Emergency and Critical Care
Our emergency and critical care team is available 24/7, every day, providing continuous, gold standard care for critically ill hospitalized patients, as well as emergency support and treatment for accidents and urgent health issues.
What is an emergency
& What to expect
Immediate Triage
When you bring your pet to our emergency hospital, an emergency nurse will conduct a triage to assess your pet's condition and prioritize care, especially during busy times.
This helps ensure that critical cases receive immediate attention.
If your pet is extremely unstable, a STAT form may be presented to you to determine a resuscitation plan while the vet works to stabilize your pet.
Emergency Consultation
During the consultation, the emergency vet will address your concerns and understand your pet's history and current condition.
With the use of in-house diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound for FAST scans and X-rays, along with our IDEXX laboratory that can rapidly process blood and urine tests, the vet will be able to better assess your pet's condition and offer treatment plans.
Hospitalisation in the ICU
Patients in the ICU receive continuous, round-the-clock monitoring by highly trained and experienced veterinarians and nurses to ensure the highest standard of critical care.
Treatment plans are tailored to each patient's specific needs and are reassessed with each shift.
Once your pet's condition stabilizes, a plan for discharge, follow-up reviews, and ongoing care will be discussed with you.
Additionally, your pet's medical records will be forwarded to your chosen primary care veterinarian for ongoing management, if necessary.
What goes on in the treatment area?
While you complete the registration form, your pet will undergo a physical exam by a nurse.
If your pet shows signs of instability, an emergency vet will be alerted immediately.
After the exam, pets will be prioritized based on their condition and urgency.
Stable pets will return to the reception area to wait with their owners, while those needing oxygen support or temperature regulation may be moved to the treatment area for closer monitoring by a vet or nurse.
Wait times may increase should another patient with life threatening conditions and require immediate attention come in while you wait.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic tests like X-rays and blood tests can be performed on the same day to assess your pet's condition.
Scans such as abdominal ultrasounds, echocardiograms and CT scans are usually arranged after the patient is stabilized.
Once the results are available, the vet will discuss the findings with you and recommend the best treatment plan based on those results.
Treatment may be provided on an outpatient or inpatient basis depending on the vet's recommendation and your decision after discussion.
Visitations & Communications
Visitation and discharge hours for critically ill hospitalized patients are typically discussed on a daily basis, taking into account your pet's treatment plan, monitoring needs, and the demands of the emergency room.
Owners will receive at least one update call from the attending veterinarian every 12 hours, providing an overview of your pet's condition and the next steps in their care.
Please note that delays may occur if emergencies arise in the emergency room.
Emergency Fees
Emergency Consultation: $165+GST
Public Hol. Consultation: $250+GST
Please note prices stated do not include treatment or diagnostics costs.
For hospitalized patients, an initial deposit of 50% of the initial estimate will be required.
Common Emergencies
Does my pet require emergency attention?
Signs your pet may require immediate emergency care includes:
-
Trauma / Trauma-related Injuries
- Road Traffic Accidents
- Fall from Height etc
-
Exposure to Toxins
-
Ingestion of Toxins
-
Sudden Collapse/Loss of Consciousness
-
Breathing Difficulties
- Abnormally Harsh/Rapid Breathing
-
Difficulty or Discomfort Urinating
- Straining to urinate
- Cats going in and out of litter box etc
-
Acute Weakness in Limbs
-
Acute Lameness
-
Seizures
-
Bloat
-
Severe Vomiting
-
Severe Diarrhoea
-
Loss of Appetite
-
Heat Stress/Heat Stroke
-
Difficulty giving birth (Dystocia)
-
Acute Disorientation
-
Bleeding
- Blood in vomit or stools
- Coughing up blood
- Significant bleed from wounds
-
Extreme Pain/Discomfort
If in doubt, it’s always best to have your pet assessed; even if only for reassurance that they are OK.
Call us at our emergency hotline to speak to one of our emergency team members.
Our purpose-built Emergency Hospital
Our purpose-built emergency hospital boasts state-of-the-art technology and amenities aimed at promptly diagnosing and treating your pet's emergency and critical care needs.
Some of the services and facilities our emergency and critical care hospital offers include:
- 24-hour trained emergency veterinarians and nurses
- 24-hour critical care hospitalization
- oxygen therapy for stabilization and ICU support
- emergency endoscopy (foreign body removals)
- ultrasound for POCUS during emergency assessments
- isolation ward for infectious cases
- surgical theatre for emergency surgeries
- comprehensive in-house laboratory for rapid blood and urine testing
- digital radiography (X-ray)
- computed tomography (CT Scans)
- full spec diagnostic ultrasound (full abdominal ultrasounds/echocardiograms)
Our emergency and critical care team works closely with our surgical department for cases that may require specialist surgical procedures or surgeries.
Speak to our Emergency Team
Operating Hours:
Mondays to Sundays
24 hours a day
Including Public Holidays
T: 6931 - 0095