The short answer
Fourteen Melbourne hospitals say on their own sites that they take emergencies 24/7. City and inner suburbs: CARE Collingwood, 03 9417 6417; Advanced Vetcare Kensington, (03) 9092 0400. North-west: ARH Essendon Fields, 03 9379 0700. East: AES Hawthorn East, 03 9000 6868; Advanced Vetcare Kew, 03 9020 3555; AEC Mount Waverley, 03 9803 8122; Southpaws Malvern East, 1300 264 933. Outer east: MASH Ringwood, 1800 838 787. South-east and bayside: AEC Moorabbin (Highett), (03) 9532 5261; VRH Dandenong, 1300 385 874; Casey Pet Emergency, Narre Warren, 03 8790 1625; AEC Frankston, (03) 9770 5555; Peninsula Vet Emergency, Mornington, (03) 5979 9600. West: Greencross Vet Hospital, Werribee, 03 8721 1414.
Lort Smith in North Melbourne runs an emergency department from 8am to 10pm daily, not overnight. Call first, every time. None of these hospitals publishes a set emergency fee, so ask for an estimate before treatment. Checked 9 November 2026.
Go now if you see any of these
- • Difficulty breathing or choking
- • Collapse, loss of consciousness, a seizure or sudden paralysis
- • Uncontrolled bleeding, a fracture, an open wound, a car accident or a dog fight
- • A swollen or distended belly
- • Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea
- • Difficulty passing urine or faeces
- • A snake bite, or contact with a snake
- • Heavy panting and collapse on a hot day (possible heatstroke)
- • Eating rat bait, snail pellets, human medicine, chocolate, lilies or grapes
This list follows the emergency signs published by Lort Smith and Southpaws. If you are unsure, ring a 24/7 hospital and describe what you see.
Which Melbourne vets are open 24 hours?
These fourteen hospitals each say on their own site that they take emergencies around the clock. They are listed roughly from north to south, then west. The hours column repeats their wording; addresses and numbers are as published.
| Hospital | Area | Address | Hours (as published) | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Referral Hospital (ARH) Essendon Fields | North-west | 72 Hargrave Avenue, Essendon Fields VIC 3041 | 24/7 emergency and critical care. Not a general practice (no vaccinations or routine care). | 03 9379 0700 |
| Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency (CARE) Collingwood | Inner north-east | 5 Hood Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 | Emergency and critical care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including public holidays. | 03 9417 6417 |
| Advanced Vetcare Kensington | Inner west | Level 1, 26 Robertson Street, Kensington VIC 3031 | Open 24hr. Emergency 24 hours a day, every day of the year. No appointment needed. | (03) 9092 0400 |
| Advanced Vetcare Kew | Inner east | 2/6 Chandler Hwy, Kew VIC 3101 | Kew page: open for emergency consultations 24hrs. The home page describes Kew as out-of-hours emergency coverage for East Melbourne, so call first. | 03 9020 3555 |
| Animal Emergency Service (AES) Hawthorn East | Inner east | 395 Tooronga Rd, Hawthorn East VIC 3123 | Open 24 hours, 7 days. No appointment required. | 03 9000 6868 |
| Southpaws Malvern East | Inner south-east | 1103 Dandenong Road, Malvern East VIC 3145 | Open 24/7 for walk-in emergencies. | 1300 264 933 |
| Animal Emergency Centre (AEC) Mount Waverley | East | 37 Blackburn Road, Mount Waverley VIC 3149 | 24/7, including public holidays. | 03 9803 8122 |
| Melbourne Animal Specialist Hospital (MASH) | Outer east | 8 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood VIC 3134 | Open 24/7 for emergencies. No appointment necessary. | 1800 838 787 |
| Animal Emergency Centre (AEC) Moorabbin | Bayside, south | 252 Wickham Road, Highett VIC 3190 | Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. No referral or appointment needed. | (03) 9532 5261 |
| Veterinary Referral Hospital (VRH) Dandenong | South-east | 36 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong VIC 3175 | 24/7 emergency department. | 1300 385 874 |
| Casey Pet Emergency Veterinary Hospital | Outer south-east (Casey) | 405 Princes Hwy, Narre Warren | Open 24/7, including public holidays. Appointments not required. | 03 8790 1625 |
| Animal Emergency Centre (AEC) Frankston | Frankston and Peninsula | 39 McMahons Road, Frankston VIC 3199 | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. | (03) 9770 5555 |
| Peninsula Vet Emergency and Referral Hospital | Mornington Peninsula | Factory 2/161 Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington VIC 3931 | 24/7 emergency vet hospital, 7 days a week (24 hours). | (03) 5979 9600 |
| Greencross Vet Hospital (University of Melbourne, Werribee) | Outer west | Gate 2, 250 Princes Hwy, Werribee VIC 3030 | Emergency service open 24/7. No appointment needed; call on the way if you can. | 03 8721 1414 |
Checked on each hospital's own website on 9 November 2026. ARH, CARE, the three AEC hospitals, VRH and Greencross Werribee are read from the Animal Referral & Emergency Network site, which runs them. Hours, names and numbers change; the hospital's own site and phone line always win.
