UK emergency & out-of-hours vet care
How UK out-of-hours veterinary cover works, who provides it, and what to do in a real emergency.
Updated 15 July 2026
Under the RCVS Code, UK veterinary surgeons must take reasonable steps to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief for animals in their care. In practice, that cover is delivered in a few different ways, and it's worth knowing which one applies to your practice before the middle of the night.
The three common models
- In-house 24/7: the practice — usually a Veterinary Hospital — runs its own overnight team with nurses on-site.
- Dedicated OOH provider: the practice hands over to a specialist out-of-hours company (Vets Now is the largest) at a nearby clinic.
- Rota with local practices: a group of practices in one area share the night and weekend rota between them.
What "emergency" actually means
Out-of-hours vets exist to stabilise animals that cannot safely wait until the next working day. Typical genuine emergencies include:
- Difficulty breathing, collapse, or persistent seizures
- Suspected poisoning (chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol, human medicines, antifreeze, lily pollen for cats)
- Road traffic accidents or significant trauma
- Severe or ongoing bleeding
- Straining to urinate (especially in male cats)
- A bloated, distressed dog — possible gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV)
- Prolonged, unproductive labour
If in doubt, phone. All UK practices are required to have an emergency phone number on their answering service — the person on the other end can help you decide whether you need to travel now.
What emergency care costs
Out-of-hours consultations are consistently more expensive than daytime appointments — often several times so. This is not price gouging: it reflects the cost of staffing a clinic overnight. If you have pet insurance, keep the policy number somewhere you can reach it in an emergency; many OOH clinics can process direct claims for larger bills.
Before you need it
- Save your day vet's number and their OOH provider's number in your phone.
- Know the address of the OOH clinic — it is often not the same building as your day vet.
- Have a plan for transport at 3am, especially if you don't drive.
- Keep a basic pet first-aid kit and a carrier that fits in your car.
For non-emergency questions about choosing a practice with strong emergency cover, see How to choose a vet in the UK.