Emergency Vets in Brisbane: 24/7 and After-Hours Hospitals

Which Brisbane emergency vets are open right now?

The table lists the hospitals in the Brisbane metro area that take emergencies without a referral. The first five say they never close. The last four are after-hours services, which means they open when regular clinics shut and run all day on weekends and public holidays. Hours are copied from each hospital's own page.

Each hospital's website, read on 9 November 2026. QVS also lists a central line, 1300 753 838. During weekday business hours, Veterinary Specialist Services says its own emergency teams take walk-in emergencies at the Jindalee (07 3193 6500) and Underwood (07 3841 7011) sites, with AES taking over at night and on weekends. Hours change, and some hospitals warn that they can change at short notice, so always phone first.

Which one is closest to me?

• Northside and Moreton Bay: QVS Stafford and QVS North Lakes (both 24 hours). After hours, AEC Kedron on Gympie Road and BVECCS at Albany Creek.
• Inner city and inner south: AEC Woolloongabba at Stones Corner (24 hours).
• Western suburbs and Centenary: ARH Brisbane at Sinnamon Park (24 hours). After hours, AES Jindalee, just off the Centenary Highway.
• Bayside (Wynnum and Manly side): Manly Road 24hr Veterinary Hospital at Manly West (24 hours).
• Southside towards Logan: AES Underwood after hours, or AEC Woolloongabba around the clock.

Outside the Brisbane metro

• West towards Ipswich and Toowoomba: the UQ VETS Small Animal Hospital at Gatton runs an emergency service on 07 5460 1788, open 7 days, 7am to 10pm. It is not open overnight. UQ VETS says it treats small pets and wildlife.
• Gold Coast: SASH Gold Coast at Shop 6/20 Scottsdale Dr, Robina lists itself as 24/7 on (07) 5584 7300. Animal Emergency Service also runs an after-hours hospital at 104 Eastlake St, Carrara (07 5559 1599), open weekday nights and 24 hours on weekends.

24/7 hospital, after-hours hospital or your regular vet?

A practical rule: if your regular vet is open and can see you within the hour, call them first, because they know your pet. If they are closed, cannot fit you in, or the problem is on the “go now” list below, go to the nearest emergency hospital. Emergency hospitals triage, which means the sickest animal is seen first, not the first to arrive.

When is it an emergency? Go now

Phone the nearest hospital and get in the car if your dog or cat has any of these:

• Trouble breathing, noisy breathing or blue or pale gums
• Collapse, sudden weakness, wobbly back legs or a seizure
• A tick found on the body, or signs of tick paralysis (see below)
• A suspected snake bite, even if your pet seems fine afterwards
• Licking or mouthing a cane toad
• Heavy panting, drooling or collapse on a hot or humid day
• Eating poison, rat bait, medication or anything you are unsure about
• A swollen, tight belly with retching that brings nothing up
• Hit by a car, a dog attack, a fall, or bleeding that will not stop
• A male cat straining in the litter tray with little or no urine
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood, in a puppy, kitten or older pet

If you are unsure, call. The hospital will tell you whether to come in now or see your vet in the morning. It takes the guesswork off you.

Brisbane emergencies to know about

AES's Jindalee page names the emergencies its team sees often: snake bites, heat stroke, dog attacks, accidental poisonings, allergic reactions and tick paralysis. Four of those are shaped by Brisbane's climate.

Paralysis ticks, close to year-round

South East Queensland sits inside the range of the paralysis tick, and the mild winters mean the risk never really switches off, especially in bushland-fringe suburbs. The RSPCA Knowledgebase lists the signs: wobbly or weak back legs, a change in the bark or meow, retching, coughing or vomiting, drooling, and fast or grunting breathing. Its advice is to remove any tick, keep your pet calm and at a comfortable temperature, give no food or water, and take your pet to a vet as soon as possible. Do not wait until morning. Ask your vet about a registered tick-prevention product and search your dog every day.

