Emergency Vets on the Sunshine Coast: 24/7 Hospitals and Urgent Care

Which Sunshine Coast emergency vets are open right now?

The table lists the hospitals on the Sunshine Coast that take emergencies without a referral. The first three say they never close. The Noosa clinic is an urgent care service with set evening and weekend hours. 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. The Noosa page does not give urgent care hours for public holidays, so phone first. Hours change, so always call before you go.

Which one is closest to me?

• Kawana, Caloundra and the southern coast: QVS Sunshine Coast at Warana, just off Nicklin Way (24 hours).
• Sippy Downs, Buderim, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore: SASH Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs and AES Tanawha are close together, both 24 hours. AES says it is easily reached from exit 25 of the Sunshine Motorway, off Kirby Court by a BP, under a yellow sign reading VET.
• The hinterland, from Nambour and Palmwoods: AES Tanawha and SASH Sunshine Coast, both 24 hours, are reached via the Sunshine Motorway.
• Noosa, Tewantin and Cooroy: Greencross Vets Noosa + Urgent Care during its evening and weekend hours. Outside them, or for anything life-threatening, drive south to a 24/7 hospital.

Further south, the Brisbane and Moreton Bay hospitals are listed in our Brisbane emergency vet guide.

24/7 hospital, urgent care 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 24/7 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 24/7 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

If you are unsure, call. QVS describes an emergency as an unexpected accident, a sudden illness, or any change in your pet's behaviour that worries you.

Sunshine Coast emergencies to know about

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 Sunshine 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, which runs the Warana hospital, 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, which matters on a beach day. Never leave a dog in a parked car.

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 tell you whether another hospital is better placed.
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.

At AES Tanawha, you may be able to stay with your pet: it describes itself as an Open Hospital, where owners are welcome during assessment and treatment where appropriate. It says some conditions, tick paralysis among them, can be made worse by visits, so the team may suggest another arrangement.

How much does an emergency vet cost on the Sunshine 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?

For injured native animals, Wildlife Warriors says the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit runs a 24 hour hotline for wildlife emergencies in South East Queensland on 1300 369 652. Its Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah treats sick, injured and orphaned native animals. Keep your dog well back from any injured animal while you call.

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 a second one in case it is busy. In Noosa, save the urgent care number too.
• Check the drive at night. From the hinterland or Noosa, the trip to a 24/7 hospital can be long, so know the route.
• 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, so there is no gap in cover. Rescue pets usually arrive desexed, microchipped and vaccinated, so the emergency kit is the next job. If your pet goes missing, the Sunshine Coast lost pets page covers what to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

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