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Referral Centres & Emergency Care

In the event of pet emergencies or serious illness outside our normal opening hours, we want to ensure you and your pet know where to turn for prompt, professional care.

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When to Use Emergency Vet Services

You should consider heading to an emergency vet if your pet is experiencing:
  • Difficulty breathing, choking, or severe breathing distress
  • Toxic ingestion (poisons, toxins, household hazards)
  • Severe trauma (vehicle hit, falls, deep wounds, fractures)
  • Collapse, severe weakness, sudden paralysis
  • Uncontrolled bleeding or open wounds
  • Severe pain, distress, or inability to move normally
  • Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood
  • Straining to urinate or defecate, or suspected blockage
  • Severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
  • Any sudden, serious change in behaviour or health

If your pet’s condition is urgent, especially if there’s difficulty breathing, severe injury or trauma, poisoning, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe pain, call ahead and go directly to an emergency vet centre.

What to Bring With You

When heading to an emergency vet, try to bring:
  • Any relevant medical records or history
  • A list of current medications or treatments
  • Any recent X-rays, lab results or notes from your regular vet (if available)
  • A soft towel or blanket to make your pet comfortable
  • Your contact and payment details

If possible, call ahead so the emergency team can prepare for your arrival.

emergency photo

Recommended Emergency Vet Clinics Near You

SASH Adelaide

Address:
99 Rundle St, Kent Town, SA 5067
Phone: 08 8133 5300
Hours: Open 24/7, 365 days per year

SASH Adelaide is one of the region’s most comprehensive emergency and specialist vet hospitals. Their team of emergency vets, critical care specialists and surgeons are available around the clock — ideal for major emergencies, complex cases, and referral-level care.

The Austin Urgent Care

Address: 19–21 William Street,
Mile End, SA 5031
Phone: 08 8166 3828
Hours: Open 24/7 every day, including weekends and public holidays

The Austin Urgent Care provides dedicated emergency vet services for pets at all hours. Their experienced team can manage urgent care needs from injuries and poisoning to severe illness when your regular vet is unavailable.

Pawprints Afterhours

Address:
199 Main Road, Blackwood, SA 5051
Phone: 1300 729 774 or 0438 099 309
Email: enquires@pawprintsafterhours.com
Hours: 24/7, 365 days

Pawprints Afterhours provides after-hours emergency veterinary care for pets across the Adelaide region. Their team is available when your regular vet is closed, offering support for urgent and emergency needs outside of standard clinic hours.

Emergency Vet Adelaide (After-Hours Specialist)

Address: 282 Anzac Highway, Plympton, SA 5038
Phone: 08 8121 3030 
Hours: After-hours service: Monday–Saturday from 5 pm to 8 am; Sunday & public holiday 24 hrs.
Visit Website: Emergency Vet Adelaide

This clinic provides overnight and after-hours emergency veterinary care, especially useful when you need urgent attention outside standard hours but don’t require a full 24/7 hospital. Please call ahead for availability and species limitations (note: rabbits are reportedly not accepted here).

Staying Safe: What to Do Now

If you’re in urgent need of pet emergency care, call one of the above clinics immediately. If your pet’s condition can wait and it’s during Payneham Veterinary Centre’s normal hours, please contact us. We’ll do our best to see your pet promptly.

For any uncertainty, err on the side of caution. Quick action during emergencies can make a big difference to your pet’s outcome.