Author: Representative Director Yeo Jae-seung (Representative Director of 24H UN animal medical center, Director of Pet Heart·Kidney Center, Internal Medicine Director of 24H UN animal medical center)
This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws and regulations including the Medical Service Act.
If you are looking for a large animal hospital in Busan that you can trust and rely on, it is recommended that you first check three things: whether 24-hour emergency veterinarians are on staff, whether an interdisciplinary consultation system is operated, and whether university hospital-grade imaging equipment is available. Only hospitals with all three of these components simultaneously can provide reassurance for continuous care from emergency situations to long-term chronic disease management in one place.
What to check first when looking for a 'large animal hospital' in Busan
Pet guardians look for 'large hospitals' for various reasons. It might be due to concerns about nighttime emergency situations, or it might be due to chronic diseases that cannot be resolved at neighborhood clinics. However, when you actually visit, you may find that not all services are available just because the facility is large in scale.
According to relevant information, only about 10% of animal hospitals nationwide can actually provide nighttime emergency care. In other words, most animal hospitals have difficulty providing care during nighttime and holidays. Additionally, the availability of specialized medical fields and equipment directly affects diagnostic accuracy, so it is important to verify these two points before visiting.
Pre-visit checklist:
• Are emergency veterinarians actually on staff during nighttime and holidays?
• Are basic imaging equipment such as ultrasound and X-ray available within the hospital?
• Is specialized care available in fields such as cardiology, nephrology, internal medicine, and surgery?
Appropriate hospitals may vary depending on emergency or severe illness status, residential area, your pet's age and type of disease, so it is recommended to first call and confirm the availability of medical care before visiting. Results may vary depending on individual and case situations.
What system should a large animal hospital in Busan have to be 'trustworthy'?
A reliable large animal hospital is not simply a place with a large building or many medical staff. It can only function as a practical medical safety net by simultaneously having the following five systems.
| Check Item | Reason Why It Must Be Available |
|---|---|
| ① 365-day, 24-hour emergency veterinarian on staff | Immediate response to nighttime and early morning emergencies |
| ② Interdisciplinary consultation system | Organic cooperation between veterinarians in specialized fields such as internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, and nephrology |
| ③ Precision imaging equipment (X-ray, ultrasound, CT, etc.) | Accurate diagnosis and prevention of unnecessary transfers |
| ④ ICU intensive care system | Intensive monitoring and oxygen/IV therapy for severe patients and post-operative patients |
| ⑤ Pet guardian consultation and communication system | Detailed sharing of test results and treatment plans with pet guardians |
Similar to the primary clinic → secondary hospital (university hospital) system for humans, it has been confirmed in clinical cases that pet medical care can reduce duplicate testing and time waste when operated with a referral and consultation structure. In particular, hospitals lacking even basic X-ray and ultrasound equipment may find it inevitable to transfer to other hospitals in emergency situations, leading to additional time and cost. This is precisely why it is important to confirm equipment availability before choosing a hospital.
Why 24H UN animal medical center is chosen by Busan pet guardians
Since its opening in 2016, 24H UN animal medical center has provided customized pet care in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan with a 365-day, 24-hour interdisciplinary consultation system and state-of-the-art equipment at university hospital level.
Below are the main medical systems provided by 24H UN animal medical center.
• 24-hour Emergency Center — Emergency veterinarians on staff even at night, early morning, and holidays; emergency blood tests, ultrasound, and X-ray can be performed immediately
• Interdisciplinary Consultation One-stop System — Cooperation among specialists in internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, nephrology center, health check-up center, stem cell center, cat-friendly center, and imaging diagnosis center
• University Hospital-grade Imaging Equipment — Digital X-ray, precision ultrasound, cardiac ultrasound, EKG, dental CT, laparoscopy, and other precision diagnosis available
• ICU Intensive Care — Intensive monitoring and oxygen and IV therapy for severe patients and post-operative hospitalized patients
• Patient Guardian-centered Medical Care — Detailed sharing of test results and treatment plans with pet guardians
Representative Director Yeo Jae-seung, who leads medical care, holds a doctoral completion in Internal Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Chungnam National University and a master's degree in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Gyeongsang National University, and is a specialist veterinarian with 10 years of clinical experience at animal hospitals. He is responsible for specialized medical care for the heart, kidneys, elderly dogs, and elderly cats, as well as intensive emergency and critical care treatment for pets, and continues evidence-based medical practice through professional academic societies including regular membership in the Korean Veterinary Cardiology Association, certification in the Korean Veterinary Anesthesiology Society, and regular membership in the Korean Veterinary Oncology Research Group.
