Takurua Vets provides after-hours emergency veterinary care for companion animals in Christchurch.
If your pet is unwell, injured, in pain, or you are worried something urgent is happening, please call us first so you can speak with a member of our after-hours team.
If you are unsure whether your situation is urgent, it is always better to call and ask.
If your pet becomes unwell outside normal clinic hours, the most important first step is to stay calm and call. You will speak with a nurse or a vet from our after-hours team, who can talk through what is happening, help decide how urgent the situation is, and arrange the next step if your pet needs to be seen.
Our after-hours service operates on an on-call basis rather than as a walk-in service. This means we assess each situation by phone first, then prepare for your arrival if in-clinic care is needed. That helps reduce delays and allows care to begin more promptly when you get here.
Call straight away if your pet is having trouble breathing, has collapsed, is having a seizure, is straining to urinate, has been hit by a car, has swallowed something they should not have, may have been poisoned, has a swollen or painful abdomen, cannot stop vomiting, is bleeding heavily, or seems to be in severe pain or distress.
You do not need to be certain before calling. If something feels wrong and you are worried, it is appropriate to get advice.
Many after-hours emergencies start with uncertainty. Owners know something is wrong, but are not always sure how serious the situation is or what to do first. The pages below explain some of the more common emergency concerns we help with and what action may be needed.
What a seizure can look like, what to do in the moment, what not to do, and when urgent veterinary assessment is needed.
A swollen abdomen, retching, distress, or sudden collapse can signal a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate attention.
Repeated vomiting can be a sign of obstruction, especially when it is persistent, worsening, or associated with lethargy, abdominal pain, or refusal to eat.
Possible Intestinal Obstruction
A tense, painful, or distended abdomen can indicate a serious internal problem. Learn when abdominal pain may point to a surgical issue and why early assessment matters.
Straining to urinate is a medical emergency. Learn why urinary obstruction can become life-threatening quickly, what signs to watch for, and when urgent treatment may be needed.
What to watch for when dogs or cats swallow objects such as toys, corn cobs, bones, or household items, what not to do at home, and when veterinary assessment is needed.
What really helps in an emergency, what can make things worse, and why quick professional advice matters when poisoning is suspected.
Learn how chocolate affects pets, when ingestion is urgent, and how to estimate risk using our calculator.
If you are unsure whether your pet needs urgent care, this short video explains some of the warning signs to look for and how to act in an emergency.
Learn what to do if you encounter a stray or injured animal, including who to contact and how veterinary clinics, councils, and welfare organisations fit together.
After-hours emergencies often need more than a consult alone. Depending on what is happening, care may involve imaging, blood testing, pain relief, monitoring, or urgent surgery. If your pet needs to be seen, we can explain what diagnostics or treatment are likely to be most useful and why.
You can also learn more about some of the services that support emergency and urgent care at Takurua Vets, including digital x-ray, ultrasound, in-house blood testing, surgery, anaesthesia and patient safety, and our wider fear-free and pain-conscious approach.
Learn how x-rays help assess problems such as swallowed objects, chest issues, fractures, and other urgent conditions where quick imaging is needed.
Learn how ultrasound supports the assessment of abdominal problems, internal changes, and urgent cases where more detail is needed than examination alone can provide.
Learn how in-house blood testing helps with rapid decision-making in unwell pets, including organ function, metabolic changes, and other urgent medical concerns.
Learn how Takurua Vets approaches urgent and advanced surgical care when pets need more than medical treatment alone.
Learn how patient monitoring, anaesthetic planning, and safety systems support pets who need urgent procedures or more intensive treatment.
Learn when severe anaemia, major blood loss, or critical instability may make transfusion support necessary.
Learn how calm handling, pain management, and a more thoughtful clinical approach continue to shape the way we care for pets in urgent situations.
You’re welcome to use our after-hours service even if you haven’t been to our clinic before. In urgent situations we’ll focus on your pet first and take care of the formalities when things are calmer.
If you’re visiting this page while things are quiet, you may find it helpful to register with us ahead of time. Having your details on file can make future emergency visits quicker and more straightforward for both you and your pet.
Because our after-hours service operates on an on-call basis, we arrange to meet you at the clinic when your pet needs to be seen. This means the clinic may not look like a normal walk-in service after hours, but our team will already have context from the phone call and be prepared for your arrival.
The goal is to reduce delays, improve handover, and make the visit as clear and efficient as possible when time matters.
If your pet needs diagnostics, treatment, or admission, we will talk you through what we are concerned about, what the next step is, and what decisions need to be made at that stage.
If you’d like to familiarise yourself with the layout and atmosphere of Takurua Vets before your first visit, you can take a short walkthrough video tour of the clinic. It shows the spaces you’ll move through on the day - from reception and consult rooms to our surgery and imaging areas - so you know exactly what to expect when you arrive.
If your pet is unwell, injured, in pain, or you are not sure whether the situation is urgent, call and speak with a member of our after-hours team.
If it is urgent, do not wait for symptoms to become more obvious before getting advice.
