The short answer
In Geelong: call Geelong Animal Emergency, 102 Fyans St, South Geelong, on (03) 5222 2139. Its home, contact and information pages say it is open 24 hours, 7 days, but its own services page and Advanced Vetcare's site give evening and weekend hours, so ring before you drive, whatever the time. GARS in Newtown (03 4219 2169) is staffed 24/7 but takes emergencies by referral from your vet or an after-hours centre.
Nearest hospitals that say they are open 24/7: Greencross Vet Hospital, Werribee, 03 8721 1414; Advanced Vetcare, Kensington, (03) 9092 0400. No Geelong emergency service publishes a set emergency fee, so ask for an estimate. Checked 9 November 2026.
Go now if you see any of these
- • Breathing difficulties, faster or harder breathing, or collapse
- • A seizure or other sudden neurological problem
- • A severe injury: a car accident, a dog fight, a deep wound or a broken bone
- • Eating a poison: rat bait, snail pellets or human medication
- • Overheating or heatstroke
- • Straining to urinate or pass faeces
- • Excessive coughing, vomiting or diarrhoea
- • Distress or drooling after eating a bone or other object
- • A snake bite, or a suspected one
This list follows the emergency signs published by GARS and Corio Vet, plus the RSPCA Knowledgebase on snake bites. If you are unsure, ring an emergency vet and describe what you see.
Which emergency vets are in Geelong?
Two hospitals in Geelong handle emergencies, and they work in different ways. Geelong Animal Emergency takes the public directly. GARS is a specialist referral hospital whose emergency team takes cases sent by a vet. The hours column repeats each hospital's own wording.
| Hospital | Area | Address | Hours (as published) | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geelong Animal Emergency | South Geelong | 102 Fyans St, South Geelong VIC 3220 | Home and contact pages: open 24 hrs / 7 days, vets on site 24hrs/7days, present at any time. Services page: open each evening and 24hr on weekends. Advanced Vetcare lists emergency consults 5pm to 12am weekdays and 7am to 12am weekends. Call first. | (03) 5222 2139 |
| Geelong Animal Referral Services (GARS) | Newtown | Units 9/10, 7-21 Newcastle Street, Newtown VIC 3220 | Staffed 24/7, but emergency care is by referral from your vet or an after-hours centre. Emergency referrals accepted Mon to Fri 8am to 10pm, Sat 8am to 7pm, Sun 10am to 2pm. | 03 4219 2169 |
Checked on each hospital's own website on 9 November 2026. Hours, names and numbers change; the hospital's own phone line always wins.
Why the Geelong Animal Emergency hours do not match
Geelong Animal Emergency says on its home page that it is open 24 hours, 7 days, its contact page says veterinary staff are on site 24 hours a day and you may present at any time with an emergency, and its information for pet owners page says it is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Its own services page says it is open each evening and 24 hours on weekends. The Advanced Vetcare site, which lists the hospital alongside its Kensington and Kew clinics, gives emergency consults as 5pm to 12am each weekday and 7am to 12am on weekends.
We cannot tell from the outside which page is current. That is why the advice here is simple: call (03) 5222 2139 before you set off, day or night. If the team cannot see you, ask where to go instead, and keep the Werribee number below as your backup.
Can I go straight to GARS?
The GARS contact page says the hospital is accepting referrals and emergencies 24/7, and its emergency page says it is staffed overnight, on weekends and on public holidays. But its FAQ answers the walk-in question directly: the emergency and critical care department works on the same referral model as its other departments. Contact your own vet or the nearest after-hours emergency centre first, and they will arrange an emergency referral if your pet needs one. GARS lists emergency referral hours of 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm Saturday and 10am to 2pm Sunday. If GARS has treated your pet recently and the same problem returns, the FAQ says to call it directly on 03 4219 2169.
Where is the nearest 24/7 vet if Geelong cannot see me?
These two hospitals say on their own sites that they take emergencies around the clock. Werribee sits on the Princes Highway between Geelong and Melbourne, so it is the first one you reach.
| Hospital | Area | Address | Hours (as published) | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greencross Vet Hospital (University of Melbourne, Werribee) | Werribee, on the Princes Highway towards Melbourne | Gate 2, 250 Princes Hwy, Werribee VIC 3030 | 24-hour emergency care, with a 24/7 pet emergency line. Call on the way if you can. | 03 8721 1414 |
| Advanced Vetcare Kensington | Inner west Melbourne | Level 1, 26 Robertson Street, Kensington VIC 3031 | Open 24hr, 7 days per week. | (03) 9092 0400 |
For the full list of Melbourne's 24/7 hospitals, including the eastern and south-eastern suburbs, see our emergency vets in Melbourne guide.
