Emergency Care

Newtown Veterinary Clinic is equipped to help your pet in an emergency. If your pet experiences a sudden health issue, please call us immediately. We can triage your pet over the phone and provide guidance until you arrive at the clinic. For incidents outside our opening hours, we recommend taking your pet to Geelong Animal Emergency or GARS for urgent care.

Some conditions require immediate attention to prevent serious illness or injury, while others can wait until the morning. Below is a guide to the most common emergencies, helping you decide what is urgent and what can safely wait.

What constitutes an emergency?

If your pet is displaying any of the below symptoms, seek urgent veterinary care

Sudden collapse, seizure or unresponsiveness

These could indicate a life-threatening medical emergency, such as heart problems, neurological issues, or poisoning. Immediate veterinary attention is critical.

Difficulty breathing or unusual respiratory distress

Trouble breathing can signal airway obstruction, allergic reactions, or serious respiratory disease. Rapid intervention can be lifesaving.

Open or bleeding wounds, especially a dog bite

Open wounds can lead to severe blood loss or infection. Prompt treatment helps prevent complications and promotes healing.

Rapid swelling of the face, lips or throat

Often caused by allergic reactions or insect bites, rapid swelling can obstruct the airway. Immediate care is needed to prevent breathing difficulty.

Trauma, such as being hit by a car

Accidents can cause internal injuries, fractures, or shock. Even if your pet seems okay, urgent assessment is essential.

Heatstroke or extreme body temperature

Pets can overheat quickly, especially in hot weather. Early cooling and veterinary care can prevent organ damage or death.

Ingestion of a foreign object or toxic substance

Swallowing something harmful can cause blockages, poisoning, or organ damage. Quick veterinary intervention is crucial.

Snake or spider bite

Bites from venomous animals can be life-threatening. Immediate veterinary treatment is necessary to reduce risk of severe illness or death

Persistent vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood

Continuous vomiting or diarrhea may indicate poisoning, infection, or serious gastrointestinal problems. Early care can prevent dehydration and complications.

Signs of severe pain or distress

Vocalising, hiding, or unusual behaviour can indicate injury, illness, or internal problems. Prompt evaluation ensures your pet’s comfort and safety.

Even if you’re not 100% sure if it’s an emergency, it is better to err on the side of caution and give us a call

CALL NEWTOWN VET CLINIC

Emergency Care Services

Accidents

If your pet is involved in an accident it can be a scary and traumatic time. The most important thing that you can do is to get your pet medical assistance as soon as possible.

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Poison

There are lots of things around the house that can be toxic to your cat or dog, it is important to know what they and what to do if your pet happens to ingest something

Learn More

Sick

If your pet suddenly becomes unwell or is not acting like their usual self, it is best to seek medical attention. Unlike humans, animals cannot tell us how they are feeling and what you can do to help

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Snake Bite

Although the risk is higher during the warmer months of September to March, snake bites are a risk all year round. It is best to be educated, so you know what to do if your pet is bitten by a snake

Learn More

Emergency Care Information

Is this an emergency?

When pets are part of our family, and they can’t speak to us to tell us if something is wrong, its natural to worry about them. Some ailments require prompt treatment, whilst others can wait until the morning or after the weekend. How can you know the difference? Have a read of the above guide based on problems we see most often, as to what is urgent and what can wait.

Anything is worth at least a call if you are not sure what is wrong, but some things require urgent attention.

Urgent Symptoms

Seizure, fainting, collapse
Severe pain or distress
Eye injury
Frequent vomiting or diarrhoea
Diarrhoea with blood
Facial swelling or hives
Suspected poisoning
Snake or spider bite
Tick paralysis signs
Extreme heat or cold
Open or bleeding wounds
Hit by car
Unusual breathing difficulty
Straining to urinate
Signs of pain include panting, heavy breathing, lethargy, restlessness, vocalising, aggression or loss of appetite

These issues can be life-threatening. Contact us immediately if your pet shows any of these signs.

Symptoms That Can Wait

If your pet shows any of the following symptoms but is otherwise acting normally, monitor them at home and schedule a visit for the next day.

Licking paws
Mild to moderate limping
Head shaking
Ear infections
New or changed lumps – if not bleeding, infected, or painful
Isolated vomiting or diarrhoea
General concerns – if pet is acting normally, rest and monitor for 24 hours

Although these issues aren’t usually life-threatening, it is best to get in touch if you are worried.

Still not sure?

When in doubt, err on the side of caution and call give us a call for advice.

Clinic Hours

Newtown Veterinary Clinic is open 6 days a week.

Newtown Veterinary Clinic

VET IN ATTENDANCE FROM 8.30AM
Monday

8:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday

8:00am – 6:00pm
Wednesday

8:00am – 6:00pm
Thursday

8:00am – 6:00pm
Friday

8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday

8:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday

CLOSED

Drop in anytime during business hours or call to make an appointment on (03)52 215 333

Book Appointment

After Hour Care

We refer our patients to the Geelong Animal Emergency Centre outside our business hours.

Geelong Animal Emergency Centre

(open when we are closed)
Ph: 03 5222 2139
102 Fyans St, South Geelong VIC 3220
geelonganimalemergency.com.au

Due to the current veterinary crisis in this country GAEC will only be open from 5pm until midnight. Between midnight and 5am all emergencies will need to attend Advanced Vet Care Kensington or Essendon Animal Referral Service.

We sincerely apologise for this and hope GAEC will be able to provide a 24 hours service in the near future.