The short answer
After Hours Veterinary Centre, 146 Antigua Street, Addington. Phone (03) 366 1052. Its website says it operates Monday to Thursday 7pm to 8am, and from 7pm Friday without closing until 8am Monday, and is open all weekends and public holidays. Many Christchurch clinics send their after-hours emergencies there.
Takurua Vets, 1 Ilam Road, Upper Riccarton. Phone 03 925 9080. Open until 10pm every day for dogs and cats, with an on-call service after 10pm by phone. It says you do not need to be an existing client.
North Canterbury: Emergency Vet Hospital, 181 Lehmans Road, Rangiora. Phone 0800 384 111. Its website lists Monday to Thursday 7pm to 8am and Sunday 9am to 4pm, and says to always call first, because at busy times it may refer you to the Addington centre.
We did not find a Christchurch clinic that says on its own site it is open 24 hours every day. Call before you drive, every time. None of these clinics publishes an emergency fee, so ask for the consultation cost and an estimate when you call. Checked 9 November 2026.
Go now if you see any of these
- • Changes to breathing: faster, harder or heavy panting
- • Collapse from fatigue
- • Straining to urinate or pass faeces
- • Distress or drooling after eating a bone or other object
- • Excessive coughing, vomiting or diarrhoea
- • Overheating or heatstroke
- • Eating a poison such as rat bait, snail pellets or human medicine
- • Seizures, bloat, a painful belly or a swallowed object
This list follows the emergency signs published by Cashmere Veterinary Clinic and Takurua Vets. If you are unsure, ring an emergency clinic and describe what you see.
Which vets are open after hours in Christchurch?
Two clinics in the city cover the evenings and nights, and a third covers some nights from Rangiora in North Canterbury. The hours column repeats each clinic's own wording; addresses and numbers are as published.
| Clinic | Address | Hours (as published) | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Hours Veterinary Centre | 146 Antigua Street, Addington, Christchurch | Weekdays Monday to Thursday 7pm to 8am, and Friday from 7pm without closing until Monday at 8am. Open all weekends and public holidays. | (03) 366 1052 |
| Takurua Vets | 1 Ilam Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041 | Open until 10pm every day. After 10pm, on-call service by phone; visits are arranged by phone first and depend on staff and facilities being available. Dogs and cats. Existing client not required. | 03 925 9080 |
| Emergency Vet Hospital | 181 Lehmans Road, Rangiora, North Canterbury | Monday to Thursday: overnight 7pm to 8am. Sunday: 9am to 4pm. Always call first; at peak times it may refer you to the After Hours Veterinary Centre in Addington. A deposit is required on arrival. | 0800 384 111 (0800 EVH 111) |
Checked on each clinic's own website on 9 November 2026. Hours, names and numbers change; the clinic's own site and phone line always win.
The After Hours Veterinary Centre's website is a single short page, and Avonhead Veterinary Clinic lists slightly different weekday hours for it (7.00pm to 7:30am). Treat the hours above as a guide and ring (03) 366 1052 before you go, so you know the team is there and ready for you. Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa also has a hospital at 146 Antigua Street, but it is a specialist referral hospital: it says you need a referral from your own vet, so it is not a walk-in emergency option.
Which local clinics send their after-hours emergencies there?
The After Hours Veterinary Centre says it is a service provided for its shareholder clinics. These clinics each point their clients to it outside their own hours. They are examples we checked, not a full list, and they are not ranked. Your own clinic's website or answerphone tells you its arrangement.
| Clinic | What its own page says |
|---|---|
| Avonhead Veterinary Clinic | 207 Withells Road, Avonhead. If it is closed, take your pet to the After Hours Veterinary Clinic, which sends a full report back. Lists the after-hours hours as Monday to Friday 7.00pm to 7:30am and weekends 24 hours. |
| Cashmere Veterinary Clinic | Lists the Christchurch After Hours Veterinary Centre, (03) 366 1052, as its after-hours emergency clinic. |
| Hornby Veterinary Centre | 7 Tower Street, Hornby. Lists the Christchurch After Hours Veterinary Centre, (03) 366 1052, for after-hours emergencies. |
| McMaster & Heap | Says its answer machine message gives the number to ring when it is closed, and lists the After Hours Veterinary Centre at 146 Antigua Street. |
After-hours clinic, late clinic or your regular vet?
| Option | When it fits | Christchurch example |
|---|---|---|
| After-hours emergency centre | Anything that cannot wait, overnight, at the weekend or on a public holiday. | After Hours Veterinary Centre, Addington |
| Clinic with late hours and on-call cover | Urgent problems in the evening, up to 10pm, and on-call help after that by phone. | Takurua Vets, Upper Riccarton |
| Your regular vet, in its opening hours | Emergencies during the day, anything that can safely wait until opening time, and all follow-up after an emergency visit. | Your own clinic. Avonhead says the after-hours clinic sends a full report back to it. |
On weekdays the After Hours Veterinary Centre is closed between 8am and 7pm (except public holidays), so ring your own vet first during the working day. Many clinics will see an emergency the same day, and if they cannot, they will tell you where to go.
