# 24-hour emergency vets in Canada’s big cities: Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and more URL: https://pawtrace.ca/24-hour-emergency-vets-canada/ Updated: 2026-10-20 The short answer If your dog has trouble breathing, collapses, has a seizure, may have bloat, may have eaten something toxic, is bleeding heavily or cannot pee, call a vet now. If your own clinic is closed, call a 24-hour emergency hospital and go. Below is a city-by-city list of hospitals whose own websites stated, on October 16 2026, that they are open 24 hours for emergencies. Hours change: call before you go. Photo: [Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-vet-checking-a-sick-rough-collie-6235231/) ### Key takeaways - Find your nearest 24-hour hospital today, while your dog is well. Save the number and the route in your phone. - Always call ahead. The team can tell you whether to come in and get ready for your arrival. - Emergency hospitals triage. The sickest animals are seen first, not the first to arrive. - In Ontario, your vet must tell you how to reach after-hours care, and must give you a cost estimate before treatment, using a range when that fits. - A name with “24 hour” in it is not proof of 24-hour service. Hours change, so check the hospital’s own website and phone first. - This list is not complete and is not a ranking. A hospital is listed only if its own website stated 24-hour emergency hours on the day we checked. ### When your dog needs emergency care Some signs cannot wait for a morning appointment. Go now for trouble breathing, collapse, a seizure, a swollen hard belly with retching (possible bloat), suspected poisoning, heavy bleeding, being hit by a car, straining to pee with nothing coming out, or pale gums. Our guide to [emergency signs every owner should know](https://pawtrace.ca/emergency-signs-every-owner-should-know/) lists the signs that need a vet today and the ones that can wait until your clinic opens. If you are not sure, call. Describe what you see: the signs, when they started, and anything your dog may have eaten. A vet or an emergency team can tell you whether to come in now. Do not give human medicine, and do not make your dog vomit, unless a vet tells you to. This guide is general information. Your vet is the right person to advise on your dog. ### Know your clinic’s after-hours plan first In Ontario, the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) sets the rules for after-hours care. Its standard says vets must offer “reasonably prompt services outside of regular practice hours if the services are medically necessary” for animals they treat. A clinic can meet this in several ways: an on-call vet, shared coverage with nearby clinics, referral to a 24/7 emergency hospital, or an accredited teletriage (phone advice) service. Vets must tell clients how to reach after-hours care, and tell them promptly when that changes. What this means for you: ask your clinic now, “Who do I call at night and on weekends?” Listen to its after-hours phone message once, so you know what it says. Write the answer down. Other provinces have their own veterinary regulators and rules. Ask your clinic what applies where you live. ### What an emergency visit involves The emergency hospitals we checked describe a similar process on their websites: - **Call ahead.** Several hospitals ask you to phone on your way so the team can prepare. - **Triage on arrival.** A technician or nurse checks your dog’s history and vital signs. Critical patients go first. Stable patients may wait while emergencies are treated. - **Exam by the emergency vet.** The vet examines your dog and explains what they found. - **Options and estimate.** The vet presents tests and treatment options. In Ontario, the CVO consent standard says the vet should give an estimated cost, using a range when appropriate, and explain alternatives and what happens if you say no. - **Your consent, then treatment.** Treatment starts once you agree to a plan. Your dog may go home the same night or stay in hospital. - **Discharge and follow-up.** You get instructions and medication. Ask for the records to go to your regular vet. In Ontario, your referring vet must keep caring for your dog after an emergency clinic discharges it, until care is no longer needed or you have had a fair chance to find another vet. Waits can be long on a busy night. Bring water for yourself, a charger and patience. If your dog gets worse while you wait, tell the front desk straight away. ### What to bring - Your dog on a secure leash, or in a carrier. Use a blanket or a board as a stretcher for a dog that cannot walk. - The packaging, label or a photo of anything your dog may have eaten, swallowed or chewed. - A list of your dog’s medications and doses, vaccines and known conditions, or your dog’s passport. - Your regular vet’s name and phone number, so records can be shared. - Your pet insurance policy number and claims contact, if you have a policy. - A payment method. Ask on the phone what the hospital needs at check-in. - A muzzle or a soft cloth tie for a dog in pain that may