For South Hampton Roads, the trip to Williamsburg is a longer one, and we never suggest passing a closer open hospital during a genuine crisis. But when local options are at capacity or a case needs advanced, weekend-available care, Tidewater families do make the drive. Select your city above for honest drive times and detail.
Drive times from Tidewater
CARE is on John Tyler Highway at the corner of Route 199 and Route 5, in front of Food Lion and next to Bruster's. Approximate drive times, which traffic and the harbor crossings can stretch:
| From | Approximate drive |
|---|---|
| Norfolk | 50 minutes |
| Chesapeake | 55 minutes |
| Virginia Beach | 60 minutes |
In a true emergency, the closest open hospital is usually the right choice. Call (757) 703-0199 before you leave and our team will help you decide whether the drive makes sense, and be ready for your pet if you come.
For Tidewater veterinarians: referring a patient
Tidewater veterinarians refer patients to CARE for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, hemoperfusion and weekend imaging. Refer a case whichever way is fastest for your team:
- Email: refer@care199.com
- Phone: (757) 703-0199
- Fax: (757) 703-1199
- Online: the referral form
Cases referring practices often send us:
- Weekend and after-hours emergencies, and overflow when your schedule is full
- Toxin cases that may need hemoperfusion
- Wounds, swelling and inflammation suited to hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- CT and ultrasound, run and read on site
- Swallowed objects that may be retrieved by endoscopy instead of surgery
- Patients who need hospitalization and ICU monitoring
We send detailed reports and updates back to you, and referring clinics can get automatic patient status updates through our Instinct EMR portal on Shareville. Email refer@care199.com to set up your clinic's login. More on our Referring Veterinarians page.
Emergency guides for Tidewater pet owners
- Pet poisoning: what to do first and how we treat it
- Dog ate ibuprofen: why any amount is worth a call
- Snake bites: copperheads live in the wooded yards and trails pets explore
- Swallowed objects: endoscopy or surgery
- Cat can't pee: urinary blockage is an emergency
- Paying for emergency care: estimates, financing and pet insurance
When CARE is closed: Tuesday to Thursday
We are closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday unless a holiday falls on one of those days. Call your family veterinarian first. For an emergency Tuesday to Thursday, we recommend The COVE in Suffolk or VEST in Virginia Beach, both on the South Hampton Roads side of the water. For a poisoning, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center answers around the clock at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee applies). See our weekend hours for details.