What should I do on the way to the emergency vet?
Cashmere Veterinary Clinic and Takurua Vets both publish simple advice for the trip:
- Stay calm and move your pet away from further harm.
- Handle your pet carefully. Cashmere reminds owners that a pet in pain or distress may act unpredictably.
- Call ahead for first aid advice and so the clinic can prepare. Takurua asks you to tell it what has happened and what you are noticing.
- Use towels or bedding to help carry your pet to the car, especially if it is in pain.
- Do not give food, drink or medicine unless a vet tells you to. First aid does not replace veterinary treatment.
- Bring information: any medicines your pet takes, and the packet or a photo if it ate something.
Keep your face away from the mouth of a hurt animal, even a gentle one, and ask someone else to drive if you can. Takurua says pets are seen by clinical urgency and that busy periods can mean longer waits.
Which Canterbury emergencies should I know about?
Toxic algae in rivers and lakes: go now
Environment Canterbury says dogs are drawn to the musty smell of toxic algae and usually investigate by eating or licking it, and that a teaspoon can be fatal. In rivers, look for thick dark brown or black mats with a slimy or velvety texture, floating or washed-up mats, and dried mats that look like dried leaves. ECan also warns that small amounts can be present at sites listed as fine for swimming, or at places it does not monitor. Signs of poisoning in animals include lethargy, muscle tremors, fast breathing, twitching, paralysis and convulsions. If you suspect exposure, contact a vet immediately. When in doubt, keep your dog on a lead and away from the water's edge.
1080 baits and carcasses: go now
If you take your dog walking or hunting in the hills or high country, read the Department of Conservation guidance first. DOC says dogs that die from 1080 have usually eaten a poisoned carcass rather than a bait, and that carcasses take four to eight months to break down. Watch for warning signs at track entrances. DOC says signs can start between 30 minutes and several hours after eating, death can follow within 2 to 12 hours, and there is no antidote, though a dog can sometimes be saved with fast action. If it happens, get to a vet immediately and call ahead to say you suspect 1080.
Poisons at home: call and go
Cashmere Veterinary Clinic names rat bait, snail pellets and human medication among the poisons that need emergency care, and Takurua lists medication, bait, toxic food, plants, household chemicals and unknown substances. Call as soon as you know your pet ate something, not when it starts to look unwell.
Hot cars and heatstroke: go now
SPCA New Zealand says the inside of a closed car in the sun can reach 50 degrees Celsius in less than 15 minutes, even when parked in the shade with the windows open. It lists lethargy, heavy drooling, dark red gums, vomiting, diarrhoea and uncoordinated movement as signs of heatstroke. Leave your dog at home on warm days, and if you see a dog in distress in a car, SPCA says to call the police or SPCA on 0800 SPCA NZ immediately.
Ticks are a smaller worry here: Health New Zealand lists the ticks found in New Zealand as native ticks that mainly live on birds and the introduced brown cattle tick.
Thinking about adopting in Christchurch?
Christchurch rescues list dogs and cats that are desexed, microchipped and vaccinated before they go home. Browse current listings, and save the after-hours number the day your new pet arrives.
How much does an emergency vet cost in Christchurch?
Emergency care is expensive, and none of the After Hours Veterinary Centre, Takurua Vets or Emergency Vet Hospital in Rangiora publishes an emergency consultation fee on the pages we read, so we do not quote one. Emergency Vet Hospital says a deposit is required when you arrive with your pet. Takurua notes that after-hours emergencies often need more than a consult alone, such as imaging, blood tests, pain relief, monitoring or surgery.
Three questions worth asking on the phone: what the consultation fee is at this hour, what a likely estimate is once your pet has been examined, and how and when payment is due. If you have pet insurance, ask how the clinic handles claims. Pet insurance only helps if it is in place before the emergency, so decide on it early.
Based on the clinics' own websites, read on 9 November 2026. Ask the clinic for an estimate for your pet; fees and payment options are set by each clinic and can change.
Set this up before you need it
The worst time to look up an emergency vet is in the car with a sick pet. Ten minutes now saves panic later, and it matters most in the first weeks after adoption, when you do not yet know what is normal for your new dog or cat.
- Save two numbers in your phone: your regular vet and the After Hours Veterinary Centre, (03) 366 1052. Add Takurua Vets, 03 925 9080, if you live on the west side of the city, or Emergency Vet Hospital, 0800 384 111, if you live in North Canterbury.
- Find out your clinic's after-hours arrangement, from its website or answerphone, before you need it.
- Register your dog with the council. Under the Dog Control Act 1996, every dog over three months must be registered, and a rescue dog is usually microchipped already. Check that the chip and council records show your name and current phone number.
- Keep the rescue's vet records handy. Vaccination dates, desexing date and any known conditions help an emergency vet who has never met your pet.
