Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital: Vet Care & Contact

Do you need an appointment?

No. Metropolitan states that pets do not need an appointment or referral to be evaluated in its Emergency Department.

The hospital does recommend calling first when you can. A phone call lets the emergency team know that a potentially critical patient is on the way.

What emergency equipment is available?

Emergency patients are not necessarily seen in arrival order. A pet with breathing difficulty, shock, severe trauma or another life-threatening condition can be moved ahead of a medically stable patient.

When do you receive an estimate?

Metropolitan’s specialty FAQ states that after the specialist reviews the medical history, examines the pet and discusses the recommended treatment plan, a detailed financial estimate is created for the proposed care.

Emergency team currently listed by Metropolitan

Specialists currently listed

Advanced hospital equipment

Metropolitan’s training and specialty materials describe technology including:

• In-house IDEXX laboratory
• Digital radiography
• Ultrasound
• Echocardiography
• Fluoroscopy
• CT
• 1.5T MRI
• ECG and telemetry
• Endoscopy, bronchoscopy and rhinoscopy
• Laparoscopy and thoracoscopy
• Arthroscopy
• Ventilators
• Critical-care monitoring equipment

The cardiology team evaluates congenital and acquired heart disease and coordinates with surgery and other specialists when a pet has several medical problems.

Available cardiology testing and procedures

• Echocardiography
• Chest radiographs
• Blood-pressure testing
• ECG / EKG
• Holter monitoring
• Implantable loop recording
• Cardiac catheterization
• Angiography
• Pacemaker implantation
• Balloon valvuloplasty
• Patent ductus arteriosus catheter occlusion

Echocardiography is generally non-invasive and normally does not require anesthesia, although Metropolitan notes that light sedation is occasionally needed in an uncooperative pet.

Neurology evaluates diseases involving the brain, spinal cord, nerves and neuromuscular system. Metropolitan specifically suggests neurological evaluation for problems such as seizures, neck/back pain, balance problems, weakness, tremors or significant personality/ mentation changes.

Neurology capabilities

• 1.5T MRI
• Multislice CT
• CSF collection and analysis
• Myasthenia gravis testing
• Muscle/nerve biopsy
• EMG testing
• Medical treatment
• Advanced neurosurgery

For hospitalized neurology patients, the department says owners receive updates after procedures and generally morning and evening progress calls.

Internal Medicine is designed for complicated medical conditions requiring advanced diagnostics or specialist management.

Examples of procedures

• Ultrasound and ultrasound-guided aspirates
• CT
• Upper and lower GI endoscopy
• Endoscopic biopsy
• Gastroscopic foreign-body removal
• Rhinoscopy
• Bronchoscopy
• Cystoscopy
• Ureteral/urethral stent placement
• Bone marrow cytology and biopsy
• Thoracocentesis and abdominocentesis
• Blood/plasma transfusion therapy

Even when the Surgery Department’s routine service hours end, the hospital itself remains staffed 24 hours a day for hospitalized patients and emergencies.

Orthopedic surgery examples

• TPLO
• TTA
• Fracture repair
• Patellar luxation surgery
• Total hip replacement
• Arthroscopy
• Angular limb correction
• Joint fusion procedures

Soft-tissue surgery examples

• Foreign-body removal
• Mass/tumor removal
• Thoracic surgery
• Urinary-tract surgery
• Airway surgery
• Hernia repair
• Endocrine surgery
• Minimally invasive laparoscopy/thoracoscopy

Akron Surgery appointments: 330-670-2358.

Metropolitan’s oncology service offers cancer diagnosis and treatment with board-certified oncology specialists.

• Bone marrow aspiration
• CT and other advanced imaging
• Ultrasound
• Chemotherapy
• Genetic analysis used in selected treatment planning

Metropolitan also participates in veterinary clinical trials. Current study availability varies by cancer type and location, so ask Oncology whether your pet meets trial criteria.

Metropolitan’s ophthalmology service treats companion-animal eye disease and provides both medical and surgical care.

• Ocular ultrasound
• Electroretinography
• Microscopic eye surgery
• Cataract surgery using phacoemulsification
• CT for disease behind the eye

Akron scheduling number: 330-664-6508. Metropolitan’s current service page says Ophthalmology is available at both Akron and Cleveland East, but location-specific appointment patterns can change, so confirm where the ophthalmologist will see your pet when scheduling.

Metropolitan’s Avian & Exotics service treats:

Specialized equipment includes digital radiography, in-house laboratory testing, endoscopy, laparoscopy, ultrasound and CT. Hospitalized exotic pets can be housed in climate-controlled enclosures in a separate exotics ward.

Exotic pet emergency after specialty hours

Metropolitan’s current instructions specifically direct after-hours exotic emergencies to the Akron Emergency Hospital at 330-666-2976 for initial evaluation, stabilization and treatment.

Radioactive iodine therapy (I-131) is offered at the Akron location for cats with hyperthyroidism. Metropolitan’s I-131 program states that cats generally stay for about 48 hours as part of the treatment process.

This is a specialized service and should be arranged in advance. Ask the I-131 team what laboratory testing, medication changes and records are required before admission.

How long will a pet stay?

The treating veterinarian will estimate the expected hospital stay. Some specialist diagnostics and procedures can be completed the same day, while surgery commonly requires overnight hospitalization.

How often will owners receive updates?

Metropolitan says owners of hospitalized pets receive at least one progress update per day. The doctor also contacts the owner when the treatment plan changes.

Can you visit your hospitalized pet?

Yes, but call first. Metropolitan asks owners to arrange a time so staff can safely accommodate the visit.

Discharge

When a pet is ready to go home, the hospital schedules a pickup time to review medications, home-care instructions and follow-up plans. The complete visit record is then faxed or emailed to the pet’s primary veterinarian.

Metropolitan notes that pets receiving chemotherapy or undergoing an anesthetic procedure should generally be expected to remain at the hospital for most of the day.

Metropolitan uses a collaborative referral model involving the pet owner, primary-care veterinarian and specialty veterinarian.

Before a specialist appointment

The primary veterinarian may send:

• Medical history
• Recent laboratory results
• X-rays / radiographs
• Ultrasound or other imaging
• Medication history
• Referral reason and clinical notes

After the consultation

Metropolitan states that a visit summary is routinely emailed or faxed to the referring or regular veterinarian so the primary veterinarian remains part of the ongoing care plan.

Historic referral records

Metropolitan’s referral portal instructions state that its older historic-record portal was available only through April 30, 2026. Beginning May 1, 2026, veterinary practices needing older records or imaging are instructed to contact Metropolitan directly.

Metropolitan’s Akron hospital is located at 1053 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Akron, OH 44321. Use the hospital entrance and follow current signs for emergency arrival.

Practical arrival checklist

• Call ahead during an emergency if it is safe to do so.
• Transport cats and small exotics in a secure carrier.
• Use an appropriate leash/harness for dogs when medically safe.
• Tell staff immediately if the pet cannot walk or is having trouble breathing.
• Bring current medication names/doses.
• Bring the Poison Control case number after a toxin exposure.
• Bring outside records or imaging if they have not already been transferred.