The Veterinary Emergency Center in Redlands is the closest emergency vet option if your dog gets sick or injured while you’re in Big Bear. It’s about an hour’s drive down the mountain, which matters when you’re dealing with a real emergency at 2 a.m. and your regular vet isn’t available.

They operate 24/7, which is the main reason you’d make that drive instead of trying to find help elsewhere in the middle of the night. The facility is a fully equipped emergency and critical care hospital, so they can handle serious situations — not just stabilize your dog and send you somewhere else. Their team focuses on getting animals back to normal function as quickly as possible, which means they’re thinking about actual recovery, not just immediate triage.

It’s a walk-in hospital, but you should call ahead before you head down the mountain. That’s partly practical (so they know you’re coming) and partly because if there’s any chance your regular vet or an urgent care clinic closer to Big Bear can handle the situation, you might avoid the long drive. But if you’re looking at a genuine emergency — trauma, severe illness, anything that can’t wait — this is your most reliable option in the region.

The drive down from Big Bear gives you time to gather your dog’s medical records if you have them, write down any symptoms or timeline of what happened, and think through what happened so you can explain it clearly when you arrive. Bring your dog’s vaccination records if you have them handy. The staff will want to know their medical history, any medications they’re on, and exactly when symptoms started. Keep your dog as calm as possible during the drive, and don’t wait if you genuinely think your dog is in critical condition.