Emergency hospital, referral hospital or your regular vet?
| Option | When it fits | Geelong examples |
|---|---|---|
| Your regular vet | Any emergency during opening hours, and all follow-up care. Many will see an emergency the same day or tell you where to go. | Your own clinic. Corio Vet, for example, asks you to call during business hours so it can direct you. |
| After-hours emergency hospital | Evenings, nights, weekends: anything that cannot wait for your own vet. | Geelong Animal Emergency, South Geelong |
| Specialist referral hospital | Intensive care, advanced imaging and specialist surgery, usually arranged by your vet or the emergency hospital. | GARS, Newtown |
| 24/7 hospital further away | When the local hospital cannot see you, or for overnight care it cannot provide. | Greencross Werribee; Advanced Vetcare Kensington |
Several Geelong general practices point their clients to the same place after hours. Corio Vet and Bellarine Veterinary Practice both list Geelong Animal Emergency and GARS on their emergency pages. Check your own vet's site to see which service it uses.
What should I do on the way to the emergency vet?
Corio Vet publishes a short checklist that works for any emergency trip:
- Stay calm and move yourself and your pet away from further harm.
- Handle your pet carefully. A pet in pain or distress may act unpredictably.
- Call ahead so the team can give first aid advice and prepare for you.
- Use a towel or bedding to carry your pet to the car, especially if it cannot walk.
- Drive safely and take someone with you if you can, to watch your pet. Call from the car park if you need help getting your pet inside.
Put a cat in a secure carrier, and keep your face away from any pet in pain, even a gentle one. Do not give food, water or human medicine unless a vet tells you to, and do not try to make your pet vomit without a vet's advice. Bring any medication your pet takes and the packet of anything it ate. For a suspected poisoning, the Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738) describes itself as a 24/7 helpline for Australian pet owners; its site lists consultations from $79 (read 9 November 2026, not a quote).
Which Geelong emergencies should I know about?
Heatstroke: go now
Victorian summers bring heatwave days, and those are the danger days for dogs. The RSPCA Knowledgebase calls heatstroke a life-threatening emergency, and GARS lists heatstroke and shock among the emergencies its team treats. Heavy panting, drooling, wobbliness or collapse after exercise or time in a car means an emergency vet, now. Walk early or late on hot days, and never leave a pet in a parked car.
Snake bites: go now
The RSPCA Knowledgebase says to seek emergency treatment as soon as you know or suspect a bite, keep the animal calm and quiet, call ahead, and never try to catch or kill the snake. It lists sudden weakness and collapse, sometimes followed by apparent recovery, among the signs, so go even if your dog perks up.
Baits and poisons: call and go
Corio Vet names rat bait, snail pellets and human medication among the poisons that need emergency care, and GARS lists toxicities and poisonings among the emergencies it treats. Call as soon as you know your pet ate something, not when it starts to look unwell.
Paralysis ticks: low risk locally, know the signs
The RSPCA Knowledgebase says the paralysis tick is generally found on the eastern seaboard, from north Queensland down to Victoria, and that ticks can also be found inland in suitable habitat. Ask your vet how much of a risk they are where you walk, and remember a dog can bring a tick home from a holiday. Ask your vet about tick prevention before trips to East Gippsland or the New South Wales coast. Wobbly back legs, a changed bark, retching or breathing trouble are signs of tick paralysis, which is an emergency.
Thinking about adopting in Geelong?
Geelong rescues list dogs and cats that arrive vet-checked, desexed, microchipped and vaccinated. Browse current listings, and save the emergency number the day your new pet comes home.
How much does an emergency vet cost in Geelong?
Emergency care is expensive, and none of the Geelong services we checked publishes a set emergency consultation fee, so we do not quote one. What the hospitals do say:
- Geelong Animal Emergency: emergency patients must pay a deposit before treatment can start, and full payment is due when your pet is discharged. It accepts cash, EFTPOS and credit cards (not Diners or American Express), and can arrange direct deposit.
- Geelong Animal Emergency also says its reception team can submit insurance claims online through a direct portal.
Payment options the hospitals list
- Geelong Animal Emergency: payment plans are managed by third-party credit suppliers. It names VetPay, which must be applied for and approved before treatment begins, and Afterpay. Ask at reception before treatment starts.
- GARS: its FAQ lists VetPay, Afterpay and ZipPay/ZipMoney as alternative payment options.
VetPay and Afterpay are credit or buy now, pay later products. They can help with cash flow on a bad night, but each has its own terms and fees. Read them before you sign, and only borrow what you can repay.
Pet insurance only helps if it is in place before the emergency, so decide on it early. For charity and low-cost vet options, see our guide to cheap vet care in Australia.
These are the hospitals' own descriptions of their payment terms, read on 9 November 2026. They are not a quote. Ask the hospital for an estimate for your pet.
Set this up before you need it
The worst time to search for an emergency vet is in the car with a sick pet. 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: Geelong Animal Emergency, (03) 5222 2139, and a 24/7 backup, Greencross Werribee, 03 8721 1414.
- Check the microchip details. Make sure the chip is registered in your name with a current phone number, and register your pet with your council.
- Keep the rescue's vet records handy. Vaccination dates, desexing date and any known conditions help a 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 can refer you to GARS if you ever need it.
- Decide about insurance now, not after the first emergency.
- Plan for summer: shade and water at home, walks timed around hot days, and baits and medicines locked away.
The Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) says its animals are checked by a vet, vaccinated, desexed and microchipped before adoption, so ask for those records when you adopt. Our best dog rescues in Geelong guide covers GAWS and the foster-based rescues, and if your pet goes missing, see lost pets in Geelong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a 24 hour emergency vet in Geelong?
Geelong Animal Emergency at 102 Fyans St, South Geelong, says on its home, contact and pet owner information pages that it is open 24 hours, 7 days, with vets on site at all times. Other pages give shorter hours: its own services page says it is open each evening and 24 hours on weekends, and Advanced Vetcare's site lists its emergency consults as 5pm to 12am on weekdays and 7am to 12am on weekends. Call (03) 5222 2139 before you drive, at any hour.
What number do I call for an after-hours vet in Geelong?
Call Geelong Animal Emergency on (03) 5222 2139. Several Geelong general practices, including Corio Vet and Bellarine Veterinary Practice, list it as their after-hours service on their own emergency pages. If it cannot see you, the closest hospitals that say they are open 24/7 are Greencross Vet Hospital in Werribee (03 8721 1414) and Advanced Vetcare in Kensington ((03) 9092 0400).
Can I take my pet straight to GARS in Newtown?
Usually not. Geelong Animal Referral Services (GARS) is staffed 24/7, but its FAQ says its emergency and critical care department works on a referral model: contact your local vet or the nearest after-hours emergency centre first, and they arrange an emergency referral if needed. GARS lists emergency referral hours of 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm Saturday and 10am to 2pm Sunday. Pets it has recently treated can call 03 4219 2169 directly.
Where is the nearest 24/7 emergency vet to Geelong?
Outside Geelong itself, the nearest hospital that says it is open 24/7 is Greencross Vet Hospital at the University of Melbourne campus in Werribee, Gate 2, 250 Princes Hwy, on 03 8721 1414. Advanced Vetcare at Level 1, 26 Robertson Street, Kensington, also says it is open 24 hours, on (03) 9092 0400. Ring before you set off so the team can tell you whether to come.
What counts as a vet emergency?
Trouble breathing, collapse, a seizure, a major injury such as a car accident or dog fight, eating a poison such as rat bait or snail pellets, heatstroke, straining to pass urine or faeces, and severe or repeated vomiting or diarrhoea are all emergencies. These follow the lists on the GARS and Corio Vet emergency pages. The RSPCA Knowledgebase says a snake bite, or a suspected one, needs emergency treatment too. If you are unsure, phone and describe what you see.
How much does an emergency vet cost in Geelong?
None of the Geelong emergency services we checked publishes a set emergency consultation fee, so we do not quote one. Geelong Animal Emergency says emergency patients must pay a deposit before treatment starts and the full account is due at discharge. Emergency care is expensive, so ask for an estimate before treatment begins.
Can I get a payment plan at a Geelong emergency vet?
Some options are listed. Geelong Animal Emergency says payment plans are managed by third-party credit suppliers, names VetPay and Afterpay, and says VetPay needs to be applied for and approved before treatment begins, so ask at reception early. GARS lists VetPay, Afterpay and ZipPay/ZipMoney. These are credit or buy now, pay later products, so read the terms first.
What should I do if my dog is bitten by a snake near Geelong?
Keep your dog calm and still, call Geelong Animal Emergency or the nearest open hospital, and drive there straight away. The RSPCA Knowledgebase says to seek emergency treatment as soon as you know or suspect a bite, even if you do not know what kind of snake it was, and never to try to catch or kill it.
Who can I call if my pet ate something poisonous?
Call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738, which describes itself as a 24/7 helpline for Australian pet owners (its site lists consultations from $79, read 9 November 2026, not a quote), or call an emergency vet. Keep the packet or a photo of what was eaten, note how much and when, and do not try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do Geelong dogs need paralysis tick protection?
The RSPCA Knowledgebase says the paralysis tick is generally found on the eastern seaboard, from north Queensland down to Victoria. Ask your vet whether your dog needs tick prevention, especially before a trip to East Gippsland or the New South Wales coast, and treat tick paralysis signs as an emergency.
Is Geelong Animal Emergency open on public holidays?
Its pages do not list separate public holiday hours. Call (03) 5222 2139 to check. GARS says its hospital is staffed on public holidays but takes emergencies by referral, and Greencross Vet Hospital in Werribee says its emergency service is open 24/7.
I just adopted a dog in Geelong. What should I set up?
Save Geelong Animal Emergency's number, (03) 5222 2139, and a 24/7 hospital such as Greencross Werribee, 03 8721 1414, in your phone today. Book a check-up with a regular vet in the first few weeks, keep the rescue's vet records handy, and make sure the microchip is registered to you with a current phone number.
Keep exploring
Best Dog Rescues in Geelong
GAWS, foster-based rescues, and how adoption works at each.
Cheap Vet Care in Australia
Charity vet hospitals, concession discounts and payment options.
Emergency Vets in Melbourne
Every 24/7 hospital across Melbourne, by area.
Lost Pets in Geelong
What to do first if your dog or cat goes missing.
Find your next pet in Geelong
See adoptable dogs and cats from Geelong shelters and foster-based rescues, refreshed regularly. Ask each rescue for the vet history before you bring your new pet home.