Our hospital is open 24 hours a day all year round and is managed by experienced emergency and critical care (ECC) veterinarians and nurses to help your pet when an emergency arises.
Our team has access to:
- A full in-house laboratory
- Digital x-ray and ultrasound
- 24 hour dedicated Intensive Care Unit with mechanical ventilator support
- Dedicated surgical theatre
- Comprehensively stocked onsite pharmacy
Our emergency service is managed by ECC Director, Dr Claire Bowland. Claire is also supported by the ARH National specialist ECC clinician, Dr Merrin Hicks.
If your pet requires further treatment by an ARH specialist after visiting our emergency service, our emergency team will work hand in hand with our specialist team and your local vet to ensure a seamless approach to your pet’s care.
Upon arrival at ARH Gosford, patients are triaged so cases are seen in order of importance, not necessarily in order of arrival. You will be asked to fill in paperwork with information about yourself and your pet. An experienced emergency and critical care (ECC) veterinarian will discuss your pet’s history and outline your treatment options and approximate costs for procedures.
If your pet is admitted to hospital for treatment you will be asked to sign a consent form and leave a deposit of the estimated costs, in order for treatment to proceed.
Your ECC veterinarian will keep in touch with you during the course of your pet’s stay in hospital. If ongoing care is necessary following emergency treatment your pet will typically return to your regular veterinarian. Transfers via our ambulance service are performed upon request.
If your pet requires further treatment by an ARH specialist we will work closely with your veterinarian to ensure a coordinated approach to your pet’s care.
Conditions which may require emergency assessment and treatment are listed below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and if you are worried about your pet’s health you should contact your local vet during business hours or our emergency service after hours:
- Tick or snake envenomation
- Collapse
- Unconsciousness
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Vehicular trauma
- Ingestion of a poisonous substance. Examples include chocolate, rodenticides, snail bait, antifreeze and lilies
- Severe acute-onset lameness, including suspected fractured bones
- Severe bleeding or bleeding that lasts more than a few minutes
- Suspected over-heating
- Inability to urinate or defaecate
- Continued coughing, gagging or retching
- Ataxia or paralysis
- Signs of severe pain
- Continued vomiting or diarrhoea, with more than two episodes per 24-hours
- Refusal to eat or drink for more than 24-hours
- Eye injuries
- Dystocia (difficulty whelping or giving birth)
You don’t need a referral or appointment to attend ARH emergency outside of regular veterinarian hours.