Emergency Veterinary Care
Because of the serious and sensitive nature of emergency and critical care veterinary medicine, the emergency service at Animal medical centre does not give medical diagnoses over the phone or via e-mail. The health of your pet is very important to us. We believe that in order to give you and your pet the appropriate care, we must see your animal before we can accurately give a diagnosis or advice.
General veterinary hospital providing emergency and after hours services to all existing clients. If your pet has any critical care needs and you are not able to reach us, either due to high demands at our centre or a nurse may be assisting with another emergency, please contact the following 24 hour services below:
- AEC (animal emergency centre) based in Mount Waverley, Frankston or Moorabbin. (Tel: 9803 8122)
- MASH (Melbourne animal specialist hospital) based in Ringwood. (Tel: 1800 838 787)
- VRH (Veterinary Referral Hospital) based in Dandenong. (Tel: 1300 385 874)
If you are not our regular client / patient we recommend you to consult your regular veterinarian if they are still open, alternatively, when coming to us, please arrange for your pet’s medical history to be sent over to us at [email protected], this will not only allows us to be thorough but provides us a better chance of understanding and providing the best care and treatment for your pet. Thank you, from the AMC team.
Helpful Pet Care Tips
How can I avoid an emergency with my pet?
How can I plan for an emergency?
How do I handle my injured pet?
- Follow your veterinarian's advice regarding all relevant wellness care, including vaccinations, age appropriate health screenings, and parasite prevention.
- Invest the time in training your pet to obey simple commands, such as Come, Sit, Down, Stay, and No.
- Never leave your pet alone or unattended in a car on a hot day, even with the windows open.
- Pet proof your home, removing all potential hazards from your pet's reach, much the same as you would do with an infant or toddler.
- Supervise your pet as much as possible. Puppies and kittens, just like human babies, like to explore with their mouths. Supervising them during playtime can prevent their ingesting poisonous substances or choking hazards.
- If your pet is coping with a chronic illness, carefully follow all your veterinarian's recommendations regarding medication administration and check ups.
Make sure you know ahead of time what your veterinarian's policy is regarding emergency care, both during regular practice hours and after hours, make sure you know the location of the closest emergency vet clinic for your area.
If your pet has an ongoing medical problem that could result in a sudden emergency, make sure you keep any medical records in place so that you can quickly locate them and bring them with you to the emergency hospital in the event of a crisis.
Keep your veterinarian's phone number and any emergency phone numbers and directions on your phone. Know basic first aid tips for pets. Ask your veterinarian for these ahead of time during a routine wellness exam.
Pain, fear, and shock can make animals behave differently. When you are faced with a pet emergency, remember that even the most well trained and loving pet can behave differently when feeling ill or in pain. Approach all injured pets with caution. Despite your natural wish to comfort your ill or wounded pet, do not place your face or hands near his or her head until you can assess your pet's condition. If you feel you cannot safely manage the emergency situation, ask your veterinarian for advice on how to handle and transport your pet when you call to report the emergency. Sometimes wrapping small, injured pets in towels (taking care not to cause further injury or pain) or placing larger pets in crates or carriers for transport may be the safest option for both you and your pet.