Which Melbourne vets are open after hours but not 24/7?
| Clinic | Address | Hours (as published) | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lort Smith Accident and Emergency | 24 Villiers Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 | 8:00am to 10:00pm, Monday to Sunday, including public holidays. No booking needed for emergencies; ring ahead if you can. | 03 9328 3021 |
| Northern Suburbs Animal Emergency Centre | 19 Plenty Road, Bundoora (at Bundoora Veterinary Clinic & Hospital) | Emergency consulting hours: Monday to Friday 7pm to 9am; Saturday 6pm to 12 midnight; Sundays and public holidays 24 hours. The centre says the clinic is staffed at all times and calls itself a 24 hour, 7 day emergency centre. | (03) 9467 2255 |
The Bundoora centre runs from the Bundoora Veterinary Clinic & Hospital, whose general practice hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm. Ring the same number before you go, whatever the time, so the team knows you are coming.
Which emergency vet is closest to me?
Melbourne is big, and the nearest hospital is not always the fastest one. A hospital that is ready for you beats a closer one that is full, which is why every hospital asks you to call first. As a rough guide:
- CBD and inner north: CARE Collingwood any time; Lort Smith, North Melbourne, until 10pm.
- Inner west and the west: Advanced Vetcare Kensington; further out, Greencross Vet Hospital in Werribee.
- North-west: ARH Essendon Fields.
- North and north-east: Northern Suburbs Animal Emergency Centre in Bundoora, or CARE Collingwood.
- Inner east: AES Hawthorn East, Advanced Vetcare Kew, Southpaws Malvern East.
- Eastern suburbs: AEC Mount Waverley.
- Outer east: Melbourne Animal Specialist Hospital (MASH), Ringwood.
- Bayside: AEC Moorabbin in Highett.
- South-east: VRH Dandenong, or Casey Pet Emergency in Narre Warren further out.
- Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula: AEC Frankston and Peninsula Vet Emergency and Referral Hospital in Mornington.
Some older clinic lists still give a different hospital name and phone number for 1103 Dandenong Road, Malvern East. Southpaws' own site lists that address as its 24/7 emergency hospital on 1300 264 933, so use that number.
A few practical notes from the hospitals' own pages: Lort Smith says parking is available on site; AES Hawthorn East has a free car park reached from Hall Street, with a lift; and Greencross Werribee is entered through Gate 2 on Princes Highway.
24/7 hospital, after-hours clinic or your regular vet?
| Option | When it fits | Melbourne examples |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 emergency hospital | Life-threatening problems at any hour, pets that need overnight monitoring, emergency surgery. | The fourteen hospitals in the table above |
| Extended-hours emergency department | Emergencies during the day and evening when your own vet is closed or full. | Lort Smith, North Melbourne (8am to 10pm) |
| Your regular vet | Anything that can safely wait until opening hours, and all follow-up care after an emergency visit. | Your own clinic. Several of the specialist hospitals above say they keep your regular vet informed. |
In business hours, call your own vet first. Many 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?
Lort Smith publishes a short checklist for an emergency visit, and it is good advice wherever you are going:
- Call ahead so the team can prepare. Greencross Werribee adds: if you cannot call, do not delay coming in.
- Secure your pet. Cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and birds in a safe carrier; dogs on a collar and lead or a harness.
- Keep your pet warm, supported and as still as possible. Towels, blankets or a sturdy box help prevent further injury on the way.
- Bring information: any medications your pet takes, its medical history, and food wrappers or packets if it ate something.
