---
title: "When to See an Emergency Vet in the UK"
description: "When UK dogs, cats and rabbits need an emergency vet tonight — breathing, collapse, bloat, blocked cats, gut stasis — plus out-of-hours and PoisonLine."
url: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/when-to-see-emergency-vet-uk"
canonical: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/when-to-see-emergency-vet-uk"
date_published: "2026-06-01"
date_modified: "2026-08-13"
source: "PETHEALTH+"
---

# When to See an Emergency Vet in the UK

Take your pet to an emergency vet **immediately** if they have difficulty breathing, collapse, seizures, severe bleeding, suspected poisoning, a bloated dog abdomen, a male cat unable to urinate, or a rabbit not eating or passing droppings. In the UK, use your vet's out-of-hours number or our **out-of-hours directory**. For toxins, call **Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000** while you travel. Skip this page if they are crashing — phone first.

## Should you go to an emergency vet tonight?

Yes, if any red-flag sign below is present — do not wait for morning surgery. No, if it is a single mild diarrhoea in a bright dog, or one skipped meal with no other signs; book same-day or next-day instead. When you are unsure, **phone** the practice: triage is what the night team is for. This page is a checklist, not a diagnosis.

Use the [symptom checker](/symptom-checker) for language, then still call if your gut says something is wrong.

## What are the dog emergencies that cannot wait?

Go now for:

- **Bloat (GDV)** — swollen, tight abdomen, retching without vomit, restlessness. Deep-chested breeds are over-represented; minutes matter. See [bloat in dogs](/health/bloat-in-dogs)
- **Collapse or inability to stand**
- **Difficulty breathing**, blue or pale gums, or choking
- **Seizures** that last more than a couple of minutes, cluster, or happen in a dog that has never fitted
- **Known toxin** — chocolate, xylitol, grapes, raisins, rat poison, ibuprofen, antifreeze. Calculator pages are a rough guide only; phone regardless
- **Heatstroke** — heavy panting, collapse, distress after heat or exercise
- **Uncontrolled bleeding**

Chocolate and grape numbers belong on their own guides and calculators. Do not finish a dose table while they are collapsing.

## What are the cat emergencies that cannot wait?

Go now for:

- **Straining to urinate with little or no output**, especially in males — a blocked bladder is life-threatening. See [cat straining to urinate](/health/cat-straining-to-urinate-uk)
- **Open-mouth breathing** or rapid breathing at rest. See [cat breathing fast](/health/cat-breathing-fast)
- **Not eating for about 24 hours** in an otherwise small or overweight cat (hepatic lipidosis risk). See [cat not eating](/health/cat-not-eating)
- **Lily or antifreeze exposure** — do not wait for symptoms. [Lily poisoning](/health/lily-poisoning-in-cats)
- **Collapse, seizures, or severe pain**

A cat crying in the litter tray is not “constipated until proven otherwise” if they are male and producing nothing.

## What are the rabbit emergencies that cannot wait?

Rabbits hide pain and their gut must keep moving. Go now for:

- **Not eating hay, or no droppings, for around 12 hours**
- **Hunched, grinding teeth, bloated abdomen** — [gut stasis](/health/rabbit-gut-stasis-uk)
- **Flystrike** — maggots on the rear in warm weather
- **Head tilt with rolling**

Do not syringe-feed or give leftover gut medicines without a vet. The owner question [why is my rabbit not eating?](/health/why-is-my-rabbit-not-eating) is the same emergency with a different heading.

## How do you find emergency care in the UK?

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Daytime, you have a usual vet | Phone them. They know the record and the night cover |
| Out of hours | Follow the recorded message, or browse [out-of-hours vets](/vets/filter/out-of-hours) |
| No registered practice | Still phone a clinic before you drive; confirm they see your species |
| Suspected poison | Call **Animal PoisonLine 01202 509000** and a vet, with the packaging |

Bring vaccination records, a medication list and insurance details if you can find them in under a minute. Do not hunt paperwork while they cannot breathe. Confirm the premises on [RCVS Find a Vet](https://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/find-a-vet/) when you have time — not as a delay tonight.

Typical out-of-hours consultation bands are higher than daytime consults; see [how much a vet costs](/health/how-much-does-a-vet-cost-uk) and the [Vet Price Index](/vet-price-index). Cost is not a reason to wait on the red-flag list.

## What is not usually an emergency?

A single episode of mild diarrhoea in an otherwise bright, drinking dog; one skipped meal without other signs; a minor scratch that has stopped bleeding. Those can often wait for a **same-day or next-day** appointment. Trust your instinct if energy, gums, breathing or pain change. [Pet first aid](/health/pet-first-aid-uk) covers pressure and transport — it does not replace the clinic.

PDSA and other charity routes help eligible owners with planned care. They are not a reason to skip tonight's emergency clinic if the animal is crashing. [PDSA eligibility](/health/pdsa-eligibility-uk).

## Who should skip reading and just phone?

Anyone looking at a dog that cannot get comfortable with a tight belly, a cat producing no urine, a rabbit with an empty bowl and empty hutch floor, or a packet of rat bait on the kitchen tile. Phone, then drive. This checklist will still be here in the morning.

## FAQs

### When should I take my pet to an emergency vet?

Go immediately for difficulty breathing, collapse, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected poisoning, bloat in dogs, a male cat straining to urinate with little output, or a rabbit that has stopped eating and passing droppings. If you are unsure, phone the practice — a triage call is cheaper than a night that started too late.

### How do I find an out-of-hours vet in the UK?

Call your registered practice first; the answerphone names the night cover. If you have no usual vet, use the PETHEALTH+ out-of-hours directory or a dedicated emergency clinic. Phone ahead so the team can prepare and advise on safe transport.

### Should I call before travelling?

Yes, when you can. Phone ahead so the team can prepare, tell you whether to come in, and advise on transport. Keep your pet calm and warm. Do not delay leaving if they cannot breathe or have collapsed.

### Is the PDSA open for emergencies?

PDSA provides care for eligible clients — check current eligibility on pdsa.org.uk. Others should use their registered vet's out-of-hours service. Charity routes are not a substitute for tonight's emergency clinic if your animal is crashing.

### Who should not wait until morning?

Anyone whose pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is bloated and retching, is a male cat crying in the tray, is a rabbit with no food or droppings, or may have eaten a toxin. Waiting overnight is the expensive option, not the cheap one.

## Sources

- [PDSA — Pet emergencies](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice)
- [Animal PoisonLine](https://www.animalpoisonline.co.uk)
- [RCVS — Find a vet](https://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/find-a-vet/)

Canonical HTML: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/when-to-see-emergency-vet-uk
Last modified: 2026-08-13