24 Hour Emergency and Critical Care

is a dedicated animal emergency and critical care service within the Small Animal Specialist Hospital. Being an emergency service there is no appointment system and emergency cases will be triaged and seen in their order or urgency. We aim to keep waiting times as short as possible but as this is an emergency service we see patients in order of urgency.

Ideally you should call ahead so we can be as prepared as possible to care for you sick or injured pet.

vetICU

operates Monday to Friday from 5:00pm to 8:00am and 24 hours on the weekend and public holidays if your local veterinary clinic is closed. The front door will be locked after hours for security reasons so as you arrive, please press the doorbell and we will attend to you promptly.

vetICU

is staffed by experienced, dedicated and caring emergency veterinarians. Whilst

vetICU

operates within

SASH

, it is not a specialist service. If required, the appropriate specialist can be called in after hours for advice or to attend to your animal.

If your pet visits vetICU it is practice policy that your regular veterinarian is notified of your attendance by fax by the following morning and we make every attempt to speak to your veterinarian by telephone. Once your pet has been treated and is stable they can be discharged from hospital. If there is a need for ongoing care you can elect for this to be completed at your regular veterinary hospital.

Some emergencies that require immediate assessment and care

• Any difficulty breathing or excessive coughing
• Collapse, weakness or severe lethargy
• Paralysis or inability to get up or walk normally
• Excessive vomiting or diarrhoea
• Sudden abdominal distension or bloating
• Trauma such as being hit by a car, or falling off a balcony or dog or cat fights
• Ingesting a poison such as rat bait, snail or slug bait, antifreeze, prescription medication, chocolate, macadamia nuts or grapes, raisins or sultanas
• Distress or drooling after eating a bone or ingesting a fishhook
• Snake bites
• Having paralysis ticks attached
• Heat stroke
• Inability to urinate
• Any condition causing excessive pain