Cane toads

Dogs that lick, bite or carry a cane toad can be poisoned within minutes, and dead toads are still toxic. Queensland Veterinary Specialists advises wiping the gums, tongue and inside of the cheeks with a wet cloth, rinsing it often, for about 10 to 15 minutes, with the head angled down, while you call the hospital. Never hose water into the mouth, and do not try to make your dog vomit. If your dog is seizing, unconscious or struggling to breathe, skip the wiping and drive.

Snakes

The RSPCA Knowledgebase on snake bite says to seek emergency veterinary treatment as soon as you know or suspect a bite, whatever the snake. A dog can collapse and then seem to recover, which fools owners into waiting. Keep your pet calm and still, call ahead, and do not try to catch or kill the snake. The RSPCA says not to wash the wound or apply a tourniquet.

Heat and humidity

Brisbane summers are hot and humid, and flat-faced breeds, overweight dogs and very young or old pets struggle most. The RSPCA's heatstroke advice is to start cooling straight away with room-temperature or cool water on the fur and skin, keep air moving, and get to a vet immediately. Never leave a dog in a parked car. Our pug breathing and heat guide covers the breeds most at risk.

What to do on the way

1. Call the hospital first. Say what happened, your pet's species, size and age, and when you will arrive. The team can prepare and may send you to a different hospital if theirs is full.
2. Keep yourself safe. A frightened or hurt animal can bite, even a gentle one. Move slowly and keep your face away from its mouth.
3. Carry your pet safely. Put cats and small dogs in a carrier. Lift a larger dog on a towel, blanket or board held by two people, keeping the back straight if it cannot walk.
4. Bring what you can grab in a minute. Any packet, plant or bait your pet ate, the tick in a sealed bag, a photo of the snake from a safe distance, and a list of your pet's medicines.
5. Do not give human medicines. Many are toxic to dogs and cats. Give nothing by mouth unless the vet tells you to.
6. Have a second person drive if you can, so someone can watch your pet.

How much does an emergency vet cost in Brisbane?

Emergency care is expensive, and we could not find a Brisbane hospital that publishes its emergency consultation fee online, as of 9 November 2026. The consultation is only the start: tests, X-rays, overnight stays and antivenom add to the bill. The RSPCA warns that snake bite treatment in particular can lead to a large vet bill.

What the hospitals do publish about paying:

• Animal Emergency Service (fees page): a consultation fee applies; there is a public holiday surcharge; payment is due at the end of the consultation; a hospital stay needs a deposit of the estimated cost up front; estimates are discussed before treatment unless it is an emergency; you can apply for VetPay finance with the client care team; it strongly recommends pet insurance.
• ARH Brisbane (hospital page): says its team can guide you through VetPay and other payment methods and process insurance claims on your behalf.

VetPay and similar payment plans are credit or finance products, each with its own fees, limits and approval checks. Read the terms before you sign, at a calmer moment if you can. The best time to sort out how you would pay a large bill is before an emergency, either with pet insurance or a savings buffer. These are published reference details, not a quote; ask the hospital for an estimate on the night.

Set this up before you need it

Most emergencies happen to someone who meant to look up the number later. Five minutes now saves time when it matters:

• Save two numbers: the closest 24/7 hospital and the closest after-hours hospital from the table above.
• Check the drive at night. Know the route to the closest 24/7 hospital, not just the one nearest your house.
• Keep a carrier and an old towel where you can reach them quickly.
• Know your pet's weight, medicines and microchip number, or keep a photo of the adoption paperwork on your phone.
• Decide how you would pay a large bill, and read any insurance policy's waiting periods before you rely on it.

If you are adopting, ask the rescue which tick prevention the dog or cat is on and when the next dose is due, because a gap in cover in Brisbane is a real risk. Rescue pets usually arrive desexed, microchipped and vaccinated, so the emergency kit is the next job. Our Brisbane dog rescues guide lists the groups we track, and the Brisbane dog registration guide covers council registration.

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