bite, unless it is struggling to breathe. ### Cost: the questions to ask We did not find a credible Canadian source that publishes typical emergency vet prices, so we do not quote any. Prices differ by city, by hospital and by what your dog needs. Ask these questions instead, on the phone and at the desk: | Question | Why it matters | What is the emergency exam fee, and when is it charged? | Ask whether the fee changes at night, on weekends or on holidays, so there are no surprises at the desk. | Can I have a written estimate before you start? | In Ontario, the CVO consent standard says the vet should give an estimated cost, using a range when appropriate. | What does the low end of the range cover, and what pushes it to the high end? | The range tells you what changes the bill if complications arise. | Which tests or treatments are needed now, and which can wait for my regular vet? | Some follow-up can move to your own clinic during the day. | Are there other reasonable options, and what are the risks of each? | The CVO standard says the vet should explain alternatives and the consequences of saying no. | Do you need a deposit? What payment do you accept? | Payment rules differ between hospitals. Knowing them early saves time at the desk. | Do you bill my insurer directly, or offer financing? | Some hospitals bill insurers or offer payment plans. Others ask you to pay and claim later. | How much does each night in hospital add? | If your dog needs to stay, you can plan for a longer stay before you agree. Source for the Ontario rules: CVO Informed Client Consent standard (revised October 2023). Ask your vet what applies in your province. Plan for the cost before an emergency. Compare insurance policies while your dog is healthy (see our [comparison of 12 pet insurers](https://pawtrace.ca/pet-insurance-in-canada-how-to-compare-12-insurers-in-10-minutes/)), or set money aside in a separate account. Our guide on [when to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital and what it costs](https://pawtrace.ca/when-to-go-to-a-24-hour-emergency-hospital-and-what-it-costs/) explains what drives an emergency bill. ### 24-hour emergency animal hospitals, city by city **How we built this list.** We include a hospital only if its own website stated, on the date we checked, that it is open 24 hours (or 24/7) for emergencies. Name, address and phone are copied from the hospital’s own website. Hospitals are listed in alphabetical order. This is not a ranking, an endorsement or a complete list, and no hospital paid to appear. If a website gave conflicting hours, we left the hospital out. **Hours change: call before you go.** #### Ottawa | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre | 2220 Walkley Road, Ottawa, ON K1G 5L2 | 613-731-9911 | “Emergency Hours Mon – Sun: Open 24 hours”; “we’re here for you 24/7” | [Montreal Road Animal Hospital, emergency practice](https://montrealroadanimalhospital.com/) | 1720 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON | 613-842-3333 (emergencies) | “24/7 walk-in urgent care at 1720 Montreal Road” | [Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital](https://oaesh.com/contact/) | 1155 Lola St, Ottawa, ON K1K 4C1 | 613-745-0123 | “Open 24/7”; “No appointment necessary”; call so the team can prepare | Ottawa Veterinary Hospital | 2148 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K2A 1H1 | 613-725-1182 | Emergency care page lists hours as “Mon – Sun: Open 24 hours” Hours change: call before you go. Ottawa is a large city. From Kanata, Barrhaven or Orléans, the drive can be long, so check your route and travel time now. Our [Ottawa city guide](https://pawtrace.ca/cities/ottawa/) has more local resources. #### Toronto and Mississauga | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | [Central Toronto Veterinary Referral Clinic](https://www.ctvrc.ca/) | 1051 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, ON M6C 2C9 | 416-784-4444 | “24/7 Emergency Care”; open 24 hours every day | Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital | 21 Rolark Drive, Scarborough, ON M1R 3B1 | 416-247-8387 | “Emergency Hours Mon – Sun: Open 24 Hours”; “24/7 Emergency Care” | [Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital of West Toronto](https://www.torontovetemergency.com/) | 755 Queensway East, #116, Mississauga, ON L4Y 4C5 | 416-239-3453 | “We are open 24 Hours for Emergency Services, including weekends and all holidays” Hours change: call before you go. #### Calgary | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre (CARE Centre) | 7140 – 12th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2Y4 | 403-520-8387 | “Open 24 Hours” every day; “When emergencies occur, we’re here for you 24/7” | Calgary North Animal Hospital & 24 Hour Emergency Service | 4204, 4th Street NW, Calgary, AB T2K 1A2 | 403-277-0135 | “Open 24 hours” every day of the week; emergency care on site | [Paramount 24 Hour Animal Hospital](https://www.paramount24hr.com/contact-us) | 4110 – 5111 Northland Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2J8 | 403-300-9111 | “365 Days / 24 hours a day” | [Trinity Hills 24 Hour Pet Hospital](https://www.thph.ca/) | 240 Na’a Plaza SW, Calgary, AB T3H 6A4 | 403-233-2888 | “Open 24/7 for your pet’s emergency care!” Hours change: call before you go. #### Edmonton | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | [Boreal Veterinary Centre](https://www.borealvet.com/) | 13940 164 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5V 0C8 | 780-306-4400 | “Open 24 hours” every day of the week; emergency department on site | Guardian Veterinary Centre | 5620-99 Street, Edmonton, AB T6E 1V2 | 780-436-5880 | “Open 24 Hours” every day; “When emergencies occur, we’re here for you 24/7” Hours change: call before you go. #### Vancouver | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | [Burrard Animal Hospital + Emergency](https://www.burrardvet.com/) | 105-1788 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 1Y1 | 604-738-5683 | “Open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week”; “We welcome walk-in emergencies” | [Canada West Veterinary Specialists & Critical Care Hospital](https://canadawestvets.com/) | 1988 Kootenay Street, Vancouver, BC V5M 4Y3 | 604-473-4882 | “EMERGENCY SERVICES: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week” | Vancouver Animal Emergency & Referral Centre | 2303 Alberta Street, Vancouver, BC V5Y 4A7 | 604-879-3737 | “Open 24 Hours” every day; “When emergencies occur, we’re here for you 24/7” Hours change: call before you go. #### Montreal | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | [CENTREDMVET Montreal](https://centredmvet.com/en/centre/centredmvet-montreal/) | Lachine borough, Montreal, QC (map on the hospital’s page) | 514-633-8888 | “available 24/7 for all emergencies”; “emergencies are walk-ins” | [Centre Vétérinaire Montréal](https://www.vetetnous.com/en/centres/centre-veterinaire-montreal/) | 1901 Boul. de Maisonneuve Est, Montréal, QC H2K 4P4 | 438-387-2746 | “our emergency and referral centre” is “open 24/7”; in an emergency, phone first Hours change: call before you go. #### Halifax and Dartmouth | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | [Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital](https://www.coastalcarevets.ca/site/emergency-veterinary-care-halifax) | 168 Hobsons Lake Dr, Halifax, NS B3S 0G4 | 902-703-2323 | “We are open 24/7 for emergency and critical care” | [Maritime Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Centre](https://www.maritimevet.ca/) | 39 MicMac Blvd., Dartmouth, NS B3A 4Y8 | 902-932-0838 | “24/7 Emergency”; open 24 hours every day Hours change: call before you go. #### Winnipeg | Hospital | Address | Phone | What its website says (checked October 16 2026) | [Bridgwater Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Centre](https://www.bridgwatervethospital.ca/pet-care/dog-cat-services/24-hour-emergency-and-critical-care) | 100-350 North Town Rd, Winnipeg, MB R3Y 0Y4 | 204-452-0911 | “24-hour emergency veterinary care every day of the week”; phones answered 24 hours a day Hours change: call before you go. #### Regina On October 16 2026, we could not confirm a Regina hospital whose own website clearly stated 24-hour emergency hours. Overnight coverage in Regina has changed before. In October 2023, Global News reported that Regina’s 24-hour animal care centre had stopped providing services from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., and that, according to a local clinic’s notice, 11 clinics in and near Regina would cover overnight emergencies on a rotating basis. If you live in Regina, ask your clinic today how overnight emergencies are covered and which number to call. Save that number in your phone, and call before you drive anywhere. ### Build your emergency plan in five minutes - Ask your regular clinic who covers nights, weekends and holidays. - Find the 24-hour hospital nearest your home. Check its own website for current hours. - Save its name, address and phone number in your phone, next to your vet’s number. - Check the driving route and time, at night and in winter conditions. - Keep a copy of your dog’s medication and vaccine list where you can grab it. - Put your insurance details, or your emergency savings plan, in the same place. - If you travel with your dog, look up a 24-hour hospital near where you are staying before you leave. ### Myth vs fact | Myth | Fact | Emergency hospitals see dogs in order of arrival. | They triage. Critical patients are seen first, and stable patients may wait. | A hospital with “24 hour” in its name is always open overnight. | Names and directory listings can lag behind changes. Check the hospital’s own website and call first. | You need a referral from your vet to go to an emergency hospital. | Several hospitals we checked state on their websites that emergencies need no appointment or that walk-ins are welcome. Call ahead anyway. | The vet will treat first and tell you the cost later. | In Ontario, the CVO consent standard says the vet should give an estimated cost, using a range when appropriate, before diagnostics or treatment. | When your vet is closed, you are on