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Find your nearest 24-hour emergency vet immediately
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Is Your Pet in an Emergency?
🚨 Seek Emergency Help Right Now
- • Difficulty breathing or gasping
- • Loss of consciousness or collapse
- • Severe bleeding (won't stop after 10 mins)
- • Suspected poisoning or drug overdose
- • Choking or unable to swallow
- • Severe burns or scalding
- • Severe trauma (hit by car, severe fall)
- • Signs of severe pain or distress
- • Unable to pass urine or faeces
- • Seizures or fits
- • Sudden paralysis or inability to move
- • Uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhoea
⚠️ Urgent Care (Same Day)
- • Moderate bleeding
- • Suspected broken bones
- • Deep wounds or lacerations
- • Severe limping or inability to bear weight
- • Eye injuries or sudden blindness
- • Persistent vomiting
- • Sudden behaviour changes
- • Inability to eat or drink
- • Swelling of face or throat
- • Excessive drooling
When in doubt, call your vet or emergency vet. It's better to be safe than sorry with your pet.
While You're Waiting to See the Vet
Do:
- ✓ Stay calm — your pet can sense your stress
- ✓ Keep your pet warm and comfortable
- ✓ Keep them as still as possible
- ✓ Apply gentle pressure to bleeding with clean cloth
- ✓ Have their details ready (microchip, age, weight)
- ✓ Take notes on when symptoms started
Don't:
- ✕ Don't give food or water unless advised
- ✕ Don't attempt to move them if paralysed
- ✕ Don't apply tourniquets without vet advice
- ✕ Don't wait at home if serious symptoms
- ✕ Don't panic — you're doing the right thing
After Emergency Treatment
Follow your vet's aftercare instructions carefully. Your pet may need:
- • Rest and quiet time
- • Limited activity or exercise
- • Medication as prescribed
- • Follow-up appointments
- • Special diet changes
- • Wound care or bandage changes
Did your emergency vet give you discharge notes?
If your regular vet wasn't involved, ask for detailed notes to take to your usual practice. This helps them provide continuity of care and monitor your pet's recovery.
Finding a Regular Vet
After an emergency, make sure your pet has regular check-ups and preventative care. Use Vet Fair to compare prices for routine treatments at practices near you.
Compare Vet Prices Near YouUseful Emergency Resources
RCVS Find a Vet
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' official directory of registered vets and emergency clinics.
Visit RCVS →Blue Cross Pet Hospital
UK-wide charity providing emergency and welfare veterinary services.
Visit Blue Cross →Pet Poison Helpline
If your pet has ingested something poisonous, urgent advice is available.
Learn more →Animal PoisonLine
Emergency phone advice for pet poisoning (24/7, charge applies).
0844 892 0111
You're Not Alone
Pet emergencies are scary. Thousands of pet owners go through this every day. You're doing the right thing by getting help.
Your pet's emergency vet team are trained and ready to help.