However, as medical care results may vary depending on individual circumstances, it is recommended to confirm the direction of treatment through sufficient consultation with the responsible veterinarian.
Limitations and Scope of Application — Self-check whether this hospital is right for your pet
A large hospital is not necessarily appropriate for all situations. Please check the following items before visiting.
• Severity of symptoms — Minor symptoms (reduced appetite for 1-2 days, mild cough, etc.) may be adequately addressed at a nearby primary animal hospital.
• Emergency accessibility — In emergency situations, a hospital reachable within 15 minutes from home is important. Traveling a long distance itself can be an additional burden on your pet.
• Elderly or chronic disease status — If your dog or cat is elderly or suffering from chronic diseases such as heart, kidney, or endocrine conditions, access to a hospital with specialized interdisciplinary care and precision equipment becomes even more important.
• Simultaneous evaluation of equipment and medical staff — Even if equipment is excellent, it is necessary to verify the clinical competence of the medical staff operating it.
• Pre-visit phone confirmation — Reservation consultation and emergency consultation pathways may differ, so please contact in advance before visiting.
Pet guardians throughout Busan looking for animal hospitals in Suyeong-gu, Haeundae-gu, Busanjin-gu, Nam-gu, and Dongrae-gu, as well as those for whom visiting animal hospitals in Yangsan or Gimhae is difficult or who need comprehensive specialized care, can visit 24H UN animal medical center in Daeyeon-dong. Pet guardians from nearby areas such as Yeonje-gu, Geumjeong-gu, Saha-gu, Changwon, and Ulsan also visit.
Comprehensive pet medical care in Busan — Check now
At 24H UN animal medical center, the direction of medical care suitable for your pet's situation can be confirmed through consultation.
Since 2023, animal hospitals have been required to disclose medical care fees by item, so it is recommended to first confirm the availability of medical care and cost items through phone inquiry before visiting. If it is an emergency situation, you will be able to receive a faster response if you contact in advance before visiting.
Appropriate medical departments and examination items may vary depending on your pet's symptoms, age, and disease type. The direction appropriate for your pet's condition and necessary medical care items can be confirmed through consultation.
These are the things you're curious about
Q1. In Busan animal hospitals, are they divided into primary and secondary hospitals like in human medicine?
Yes, pet medical care is increasingly being operated similarly to the human medical system with a primary (general neighborhood animal hospital) and secondary (specialized interdisciplinary care and large animal medical centers with precision equipment) structure. When it is difficult to resolve at primary hospitals, referral and consultation to places capable of specialized care helps reduce unnecessary duplicate testing and time waste.
Q2. What should I do if my pet has an emergency situation late at night or in the middle of the night?
First, do not panic and call a nearby 24-hour emergency animal hospital, explain the situation, and then visit. During transport, keep your pet calm and be careful not to touch the injured area. Since not many hospitals nationwide can provide nighttime emergency care, it is recommended to save the contact information of nearby 24-hour emergency animal hospitals in advance.
Q3. Is it better to receive regular check-ups and specialized medical care at the same hospital?
If possible, it is advantageous to receive both at the same hospital in several ways. When abnormal findings are discovered in check-up results, immediate referral to the relevant specialized department is possible, and your pet's health history is integrated and managed at one hospital, which helps maintain continuity of medical care. However, when choosing a hospital, it is good to consider both your pet's condition and accessibility from your residential area.
Results may vary depending on individual and case situations