How to Find a 24-Hour Emergency Vet Near You in the UK

Searching for “24 hour vets near me” may give you several results, but the nearest one is not always the service your own vet uses. A quick phone call can tell you where to go and how to get in, so you are not left trying to work it out on the way.

In the UK, veterinary practices must make 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief available. This does not mean that every local surgery has a vet on site all night. Some practices run their own service, while others share cover with nearby practices or use a separate emergency clinic. In most cases, your usual vet is the right place to start.

If you are worried that your pet needs urgent veterinary help, contact a vet straight away.

Start with your usual vet

Call your regular veterinary practice, even when the building is shut. Its recorded message may tell you who is providing out-of-hours care, how to reach them and where they are based. Some practices redirect calls straight to their emergency provider instead. The RCVS expects practices to make details of their emergency cover publicly available, including where it is, and to tell clients the likely initial cost, so the practice website is worth checking too.

Out-of-hours cover differs from one practice to the next. An emergency hospital may be open nearby, but your usual practice may have arranged cover with another provider. Calling first also gives the team a chance to tell you where to go and whether there is a particular entrance to use after hours.

Save your usual practice’s number in your phone now. At your next routine appointment, ask who covers evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Keep the provider’s name, number and address with your pet’s other important details, especially if it is in another town.

Search locally when you need another provider

If you are away from home, have just moved, or cannot reach your regular practice, look for a veterinary practice or emergency clinic near your current location. A local practice directory can help narrow down the options, and the RCVS Find a Vet database can help you find a veterinary practice.

An online search may bring up useful local results. Treat them as a starting point, not a promise that the clinic can see your pet at that moment. Read the practice’s own listing or website, then phone to confirm its current arrangements.

When you are comparing results, these are the details worth checking:

• the full address, rather than just the town name

• the emergency telephone number

• whether it provides out-of-hours care

• whether it asks you to call before arriving

• the likely journey time from where you are

A vet on duty should not unreasonably refuse emergency first aid and pain relief just because you are not registered there, as long as the practice treats that kind of animal. If it does not, it should still help you get first aid and pain relief until a more suitable emergency service can take over. If you are calling somewhere new, say so plainly. The team can explain where to attend and what help it can provide.

Confirm before you travel

Map listings and opening hours can be out of date, so a call is more useful than setting off based on a search result alone. It also lets the emergency team know you are coming. PDSA advises ringing ahead so the practice can prepare for an emergency case.

Some providers use a different entrance at night. You may be asked to go to reception, use an intercom, or report to security when you arrive.

Keep the call simple. Give your name, your pet’s species and a short reason for calling. Say where you are and, if it applies, name your regular practice. Then follow the advice you are given.

Useful questions to ask on the call:

• Is this the out-of-hours provider for my usual practice?

• Should I come in now, and which address and entrance should I use?

• What number should I call if I cannot find the clinic?

• Is there anything the team needs me to have ready when I arrive?

Some emergency providers give an indication of consultation fees when you call, and their payment arrangements may differ. If you need to ask about this, do so during the call, but do not put off contacting a vet when you are worried about your pet.

Plan the journey

For dogs, cats and other small pets, you will usually need to take your pet to the emergency provider. The RCVS advises owners to plan transport in advance, particularly at night. Knowing who could give you a lift, or which taxi firm may take pets, can make a difficult situation less rushed.

Once you have spoken to the provider, use the address they give you rather than an old saved pin. Check the route, likely journey time and any parking or arrival instructions before you leave if you can. If another adult is travelling with you, they can manage directions or call the clinic while you stay with your pet.

Keep your phone with you. Your pet’s microchip number and insurance details may be useful, as may your usual practice’s contact details. Some providers may ask for particular information when you arrive, but the clinic can tell you what is needed when you phone.

Your route may be longer than expected because some practices use a third-party emergency provider. Government advice says that, where a practice does this, owners should check how near that provider is to home. It is useful to know this before there is an urgent need to travel.

If you are away from home

Being on holiday or staying with family can make an urgent situation feel more unsettling, particularly when you do not know the area. If you can reach your usual practice, call it first. If not, search for a local vet and phone before travelling. PDSA advises going to the nearest vet in an emergency when you are away from home.

Tell the provider that you are visiting the area and give your current location. The nearest practice on a map may send its out-of-hours calls elsewhere, so follow the directions you are given on the phone.

If your pet is already under treatment, having your usual practice’s contact details available can be helpful. You may also have medication and insurance details on your phone. Do not delay a call while you look for paperwork, though. The first job is reaching a veterinary team and finding out where to go.