Emergency Vets: Which Symptoms Are Urgent and What to Do at Night

Pets tend to fall ill at the worst possible time: in the middle of the night, at the weekend or on a public holiday. At moments like these two questions matter: is it really an emergency, and which clinic near you is open right now? This guide answers both.

In short: Breathing difficulty, seizures, suspected poisoning, accidents, bleeding that will not stop, a rapidly swelling belly and being unable to pass urine are emergencies; call an emergency vet without waiting until morning. On Veterinex, use the “Open now” filter on your province or district’s emergency vet page to see open clinics. Call before you set off to make sure a vet is there.

Emergency vets and 24/7 clinics

Some clinics are open 24/7, nights and weekends included; others are on call on certain days. Veterinex's emergency vet pages list the clinics that say they offer a 24/7 service, by province and district. Rotas can change, so call the clinic before you set off to make sure a vet is there.

Which situations are emergencies?

Do not wait until morning in these cases; call a clinic straight away:

• Breathing difficulty: open-mouth breathing (especially in cats), wheezing, blue or very pale gums
• Collapse, fainting or seizures: seizures lasting more than a few minutes or coming one after another
• Suspected poisoning: chocolate, grapes and raisins, chewing gum containing xylitol, onion and garlic, rat poison, antifreeze, human medicines; lilies for cats, and flea treatments made for dogs used on cats
• Accidents and falls: a road accident or a fall from a height, even with no visible wound, as there may be internal bleeding
• Bleeding that will not stop
• A rapidly swelling belly with retching but nothing coming up: in large, deep-chested dogs this can be a twisted stomach, and minutes count
• Unable to pass urine: a male cat going to the litter box often but passing nothing is an emergency
• Repeated vomiting or bloody diarrhoea, especially in young and old animals
• Difficult birth: strong straining with no puppy or kitten appearing, or labour not progressing for a long time
• Heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, staggering
• Eye injuries or an eye suddenly turning cloudy
• Swallowed objects: string, needles, toy parts, bones

If you are not sure, call the clinic and describe what is happening; the vet will tell you whether you need to come in.

What to do on the way

• Stay calm and call the clinic. Letting them know you are coming gives the team time to prepare.
• For poisoning, bring the packaging or the name of the product. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless the vet tells you to; methods such as salt water can cause harm.
• For bleeding, press a clean cloth or gauze firmly on the wound.
• After an accident or a suspected fracture, carry your pet on a flat, firm surface (a board or cardboard) without bending the neck or back.
• For heatstroke, wet your pet with cool (not ice-cold) water and set off at once.
• Do not give human medicines. Painkillers can be poisonous to cats and dogs.
• Protect yourself. A frightened animal in pain may bite even its owner; wrap it in a towel if needed.
• Always take cats in a closed carrier.

How to find an emergency vet open now

1. Open the emergency vet page for your province or district on Veterinex.
2. Use the "Open now" filter to see the clinics that are open at this moment.
3. Call the clinic with one tap and open directions.

Be prepared

• Save the numbers of your own vet and the nearest 24/7 clinic.
• Keep the vaccination card and a list of your pet's medicines somewhere easy to find.
• Keep the carrier within reach.
• Put together a basic first aid kit (gauze, bandage, gloves).

Why can night visits cost more?

At night, at weekends and on public holidays clinics need extra staff and preparation, so prices may differ. For non-urgent problems you can ask about this on the phone; in an emergency, put your pet's safety first.