Pet emergency help

24/7 poison hotlines

Both are staffed by veterinary toxicologists. Both charge a one-time consultation fee per case (~$85–95). The consultation includes a case number any emergency clinic can reference, often saving you redundant work-up.

United States & Canada

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — 1-855-426-3435 ($95 per case)
• Pet Poison Helpline — 1-855-213-6680 ($85 per case)

United Kingdom & Ireland

• Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) — owners call 020 7305 5055 (£35 per case). Free if your vet calls.
• Animal PoisonLine (24/7 owner triage line, VPIS-run) — 01202 509 000 (£35).

Europe (non-UK)

• France — Centre Antipoison Animal de l'Ouest (CAPAO), Nantes — 02 40 68 77 77
• France — CNITV Lyon — 04 78 87 06 00
• Germany — Giftnotruf Berlin (vet) — 030 19240
• Netherlands — Nationaal Vergiftigingen Informatie Centrum (NVIC) — vet-only line via your treating vet
• Italy — CAV Milano (vet) — 02 6610 1029
• For other countries, search "vétérinaire de garde / Tierärztlicher Notdienst / urgenze veterinarie" + your city — most regions have a 24/7 emergency rota.

Have ready when you call: your pet's species + weight, what they ate or were exposed to, approximate amount, time of exposure, any symptoms you've noticed.

Finding an emergency vet

If your regular vet isn't open and your pet needs immediate care:

• Search "emergency vet near me" on Google Maps — fastest way to find a 24-hour clinic with directions.
• VECCS Emergency & Critical Care Hospitals — directory of certified emergency and critical care veterinary hospitals.
• Most regular vet clinics' answering machines redirect to a local emergency hospital after hours.
• Call ahead if you can — they can prepare and triage faster.

Common emergencies — what's an emergency?

Some situations are unambiguously emergencies (don't pause to read more — go):

• Difficulty breathing, gasping, or unusual breathing sounds
• Collapse, inability to stand, or unusual stumbling
• Active seizures or seizures within the last 24 hours
• Severe bleeding that doesn't stop within 5 minutes of pressure
• Suspected poisoning (chocolate, grapes, xylitol, rodenticide, antifreeze) — see below
• Severe abdominal distension and unproductive retching (especially large/giant breed dogs — possible gastric dilatation-volvulus, life-threatening)
• Unable to urinate, especially male cats (urinary blockage is life-threatening within 24–48 hours)
• Trauma — hit by car, fall, attack
• Eye injury, sudden blindness, or eye-bulging
• Heatstroke signs (heavy panting, drooling, weakness on a hot day)

While you're waiting / on the way

• Don't induce vomiting unless instructed. Some toxins (acids, caustics) cause worse damage on the way back up. Hotline or vet will tell you.
• Don't give human medications unless specifically directed. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and many others are toxic to dogs / cats.
• Bring the source. Take the packaging, the plant sample, the container — anything that helps identify what was ingested.
• Keep your pet warm and as calm as possible. Don't restrain forcefully if they're stressed.
• If your pet vomits, take a photo or sample — that helps the vet.

Building an emergency fund

One major pet emergency (foreign-body surgery, blockage, hit-by-car) typically costs the equivalent of one to two months' take-home pay in your country — and that's at a regular emergency vet, not a referral hospital. As rough guides: US $5,000–$10,000 per major event, UK £2,500–£6,000, EU mainland €3,000–€7,000, Canada/Australia CA$/AU$ 5,000–10,000. Keeping a buffer that covers one full event is the realistic minimum; double that for peace of mind. See our lifetime cost calculator for full ownership budgeting.

Disclaimer: This page is for general guidance only. It is not veterinary advice and is not a substitute for in-person veterinary care. If your pet is in distress, your nearest emergency vet is the right destination.