What is an emergency vet appointment?

Key takeaways

• Emergency vet visits in the UK usually start at £200. The price can go up, depending on what’s wrong.

• Go to the vet right away if they have seizures, trouble breathing, pass out, seem very weak or in pain, act confused, eat something poisonous, or have bad cuts or broken bones.

• Some pet insurance plans have a 24-hour helpline you can call in an emergency. If your vet is closed, they should tell you where to go for out-of-hours care.

• Pet insurance often helps pet owners pay for emergency care. But check your plan. It may not cover problems your pet already had before you got the insurance.

How much is an emergency vet appointment? 

An emergency vet appointment usually costs £200 to £300 just for the emergency consultation fees.

This price can be higher if:

• It's out of hours - e.g. late at night, on a weekend, or a holiday

• Your pet needs tests, medicine, or surgery

• You’re not registered with the local vet you take your pet to

According to ManyPets, in 2025 the average cost of an emergency vet appointment in the UK is now £268.92 – that’s just for the consultation. You’ll need to pay for any treatment needed on top of the out-of-hours consultation cost.

ManyPets found that costs varied around the UK with the typical out of hours consultation fee costing the most in the South East at £315.57.

What is an out of hours vet appointment?

An out-of-hours emergency will cost more than veterinary treatment in normal working hours.

Out of hours means times when your regular vet is closed, such as:

• Evenings (usually after 6 or 7 pm)

• Nights

• Weekends

• Bank holidays

How do I know if my pet needs emergency care? 

Your pet may need emergency care if it has an accident - for example, if it is hit by a car or is attacked by another animal and needs first aid.

You should also seek emergency care if your pet swallows something poisonous (e.g. chocolate, medicine, or cleaning products)

Your pet may also need emergency care if it shows certain symptoms, such as:

• Trouble breathing

• Seizures or fits

• Unconscious or won’t wake up

• Bleeding

• Vomiting or diarrhea that won’t stop

• Bloated or hard stomach

• Can’t go to the toilet

• Crying in pain or very weak

• Acting confused or not like themselves

Some pet insurance policies include a 24-hour number to call when you have a concern about pet health. These helplines can be used to help you identify an issue or let you know if you need to seek critical care help.

Lauren Chong
Pet Insurance Expert

Our expert says

"Emergency vet care can be life-saving, but it often comes with higher costs due to out-of-hours staffing, specialist equipment, and urgent treatment needs. Plan ahead by having pet insurance that covers emergency consultations - otherwise you’ll need to foot the cost out of your own pocket.”

How do I find an emergency vet?

• Call your regular veterinary practice – it may offer an emergency service. If closed, their phone message may give details for out-of-hours care or an on-call vet.

• Check your vet’s website – it may list a nearby vet practices which offer emergency or out-of-hours veterinary care.

• Use your pet insurance helpline – some offer 24/7 advice and can direct you to a clinic.

• Search online – type “emergency vet near me” into Google or Google Maps.

Some vet clinics specialise in emergency vet care. These include:

• Vets Now

• PawSquad

• Vets4Pets

• Medivet

• MiNightVet

You might also get help from an animal charity such as:

• Blue Cross

• PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals)

• Animal Trust

How do emergency vets work? 

Emergency vets work a lot like it does in A&E. During your vets’ usual opening hours, you can usually go straight there in an emergency, and you will be seen through their triage system. Triage means deciding which pets need emergency treatment first.

If your emergency is out of hours, your registered vet may have a 24-hour emergency care facility or they can direct you to. You usually need to call first – they may tell you what to do or prepare for your visit.

An emergency vet will do checks, tests, and treatment – just like a hospital for pets.

You pay more than normal for an emergency vet appointment - it usually won’t be low cost unfortunately.

Here's what you need to know when you are in need of emergency care:  

Is a vet available to me 24/7? 

Not every veterinary clinic will have 24-hour emergency care available. Most will provide emergency care during their working hours but not all clinics will have vets available at night or over the weekend.

📣 Did you know? If your practice doesn't offer 24 hour services, it should direct you to the nearest clinic that has an out-of-hours services.

Does my pet insurance cover emergency care fees? 

Yes, pet insurance will usually cover emergency vet fees.

How much you can claim for emergency vet fees will depend on:

• Your provider

• Your policy

• The excess

• Any co-payment arrangement in place

Be aware that pet insurance is unlikely to cover pre-existing conditions. If your emergency is related to a pre-existing condition, it’s unlikely that your urgent care visit will be covered by your insurance.