Not every health concern needs an emergency visit — but some can't wait. This guide helps you judge how quickly your pet should be seen. It's a starting point, not a diagnosis: if you're unsure, call us and we'll help you decide.
ROUTINE
Book an appointment in advance
Planned care that keeps your pet well. These visits are scheduled at a time that suits you.
- Annual wellness exams and senior health checks
- Vaccinations and boosters
- First visits for a new puppy or kitten
- Spay and neuter surgery
- Dental cleaning, scaling, and polishing
- Microchipping
- Parasite prevention and heartworm testing
- Nutrition, weight management, and behaviour consultations
- Prescription diet and preventive refills
- Travel and health documentation
- Nail trims
URGENT
Call us today — same or next day
Not immediately life-threatening, but your pet shouldn't wait for a routine slot. Call us and we'll fit you in.
- Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than a day, with your pet otherwise bright
- Not eating for a full day
- Limping your pet can still put weight on
- Head shaking, ear odour, or ear discharge
- Persistent scratching, a hot spot, or a new rash
- A red or watery eye with no injury
- A lump you've just noticed
- A small cut, torn nail, or minor abscess
- Bad breath, drooling, or reluctance to chew
- Drinking or urinating noticeably more than usual
- Mild swelling or hives after an insect sting — watch breathing closely
EMERGENCY
Come in now — call on your way
Don't wait and don't watch. Call as you leave so we can prepare for your arrival.
- Difficulty breathing, choking, or pale, blue, or white gums
- Collapse, unconsciousness, or a seizure
- Straining to urinate, or unable to pass urine — especially in male cats
- A swollen, hard, or painful abdomen, or repeated retching without bringing anything up
- Known or suspected poisoning
- Any trauma — hit by a vehicle, a fall, or an attack by another animal — even if your pet seems fine
- Bleeding that won't stop
- Heavy panting, distress, or collapse in hot weather
- Severe pain: crying out, unable to stand or settle
- An eye injury, a bulging eye, or sudden loss of vision
- Difficulty giving birth
- Vomiting blood, or blood in the stool
Common poisons include chocolate, xylitol, grapes and raisins, antifreeze, rodent bait, cannabis, human medications, and — for cats — lilies. If you know what your pet ate, bring the packaging with you.
If you're not sure, call us
You know your pet better than anyone. If something feels wrong — even if it isn't on any list above — pick up the phone. Our team would far rather talk you through a false alarm than have you wait at home wondering. There's no charge for asking.
Two groups warrant extra caution: young puppies and kittens and senior pets both deteriorate faster than healthy adults, so a concern that could wait a day in a five-year-old dog may not wait in a ten-week-old puppy or a fifteen-year-old cat.
Our hours
- Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
- Sunday: Closed
If your pet has an emergency during these hours, call us as you leave and come straight in.
If we're closed
A true emergency can't wait until we reopen. If your pet needs urgent help outside our hours, contact your nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital directly — don't wait for us to open.
We recommend finding that number now and saving it in your phone, alongside our own. In an emergency you won't want to be searching, and knowing where you're driving before you leave the house makes a real difference.
If you're unsure who to contact after hours, ask us at your next visit and we'll tell you where we send our own patients.
For suspected poisoning when we're closed, a veterinary poison control service can advise you immediately by phone, day or night. These services charge a consultation fee. Ask us for the current number to keep on hand.
This page is general guidance and can't replace an examination. It doesn't cover every situation. If you believe your pet is in distress, treat it as an emergency and contact us or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital.