When a pet has an accident, eats something they shouldn’t, or falls ill with a mystery, the first place pet owners turn is usually the vet. But what if the vet is closed? Not all illnesses and accidents occur within a vet’s opening hours.
Below we explain the options available to you if your pet is sick and your regular vet is closed.
First things first: Is it an emergency?
The first thing you should do is determine whether your cat needs emergency medical treatment. If your cat has a minor illness or a recurring problem that can wait, it’s usually best to wait until you can see a vet.
However, if there is an emergency and your cat requires emergency treatment, you will need to find an emergency vet or animal hospital.
The following are considered emergencies:
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Abdominal distention
- Collapse
- Inability to urinate
- Rapid or shallow breathing
- Seizures
- Severe pain or injury
- Unconscious or unresponsive
5 steps and options to consider if your vet is closed
1. Check online
If your cat doesn’t display any of the above signs and you’re not sure if he or she needs emergency medical attention, you can look for advice online. Remember, though, that while there’s a lot of advice available online, it’s not always accurate or trustworthy. Look for information from reputable veterinary websites, such as: Cornell University Feline Health Center Avoid giving advice based on personal experience – look for articles written or reviewed by qualified veterinarians.
As the advice is not tailored to your cat’s specific situation, you should avoid self-diagnosing your cat’s condition and instead use this information as general guidance.
2. Call your vet
If you know your vet is closed, still call. Some local vet centres have vets on shifts so there’s always one on-call. You may not be able to speak to your vet, but they may be able to refer you to a colleague who can advise you on the best course of action.
Most vets have an automated answering service with a recorded message detailing who to contact, which will usually include details of out of hours or emergency contact numbers.
3. Consider online veterinary services
If veterinary clinics are closed, online veterinary services can be a valuable resource. These services allow you to speak to a licensed veterinarian over a video or audio call from the comfort of your own home to discuss any issues you may have with your pet. An online vet can also help you determine if the issue is an emergency or if it can wait until you can see your cat at your regular vet.
There are several telehealth services available, but not all of them work the same. For example: Pangobet You fill out a questionnaire, book a time slot, pay the fee, and after the call you receive an actionable report of our cat-related discussion.
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4. Visit a different vet
If you want to take your cat to a real clinic, you’ll need to find out what other clinics in your area are open. Some clinics may have reduced hours on weekends and public holidays. A new clinic won’t have the same level of friendliness, but they’ll still gather all the background information they need to help your cat.
5. Find an emergency vet
Some vets may not be staffed enough to have a specialist on call every night, but many areas have a rotation of local vets or animal centres that are open after hours. If you can’t find details of a suitable local clinic that is open after hours after calling your own vet, try calling other vets.
Another surgery may have a more helpful message or you may find one that offers urgent appointments or treatment.
Conclusion
When your pet gets sick or has an accident, it’s easy to panic, especially if you know your vet isn’t open at night or available to take calls after hours. But there’s a solution: Call the vet’s practice to see if there’s another vet on call or if the practice has a recorded message with the details of an emergency vet.
Alternatively, find a local veterinary hospital or veterinary college, which should have an emergency room you can visit. You can also search online for veterinarians who will provide consultations; some insurance companies even offer access to these services as part of their pet insurance products.
Featured image credit: Ro_ksy, Shutterstock
