in Georgia, GVETS was created to offer:
- True 365-day availability, including all holidays and weekends
- A partnership-first mindset, supporting the local veterinary community
- Experienced, highly trained staff dedicated to emergency and critical care
- A professional, modern environment, inspired by trusted specialty hospitals
Founder and CEO Barry Stuart modeled after leading referral centers. He has also worked in emergency medicine for over 30 years, where he saw firsthand the value of professional collaboration, continuing education, and round-the-clock emergency readiness.
Supporting the Local Veterinary Community
GVETS exists to support both pet families and veterinary hospitals/clinics. We proudly partner with general practices to provide overnight hospitalization, emergency stabilization, and post-op monitoring, acting as a seamless extension of your practice when they’re closed. Veterinarians can learn more about our referral process.
Meet Our Veterinary Team
Want to learn more about the doctors and professionals behind GVETS?