New Reality TV Show Takes Viewers Inside 'Animal ER'

A new reality TV show attempts to show what life is like for the veterinarians and staff of one of the country’s largest animal hospitals.

Animal ER takes viewers behind the scenes at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists (GCVS), in Houston, as the veterinary hospital’s doctors treat what the show’s producers bill as some of “the most challenging and complex cases in veterinary medicine.”

“GCVS has the most fascinating and dramatic range of cases in the country, with everything from exotics and zoo animals to family pets crashing through their doors 24/7,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager, Nat Geo WILD, in a press release.

The show debuts Saturday, Sept. 10 at 10 Eastern.

“With an incredible cast of passionate vets . . . you get some of the most innovative, expert and extraordinary animal care in the world,” Daniels said. “It will be like nothing else on TV.”

Episodes of Animal ER will feature animal patients such as a 6-year-old Bengal tiger in need of critical surgery, a rescue pup in need of an artificial limb, tumor-covered sea turtles, and a 31-year-old blue-billed curassow with broken legs.

By scheduling the show to launch in the fall, Nat Geo WILD hopes viewers of its spring show, Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER (8.6 stars on IMDB), continue to tune in as GCVS’s doctors and staff treat over 50,000 patients a year.

Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists is among the largest veterinary hospitals in the nation, with over 200 staff and specialists. It is often the last stop for animals whose needs surpass what their regular vets can provide. Through its 14 departments, GCVS seeks to provide quality and specialized care for companion animals while also advancing the field of veterinary medicine through technological innovation and education. Their services include around the clock veterinarians, animal rehabilitation and fitness, and an online pharmacy, according to the company’s website.