- 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.
A pet in pain may bite, even a gentle one, so keep your face away and ask someone else to drive if you can. For a suspected poisoning, the Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738) describes itself as a 24/7 helpline for Australian pet owners.
Which Melbourne emergencies should I know about?
Heatstroke: go now
Melbourne is cooler than Sydney most of the year, but summer brings heatwave days above 40 degrees, and those are the danger days. The RSPCA Knowledgebase calls heatstroke a life-threatening emergency that can lead to rapid organ failure. Heavy panting, drooling, wobbliness or collapse after exercise or time in a car means a 24/7 hospital, now. On hot days, walk early or late, test the footpath with the back of your hand, and never leave a pet in a parked car.
Snake bites: go now
AES Hawthorn East and Southpaws both list snake bites among the emergencies they treat, and the Animal Poisons Helpline warns that snake encounters become more frequent as the weather warms across many parts of Australia. The RSPCA Knowledgebase says to seek emergency treatment as soon as you know or suspect a bite, keep the animal calm and quiet, and never try to catch or kill the snake. A dog can collapse and then seem to recover while still in danger, so go even if it perks up.
Baits and poisons: call and go
Southpaws lists rat bait, snail pellets and human medication among the poisons that need emergency care, and Lort Smith adds chocolate, lilies and grapes. The Animal Poisons Helpline says calls about pets eating rat bait are very common, and that some poisonings do not show for hours. Call as soon as you know your pet ate something, not when it starts to look unwell.
Paralysis ticks: know the signs
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 along the east coast. The Knowledgebase lists wobbly back legs, a changed bark or meow, retching and breathing trouble as signs of tick paralysis, which is an emergency.
Thinking about adopting in Melbourne?
Melbourne rescues list dogs and cats that arrive desexed, microchipped and vaccinated. Browse current listings, and save your nearest 24/7 vet the day your new pet comes home.
How much does an emergency vet cost in Melbourne?
Emergency care is expensive, and none of the Melbourne hospitals we checked publishes a set emergency consultation fee, so we do not quote one. What the hospitals do say:
- Animal Emergency Service: a consultation fee applies; public holiday consultations attract a surcharge; payment is due at the end of the consultation; you get an estimate for any treatment plan; and a hospital stay needs a deposit of the estimated treatment cost.
- Advanced Vetcare: the initial consultation covers treatment plans and an estimate of costs, reviewed with you in detail.
- Northern Suburbs Animal Emergency Centre: emergency care costs more than general practice because of the equipment and staffing it needs.
Payment options the hospitals list
- AES Hawthorn East: cash, credit cards, EFTPOS and Zip.
- Animal Emergency Service: EFTPOS, credit cards, BPOINT and an online payment gateway, plus VetPay finance, which you can apply for on the spot after choosing a treatment option.
Zip and VetPay are buy now, pay later or credit products. They can help with cash flow on a bad night, but each comes with its own terms and fees. Read the terms 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 pricing and payment options, read on 9 November 2026. They are not a quote. Ask the hospital for an estimate for your pet.
What about rabbits, reptiles and wildlife?
Lort Smith says it treats dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, reptiles and wildlife, and links to separate information on wildlife emergencies. Its emergency hours are 8am to 10pm. AEC Moorabbin lists a wildlife ward among its facilities. Southpaws says it treats small animals such as cats and dogs and asks owners of other animals to call first to check it can help. Whatever the animal, ring before you drive.
Set this up before you need it
The worst time to search for 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 nearest 24/7 hospital and a second one in another direction, in case the first is full.
- Check the microchip details. Make sure the chip is registered in your name with a current phone number, and register your dog or cat with your council.
- 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.
- Plan for summer: shade and water at home, walks timed around heatwaves, and baits and medicines locked away.
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 Melbourne guide is a good place to start, the Melbourne dog registration guide covers council registration, and if your pet goes missing, see lost pets in Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which vets in Melbourne are open 24 hours?
Fourteen Melbourne hospitals say on their own sites that they take emergencies 24/7: ARH Essendon Fields, CARE Collingwood, Advanced Vetcare Kensington and Kew, Animal Emergency Service Hawthorn East, Southpaws Malvern East, AEC Mount Waverley, Melbourne Animal Specialist Hospital in Ringwood, AEC Moorabbin in Highett, VRH Dandenong, Casey Pet Emergency in Narre Warren, AEC Frankston, Peninsula Vet Emergency and Referral Hospital in Mornington, and Greencross Vet Hospital in Werribee. We checked each site in November 2026. Call before you drive.
