Emergency Vets on the Gold Coast: 24/7 and After-Hours Hospitals

Which Gold Coast emergency vets are open right now?

The table lists the hospitals on the Gold Coast that take emergencies without a referral. The first two say they never close. AES Carrara is an after-hours service: it opens when regular clinics shut on weekdays and runs 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. Hours change, so always phone first.

Which one is closest to me?

• Robina, Varsity Lakes, Burleigh and the southern beaches: AEC Gold Coast and SASH Gold Coast, both 24 hours and both on Scottsdale Drive. AEC Gold Coast says it is just off the Pacific Motorway (M1) at Exit 85.
• Coolangatta and the Tweed: AEC Gold Coast says it supports pets into the Northern Rivers and Tweed region, and SASH Gold Coast says it serves the Gold Coast and Northern NSW.
• Central Gold Coast, Nerang and Carrara: AES Carrara on Eastlake Street after hours, or the two 24/7 hospitals further south at any time.
• Northern Gold Coast, such as Coomera and Helensvale: all three Gold Coast hospitals are south of you. After hours, Brisbane's southside hospitals are another option; see our Brisbane emergency vet guide.

Parking: AEC Gold Coast says it has free on-site parking outside the hospital, and SASH Gold Coast says on-site parking is available, including after-hours access for emergency visits, within The Home Hub complex via Christine Avenue.

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. AEC Gold Coast says it sends a summary of diagnosis, treatment and test results back to your regular vet afterwards.

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, grey 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, biting or carrying 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

AEC Gold Coast's own advice is the same: if in doubt, call the clinic, because any concern is worth a phone call.

Gold Coast emergencies to know about

AES Carrara names the emergencies its team sees often: snake bites, heat stroke, dog attacks, accidental poisonings, allergic reactions and tick paralysis. AEC Gold Coast adds cane toad poisoning to the list and says it stocks antiserums for snake bites and paralysis ticks.

Paralysis ticks

The RSPCA Knowledgebase says the paralysis tick is generally found on the eastern seaboard, from North Queensland down to Victoria, which takes in the Gold Coast. It says ticks may be found all year round in the north and that the season can start early after a mild winter. The signs it lists: 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 pet every day.

Cane toads

Dogs that lick, bite or carry a cane toad can be poisoned quickly, and dead toads are still toxic. Queensland Veterinary Specialists advises wiping the gums, tongue, roof of the mouth 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 unconscious, seizing or struggling to breathe, keep your hands and water out of its mouth and drive.

Snakes

The RSPCA Knowledgebase on snake bite says to keep your pet calm and quiet and take it to a vet immediately, calling ahead so the team can prepare. A dog can collapse and then seem to recover, which fools owners into waiting. Do not try to catch or kill the snake; a photo from a safe distance is enough. The RSPCA says not to wash the wound or apply a tourniquet.

Heat and humidity

The RSPCA says heatstroke is more likely in warm, humid conditions with poor air flow, and that flat-faced breeds, overweight dogs and very young or old pets struggle most. Its heatstroke advice is to start cooling straight away with room-temperature or cool water on the fur and skin, keep air moving with a fan or air-conditioning, and get to a vet immediately. It also advises keeping dogs off hot surfaces such as sand and concrete. 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 talk you through first aid.
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, your pet's medicines and your regular vet's details. AEC Gold Coast asks for a note of when the symptoms started.
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 on the Gold Coast?

Emergency care is expensive, and 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. Here is what each hospital publishes, checked 9 November 2026:

These are published reference prices and payment details, not a quote. Fees change; ask the hospital for an estimate on the night.

Afterpay, VetPay, Zip and similar 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. For charity and low-cost options, see our guide to cheap vet care in Australia.

What about injured wildlife and exotic pets?

For injured native animals, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital at 27 Millers Drive, Currumbin, says it is open 8am to 5pm daily, excluding Christmas Day, on (07) 5534 0813. Outside those hours it directs Queensland callers to Wildcare on (07) 5527 2444, and NSW callers to Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers on (02) 6672 4789. It says injured wildlife cannot be admitted at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary entrance, and asks people not to touch bats.

For a pet bird, reptile or other exotic animal, AEC Gold Coast says it can give immediate first aid and will recommend a vet who specialises in that animal for further treatment. Ring before you drive.

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 the two 24/7 numbers: AEC Gold Coast and SASH Gold Coast, plus AES Carrara if you live nearby.
• 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.
• Keep a folder or phone note with your vet's contact details, medication instructions and your pet's medical history, as AEC Gold Coast suggests, plus the microchip number from the adoption paperwork.
• 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, so there is no gap in cover. Rescue pets usually arrive desexed, microchipped and vaccinated, so the emergency kit is the next job. Our Gold Coast dog rescues guide lists the groups we track. If your pet goes missing in a panic, the Gold Coast lost pets page covers what to do.

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