How to Find a 24-Hour Animal Hospital and Use Emergency Care

ImmunityQ&AMeongsiljang Veterinary Advisory Board

We’ve put together a guide to help you quickly find a 24-hour animal hospital and make the most of emergency care for your pet.

Why You Must Know About 24-Hour Animal Hospitals

A veterinarian examining a dog at a 24-hour animal hospital

A 24-hour animal hospital is a veterinary clinic that operates around the clock, providing emergency care even during nights, weekends, and public holidays. Since regular clinics typically close between 8 and 9 PM, a 24-hour facility is often the only option for emergencies occurring after hours or on holidays. However, not every situation constitutes an emergency. Knowing how to distinguish a true emergency from a non-urgent issue can help you avoid unnecessary after-hours fees while ensuring you act quickly when your pet is truly in danger.

Go to the Emergency Room Immediately If You See These Symptoms

If you notice any of the following symptoms, take your pet to a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic immediately.

Decreased consciousness: Unresponsive when called, stumbling, or collapsing

Difficulty breathing: Panting with an open mouth or bluish gums

Severe bleeding: Bleeding that does not stop even after applying pressure

Seizures or convulsions: Whole-body tremors, loss of consciousness, or stiffening of the limbs

Suspected poisoning: Ingestion of chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, or other toxic substances

Trauma from accidents or falls: Inability to move or severe pain following an injury

Inability to urinate: Complete inability to urinate, or straining repeatedly while showing signs of distress. Male cats are at high risk for urethral obstruction, so seek emergency veterinary care immediately if these symptoms appear.

Criteria for Determining Emergency vs. Non-Emergency

Not every unusual symptom requires an overnight emergency visit. Use the veterinary triage concept to assess the urgency of your pet’s condition.

Category	Example Symptoms	Recommended Action
Immediate Emergency	Loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, seizures	Visit a 24-hour animal hospital immediately
Same-Day Visit	Repeated vomiting, bloody stool, severe loss of appetite	Visit a clinic the same day; if it’s nighttime, go to a 24-hour hospital
Next-Day Visit	Single episode of mild vomiting, slight coughing, minor limping	Visit a regular animal hospital the next day

How to Quickly Find a 24-Hour Animal Hospital

Here’s the fastest way to find a 24-hour animal hospital in an emergency.

Search on map apps: Search for “24-hour animal hospital” on Naver Maps or KakaoMap to instantly see nearby clinics based on your current location.

Always call ahead: Even if a clinic is listed as 24-hour, some may have discontinued night services. Be sure to confirm by phone before heading out.

Save contacts in advance: In an emergency, you won’t have time to search. Pre-save the contact information and locations of 2–3 nearby 24-hour animal hospitals in your phone.

Searching for a 24-hour animal hospital using a smartphone map app

Don’t Miss the Golden Time

In emergencies such as poisoning, massive hemorrhage, or difficulty breathing, just a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. The instinct to "wait and see" often leads to missed treatment windows. When in doubt, call a 24-hour animal hospital, describe the symptoms, and ask whether your pet should come in for an evaluation.

What to Prepare Before Visiting the Emergency Room

Even in an emergency, make sure to bring these essentials before heading out.

Medical Records: Bring a list of current medications and any pre-existing conditions to help speed up treatment. At the very least, write down the name of your regular clinic.

Symptom Notes: Jot down when the symptoms started and any foods eaten or objects swallowed. It’s easy to forget details when you’re panicked.

Safe Transport: Wrap larger dogs in a blanket and place smaller pets in a carrier. Be cautious, as pets in severe pain may bite.

Owner’s ID: Some clinics require identification for after-hours visits.

A pet owner preparing a carrier and supplies for an emergency transport of their pet

Treatment Procedure After Arriving at the Emergency Room

When you arrive at a 24-hour animal hospital, the process differs slightly from a regular visit. First, you’ll briefly describe your pet’s symptoms during check-in, and the veterinarian will perform a triage to assess the urgency. Since life-threatening cases are treated first, the order of care may not match the order of arrival—just like in a human emergency room. Initial exams include checking basic vital signs such as body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. If needed, blood tests or X-rays will be performed immediately. Depending on the results, hospitalization may be necessary.

How Much Does Emergency Treatment Cost?

Nighttime emergency visits at 24-hour animal hospitals typically cost more than regular daytime appointments due to after-hours and holiday surcharges.

Initial examination and emergency surcharges: While rates vary by clinic, nighttime and holiday visits often incur fees 1.5 to 2 times higher than standard consultation costs.

Additional diagnostic fees: Tests such as blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds are billed separately.

Hospitalization fees: If continuous 24-hour monitoring is required, hospitalization charges apply on a daily basis.

Exact costs depend on the specific clinic and the severity of the case. It is advisable to ask for an estimated cost range before treatment begins.

A pet owner receiving information about veterinary fees at the front desk of a 24-hour animal hospital

Prepare Like This in Advance

Emergencies always strike without warning. Keep the contact information and locations of two to three 24-hour veterinary clinics near your home readily accessible, and consolidate your pet’s basic health details—such as weight, pre-existing conditions, and current medications—in one place. Having this information prepared in advance will enable you to respond much more quickly in an emergency.

Reviewed by a veterinarian

Dr. Tony — Punnawat Phongkittirak

Veterinarian

A veterinarian who majored in veterinary medicine at Khon Kaen University, Thailand, and completed the IVSA program at North Carolina State University in the United States. Drawing on clinical experience at animal hospitals, he works in the pet healthcare field and is dedicated to building a digital care environment that connects pet parents with veterinarians.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a 24-hour animal hospital and a regular one?

24-hour animal hospitals provide care even during nights and holidays, and are equipped with emergency equipment and inpatient facilities. Regular animal clinics typically operate only during daytime hours and focus on appointment-based visits.

Can I get an immediate examination even if I come in the early hours of the morning?

Our 24-hour animal hospital is open even in the early hours of the morning, but if there are many emergency patients, you may need to wait depending on the urgency of each case. The order of treatment is determined by the severity of the patient’s condition, not by arrival time.

Can cats receive treatment at a 24-hour animal hospital?

Yes, most 24-hour veterinary clinics treat both dogs and cats. However, since cats can become highly stressed during transport, please be sure to place your cat in a carrier when bringing them in.

What should I do if the cost of emergency veterinary care at night is too high?

Most 24-hour animal hospitals accept credit card payments and offer installment plans. Before treatment, ask for an estimated cost, and if it feels like a burden, consult with the vet about focusing on essential tests only.

Does pet insurance cover emergency treatment costs?

While coverage varies by policy, most pet insurance plans include emergency care and hospitalization costs. It’s a good idea to review your policy’s coverage details in advance.

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References

[1] Advanced Monitoring for Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care, 2nd Edition. Section One: Fundamental Elements of Emergency and Critical Care Practice — Triage. Wiley-Blackwell.

[2] Bracken, J.E. (1998). Triage. In: Sheehy's Emergency Nursing Principles and Practice (ed. L. Newberry), 105–111. St. Louis: Mosby.

[3] Chalifoux, C.V., Spielvogel, C.F., Stefanovski, D., and Silverstein, D.C. (2021). Standardized capillary refill time and relation to clinical parameters in hospitalized dogs. J. Vet. Emerg. Crit. Care 31: 585–594.

[4] Ateca, L.B., Reineke, E.L., and Drobatz, K.J. (2018). Evaluation of the relationship between peripheral pulse palpation and Doppler systolic blood pressure measurement in dogs presenting to an emergency service. J. Vet. Emerg. Crit. Care.