What is the closest 24 hour vet to the Melbourne CBD?
CARE at 5 Hood Street, Collingwood, and Advanced Vetcare at Level 1, 26 Robertson Street, Kensington, are the 24/7 hospitals closest to the city. Lort Smith in North Melbourne is closer still, but its emergency department is open 8am to 10pm, not overnight. Ring ahead from the car to check which hospital can see you soonest.
Is Lort Smith open 24 hours?
No. Lort Smith says its Accident and Emergency department at 24 Villiers Street, North Melbourne, is open 8:00am to 10:00pm every day of the year, including public holidays. It does not need a booking for emergencies but asks you to ring ahead on 03 9328 3021. After 10pm, go to a 24/7 hospital such as CARE Collingwood or Advanced Vetcare Kensington.
Is there a 24 hour vet in the western suburbs?
Yes. Greencross Vet Hospital at the University of Melbourne campus in Werribee (Gate 2, 250 Princes Hwy) says its emergency service is open 24/7, on 03 8721 1414. Closer to the city, Advanced Vetcare in Kensington is open 24 hours on (03) 9092 0400, and ARH Essendon Fields covers the north-west on 03 9379 0700.
Is there a 24 hour vet in the south-east or on the Mornington Peninsula?
Yes. VRH Dandenong (1300 385 874), Casey Pet Emergency in Narre Warren (03 8790 1625), AEC Moorabbin in Highett ((03) 9532 5261), AEC Frankston ((03) 9770 5555) and Peninsula Vet Emergency and Referral Hospital in Mornington ((03) 5979 9600) all say they are open 24/7. Southpaws in Malvern East (1300 264 933) and AEC Mount Waverley (03 9803 8122) cover the inner south-east and east.
What counts as a vet emergency?
Trouble breathing, collapse or loss of consciousness, a seizure, uncontrolled bleeding, a major injury, a swollen or distended belly, severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, and difficulty passing urine are all on Lort Smith's list of signs to come in immediately. Snake bites, heatstroke and eating a poison are emergencies too. If you are unsure, phone a 24/7 hospital.
How much does an emergency vet cost in Melbourne?
None of the Melbourne emergency hospitals we checked publishes a set emergency consultation fee, so we do not quote one. Animal Emergency Service says a consultation fee applies, public holidays attract a surcharge, and a hospital stay needs a deposit. Northern Suburbs Animal Emergency Centre says emergency care costs more than general practice because of the equipment and staffing it needs. Ask for an estimate before treatment starts.
Can I get a payment plan at a Melbourne emergency vet?
Some hospitals list options. Animal Emergency Service says you can apply for VetPay finance on the spot, and its Hawthorn East page lists cash, credit cards, EFTPOS and Zip. These are credit or buy now, pay later products, so read the terms first, and ask the hospital on the night what it accepts.
Do Melbourne 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 trips along the east coast, and treat tick paralysis signs as an emergency.
What should I do if my dog is bitten by a snake in Melbourne?
Keep your dog calm and still, call a 24/7 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 did not see the snake. Do not try to catch or kill it. Animal Emergency Service Hawthorn East and Southpaws both list snake bites among the emergencies they treat.
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, or call a 24/7 emergency hospital. 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.
Does any Melbourne emergency vet treat wildlife or exotic pets?
Lort Smith says it treats dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, reptiles and wildlife, during its 8am to 10pm emergency hours. Southpaws says it treats small animals such as cats and dogs and asks owners of other animals to call first. For any pet that is not a dog or cat, phone the hospital before you drive.
Keep exploring
Best Dog Rescues in Melbourne
Shelters and foster-based rescues, and how adoption works at each.
Cheap Vet Care in Australia
Charity vet hospitals, concession discounts and payment options.
Dog Desexing Cost in Melbourne
What desexing involves and where to find low-cost options.
Dog Parks in Melbourne
Fenced and open off-lead areas, and how to check your council.
Find your next pet in Melbourne
See adoptable dogs and cats from Melbourne shelters and foster-based rescues, refreshed regularly. Ask each rescue for the vet history before you bring your new pet home.