Is something wrong right now? If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is bleeding heavily, cannot pass urine, has a swollen hard abdomen, is having a seizure, has been hit by a car, or has swallowed something you think is poisonous, this is an emergency. Call us before you set off so we can be ready for you, and if we are closed call a 24-hour emergency hospital straight away. Do not wait to see whether it settles. Call 000-000-0000
Read this first
What this page is, and what it is not
A fictional demonstration page still has a duty to describe urgent care honestly, so we have kept to one rule throughout: what to look for, and when to call.
- What to look for, described plainly, so you recognise it quickly.
- A clear instruction to call, every time, with no exceptions listed below.
- Keep them warm, keep them quiet, keep them still, call us.
- Never instructions to treat, medicate or dose your animal yourself.
Do not wait to see whether it settles
Signs that mean call now
Any one of the following is a reason to call us, or a 24-hour emergency animal hospital if we are closed, immediately rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Difficulty breathing
Laboured, noisy or open-mouthed breathing in a dog or cat is never something to watch and wait on. Call us immediately, and if we are closed call an emergency hospital before you do anything else.
Collapse or inability to stand
An animal that goes down suddenly, or cannot get up when it normally would, needs to be seen straight away rather than monitored at home.
Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding
Bleeding that is not slowing after a few minutes of gentle, steady pressure with a clean cloth is an emergency. Keep the pressure on during the call and on the way to us.
Unable to pass urine
A cat, and particularly a male cat, straining repeatedly at the litter tray with little or nothing coming out can be a blocked bladder, which becomes life-threatening within hours. This is never a wait-and-see sign.
A hard, swollen abdomen
Especially in a large, deep-chested dog that appears restless, is trying unsuccessfully to vomit, or is visibly distressed. This can be bloat, which can become fatal within a small number of hours, and it needs a call now, not in the morning.
A seizure
A single seizure that stops within a couple of minutes still needs a same-day call. A seizure that does not stop, or a second one shortly after the first, is an emergency — call while it is still happening if you can do so safely.
Hit by a car, or any significant trauma
Even an animal that seems to walk away normally afterwards needs to be examined. Internal injury is not always visible from outside in the first hour.
A suspected poison
Anything eaten that should not have been — a household chemical, a human medicine, a plant, more than a bite of chocolate, or anything you are not certain about. Call us or an emergency hospital and have the packaging in your hand when you do.
Straining in a male cat
Repeated trips to the litter tray, vocalising while trying to urinate, or a visibly painful abdomen. This is listed separately from the general urinary sign above because it is common enough, and urgent enough, to say twice.
Bloat in a deep-chested dog
A large-breed, deep-chested dog that is restless, pacing, retching without producing anything, and appears to be swelling at the abdomen. Do not wait to see whether it settles — call on the way to us.
A rabbit that has stopped eating or passing droppings
In a rabbit, this is as serious as anything else on this list, and it can progress in hours rather than days. A rabbit that has not eaten or produced droppings for several hours needs a same-day call, every time.
While you call
What we will actually ask you to do
- Keep them warm.
- Keep them quiet.
- Keep them still.
- Call us, or an emergency hospital if we are closed.
Beyond those four things, whatever helps next depends on the animal and the sign, and that decision belongs to whoever answers the phone. If you are already on your way, call from the car so we are ready the moment you arrive.
Getting to us
Transporting your animal safely
A cat, rabbit or small animal
Always use a secure carrier, even if you would normally carry them loose. A frightened animal in a car is very hard to catch again if it gets away from you.
A dog that cannot stand
Two people and a firm flat surface — a board, a car mat, a sturdy blanket — make a safer stretcher than one person lifting alone.
Any animal that may bite from pain or fear
A towel wrapped gently around the head and shoulders can protect you both during a short car journey. Ask the person on the phone to talk you through it if you are unsure.
Medication and packaging
Bring whatever your animal is currently taking, and the packaging of anything you think it may have swallowed, rather than trying to describe either from memory.
Say it plainly
Our hours, and what closed actually means
We are open Monday to Friday, 8 in the morning to 7 in the evening, Saturday 9 to 5, and Sunday 10 to 3. Outside those hours this practice is closed, fully and without exception.
| Monday – Friday | 8:00 am – 7:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Overnight | Referral to a 24-hour emergency hospital |
If it is outside those hours, the right call is to a 24-hour emergency animal hospital, not to wait for us to open. Save the number of your nearest one somewhere you will actually find it at two in the morning — our own answering message will tell you where the nearest one is, but do not wait to hear it before acting if your animal is in obvious distress.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. This page describes a service. It is general information and it is not veterinary advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan for any particular animal, because no page can examine your pet. If your animal is unwell, injured or behaving unusually, speak to a licensed veterinarian who can actually see it. In an emergency contact your own veterinarian or a 24-hour emergency animal hospital immediately.
Questions
Emergencies — the questions we are asked most
Are you open for emergencies at night?
No. We are closed overnight, and outside our opening hours you should contact a 24-hour emergency animal hospital rather than wait for us. We will always tell you honestly when we cannot help as fast as an emergency hospital can.
What should I do at home if my pet has eaten something dangerous?
Nothing beyond calling us or an emergency hospital immediately and having the packaging or a description ready. We will not tell you to induce vomiting or to try a home remedy — what actually helps depends entirely on what was eaten, and that judgement has to be made by a veterinarian on the phone, not by a general instruction on a page.
My dog seems fine after being hit by a car — do I still need to call?
Yes, always. Internal injuries are not always visible in the first hour, and an animal that seems to walk away normally can deteriorate over the following day. Call us or an emergency hospital and describe what happened even if nothing looks obviously wrong.
How do I safely move an injured animal to the car?
For a cat, rabbit or small animal, always use a secure carrier, even if you would normally carry them loose. For a dog that cannot stand, two people and a firm flat surface such as a board or a car mat make a safer stretcher than lifting alone. Call us on the way so we are ready when you arrive.
What if it happens outside your opening hours?
Contact a 24-hour emergency animal hospital straight away rather than waiting for us to open. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm, Saturday 9 to 5 and Sunday 10 to 3, and outside those hours this practice is closed, without exception.
Is a seizure always an emergency?
A single seizure lasting under a couple of minutes still needs a same-day call so we can work out why it happened. A seizure that does not stop on its own, or a second one soon after the first, is an emergency — call immediately, while it is still happening if it is safe to do so.
My rabbit has not eaten today — is that an emergency?
Yes, treat it as one. A rabbit that stops eating or stops passing droppings can deteriorate far faster than a dog or cat with a similar sign, and waiting to see if it passes is the single most common mistake we see with rabbits. Call us the same day, and immediately if it has already been many hours.
Should I call before I come in, or just come straight in?
Call first if you possibly can, even from the car. It means we can be ready before you arrive, and the person answering may tell you something that changes what you do next, such as which entrance to use or what to bring.
If in doubt, call
Not sure whether it can wait?
That is a normal reason to call rather than an awkward one. Describe what you have noticed and we will tell you whether it is something to watch, something to bring in today, or something to treat as an emergency right now.