- Book a regular vet early. A check-up in the first few weeks gives you a baseline and a clinic that knows your pet.
- Decide about insurance now, not after the first emergency.
- Lock away the risky things: rat bait, snail pellets, human medicines and household chemicals.
If the dog or cat you are adopting lives in a foster home, the carer can usually tell you about its health history before you adopt. Ask. Our best dog rescues in Christchurch guide is a good place to start, and if your pet goes missing, see lost pets in Christchurch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a 24 hour vet in Christchurch?
We did not find a Christchurch clinic that says on its own site it is open 24 hours every day. The After Hours Veterinary Centre at 146 Antigua Street, Addington ((03) 366 1052) covers weeknights from 7pm to 8am and runs without closing from 7pm Friday to 8am Monday, plus public holidays. Takurua Vets in Upper Riccarton is open until 10pm every day with an on-call service after that. In North Canterbury, Emergency Vet Hospital in Rangiora (0800 384 111) lists Monday to Thursday 7pm to 8am and Sunday 9am to 4pm, and asks you to always call first. Checked 9 November 2026.
What are the Christchurch After Hours Vet opening hours?
Its website says it operates Monday to Thursday from 7pm to 8am, and from 7pm Friday without closing until 8am Monday, and that it is open all weekends and public holidays. A clinic that refers to it lists slightly different weekday hours, so ring (03) 366 1052 before you drive.
Where is the after hours vet in Christchurch?
The After Hours Veterinary Centre gives its address as 146 Antigua Street, Addington, Christchurch, and its phone as (03) 366 1052. Some older directory listings show a different Addington street, so use the address on the centre's own site and call ahead.
Do I need to be a client to use the Christchurch after hours vet?
The After Hours Veterinary Centre describes itself as a service provided for its shareholder clinics, and several Christchurch clinics, including Avonhead, Cashmere, Hornby and McMaster & Heap, send their after-hours emergencies there. If your pet is with another clinic, or has no vet yet, say so when you call. Takurua Vets says you do not need to be an existing client to use its urgent and emergency service.
Is Takurua Vets open late?
Yes. Takurua Vets at 1 Ilam Road, Upper Riccarton, says it is open until 10pm every day, and that after 10pm you call the same number, 03 925 9080, for its on-call service. Outside opening hours, visits are arranged by phone first and depend on staff and facilities being available. It treats dogs and cats.
What counts as a vet emergency?
Cashmere Veterinary Clinic lists distress or drooling after eating a bone or other object, excessive coughing, vomiting or diarrhoea, collapse, straining to urinate or defecate, overheating or heatstroke, eating a poison such as rat bait, snail pellets or human medicine, and changes to breathing. If you are unsure, phone an emergency clinic and describe what you see.
How much does an emergency vet cost in Christchurch?
None of the After Hours Veterinary Centre, Takurua Vets or Emergency Vet Hospital in Rangiora publishes an emergency consultation fee on the pages we read, so we do not quote one. Emergency Vet Hospital says a deposit is required when you arrive. Expect emergency care to cost more than a normal visit, ask for the consultation fee when you call, and ask for an estimate before treatment starts.
Should I call before going to an emergency vet in Christchurch?
Yes. Takurua Vets asks you to call before coming in so it can assess your pet and prepare, and after 10pm a visit must be arranged by phone. Cashmere Veterinary Clinic also advises calling ahead for first aid advice and so the clinic can get ready.
Is toxic algae dangerous for dogs in Canterbury rivers?
Yes. Environment Canterbury says dogs are drawn to the musty smell of toxic algae and that a teaspoon can be fatal if a dog eats it. It lists lethargy, muscle tremors, fast breathing, twitching, paralysis and convulsions as signs of poisoning in animals. If you suspect exposure, contact a vet immediately.
What if my dog eats 1080 bait or a poisoned carcass?
Treat it as an emergency. The Department of Conservation says signs can start between 30 minutes and several hours after a dog eats 1080, death can occur within 2 to 12 hours, and there is no antidote, though dogs can sometimes be saved with fast action. Get to a vet immediately and call ahead to say you suspect 1080.
Does Christchurch have paralysis ticks?
We found no sign of them. Health New Zealand's page on ticks in New Zealand lists native ticks that mainly live on birds and the introduced brown cattle tick, and does not list the paralysis tick. The local hazards worth knowing are toxic algae in rivers, 1080 in pest control areas, hot cars and household poisons.
Keep exploring
Best Dog Rescues in Christchurch
The main Christchurch dog rescues and how adoption works at each.
Christchurch Shelters and Rescues
Every Christchurch rescue with dogs listed on LocalPetFinder.
Lost Pets in Christchurch
What to do first if your dog or cat goes missing.
Emergency Vets in Wellington
Crossing the strait? The Wellington after-hours clinic.
Find your next pet in Christchurch
See adoptable dogs and cats from Christchurch shelters and rescues, refreshed regularly. Ask each rescue for the vet history before you bring your new pet home.