24/7 Emergency
You can bring your pet to our emergency department at any time and no appointment is necessary.
Emergency 24/7 treatment for your dog, cat, bird, or exotic pet
If your beloved pet is ever in need of urgent medical attention, please call or bring them in so that our team of world-class vets and nurses can diagnose and treat them in our cutting-edge facilities.
You can bring your pet to our emergency department at any time and no appointment is necessary.
Our friendly, caring and highly experienced team of vets are here for you 24 hours, 7 days a week. Our veterinary emergency department is equipped to handle any and all emergencies and will make sure your pet receives the best care available in Sydney, Adelaide, and the Central Coast.
We have procedures in place to keep you and our team safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the requirement for masks.
After arriving at SASH Emergency
Emergency care is prioritised by the urgency of the case, and does not operate on a first come first serve basis. Upon arrival, your pet will be triaged to assess the urgency of the case. Generally speaking, longer wait times is a good thing, as it means your pet is medically stable, which may not be the case for other patients.
Does my pet need emergency treatment?
Just like emergency departments in human hospitals, SASH Emergency can become extremely busy. The most urgent cases always take priority, meaning that less urgent cases may experience extended waiting periods. For families, a decision needs to be made about whether or not the pet needs to be treated, or if they are able to wait until their regular vet can see them the next day.
The following can help you decide if you wish to bring in your pet through to SASH Emergency.
Our Emergency Vet Locations
When Should I Bring My Pet To Emergency?
Call if you are unsure, but some of the reasons you might bring your pet
to our 24 hour vet emergency department include:
- Changes to breathing (faster breathing, breathing harder, panting excessively)
- Snake bites
- Paralysis ticks
- Overheating
- Excessive coughing
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Straining to urinate or defecate
- Collapsing or severe weakness/fatigue
- Paralysis or inability to move normally
- Ingesting poisons such as: rat bait, snail or slug bait, antifreeze, human or pet prescription medication, chocolate, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins or sultanas
- Trauma such as being hit by a car, falling off a balcony or dog or cat fights
- Vomiting blood
- Abdominal bloating
- Distress or drooling after eating a bone or other object
- Eating a fishhook or anything not meant to be ingested
- Any condition causing excessive pain
About SASH 24/7 Emergency
The Emergency service at SASH is open around the clock, 365 days a year, for pets requiring urgent veterinary care.
We understand that emergencies are stressful . Our compassionate and experienced team of specialist Emergency veterinarians and highly skilled nurses is there for pets and their families when the unexpected happens, providing exceptional care and comfort to those in need.
Our state-of-the-art facilities are equivalent to those found in human hospitals. We are equipped to handle any and all emergencies and will ensure that our patients receive the best possible care.
SASH 24/7 Emergency FAQs
No. Pets can be brought to the Emergency department at any time, without having to make an appointment. We encourage anyone who is concerned about a pet to contact us, or bring the pet to us, so we can diagnose and treat them immediately.
Just like human hospitals, the wait time at SASH Emergency is highly dependent on the case load at any given time, but priority will always be given to those requiring the most serious and urgent care. Patients will always be seen and triaged soon after arrival by our experienced nurses. Generally, if the wait is long, it is a positive sign.
Pets brought to the Emergency department are promptly assessed by an experienced triage nurse. An Emergency Veterinarian will then consult with the owner and formulate a preliminary diagnosis and provide supportive treatment. If a patient requires ongoing care, we will admit the pet and collaborate with our colleagues in other departments at SASH, such as Surgery , Internal Medicine, and Critical Care , to ensure that we best meet the patient’s needs. Emergency care is the first crucial part of the patient’s journey to recovery. The collaborative approach at SASH ensures that every patient has the benefit of many different teams working closely together to restore their quality of life.