your own. | Ontario vets must tell clients how to reach after-hours care for medically necessary services. | It is fine to wait until morning to see if a serious sign improves. | Bloat and a blocked bladder are emergencies that can become life-threatening. Call a vet now. ### How PawTrace helps PawTrace’s free [Find a vet](https://pawtrace.ca/find-a-vet/) directory lets you search your city, and hospitals with 24-hour emergency care are flagged. Hours, services and contact details are as listed by each clinic and may change, so call before you go. Listings are not endorsements. If your dog has a PawTrace passport, you can show it to the vet at check-in so the team sees your dog’s records. ### Frequently asked questions Do I need an appointment at a 24-hour emergency hospital? No. Emergency hospitals are set up for unbooked emergencies, and several we checked state that no appointment is needed. Call on your way so the team can prepare, and so they can tell you whether to come in. Will I get a cost estimate before treatment? Ask for one. In Ontario, the CVO consent standard says the vet should give an estimated cost of proposed diagnostics and treatment, using a range when appropriate. Ask what is needed now and what can wait. What if there is no 24-hour hospital near me? Ask your regular clinic what it does after hours. In Ontario, clinics can use an on-call vet, shared coverage, referral to an emergency hospital or an accredited teletriage service, and must tell clients which. Know the route to the nearest hospital before you need it. Can I phone for advice before driving in? Yes. Call your vet’s after-hours line or the emergency hospital and describe the signs. Phone advice cannot replace an exam, so go in for any sign that cannot wait. Why is my local emergency hospital not on this list? We list a hospital only if its own website stated 24-hour emergency hours on the day we checked. Some hospitals may be open 24 hours without saying so clearly online. The list is not complete. Search [Find a vet](https://pawtrace.ca/find-a-vet/) or ask your clinic. Is this list a recommendation? No. It is in alphabetical order, it is not a ranking, and no hospital paid to appear. Ask your own vet which emergency hospital they refer to. What should I do after my dog comes home? Follow the discharge instructions, give medication as prescribed, and book any follow-up with your regular vet. Make sure the emergency records reach your vet, and send your insurance claim with the invoice. ### Keep reading - [Emergency signs every owner should know](https://pawtrace.ca/emergency-signs-every-owner-should-know/) - [When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital (and what it costs)](https://pawtrace.ca/when-to-go-to-a-24-hour-emergency-hospital-and-what-it-costs/) - [Bloat (GDV) in dogs: the emergency every big-dog owner must know](https://pawtrace.ca/bloat-gdv-in-dogs-the-2-hour-emergency-every-big-dog-owner-must-know/) - [Never give your dog these 10 human medicines](https://pawtrace.ca/never-give-your-dog-these-10-human-medicines-even-just-a-little/) - [Pet insurance in Canada: how to compare 12 insurers in 10 minutes](https://pawtrace.ca/pet-insurance-in-canada-how-to-compare-12-insurers-in-10-minutes/) ### Sources - [College of Veterinarians of Ontario: After-Hours Care Services standard (revised November 2023)](https://www.cvo.org/standards/after-hours-care-services), checked October 16 2026 - [College of Veterinarians of Ontario: Informed Client Consent standard (revised October 2023)](https://www.cvo.org/standards/informed-client-consent), checked October 16 2026 - [Global News: veterinary shortage affects overnight emergency services in Saskatchewan (October 3 2023)](https://globalnews.ca/news/10002540/veterinary-shortage-emergency-overnight-services-saskatchewan/), checked October 16 2026 - Hospital websites listed in the city tables above, each checked October 16 2026: Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre, [Montreal Road Animal Hospital](https://montrealroadanimalhospital.com/), [Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital](https://oaesh.com/contact/), Ottawa Veterinary Hospital, [Central Toronto Veterinary Referral Clinic](https://www.ctvrc.ca/), Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital, [Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital of West Toronto](https://www.torontovetemergency.com/), Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre (CARE Centre), Calgary North Animal Hospital & 24 Hour Emergency Service, [Paramount 24 Hour Animal Hospital](https://www.paramount24hr.com/contact-us), [Trinity Hills 24 Hour Pet Hospital](https://www.thph.ca/), [Boreal Veterinary Centre](https://www.borealvet.com/), Guardian Veterinary Centre, [Burrard Animal Hospital + Emergency](https://www.burrardvet.com/), [Canada West Veterinary Specialists](https://canadawestvets.com/), Vancouver Animal Emergency & Referral Centre, [CENTREDMVET Montreal](https://centredmvet.com/en/centre/centredmvet-montreal/), [Centre Vétérinaire Montréal](https://www.vetetnous.com/en/centres/centre-veterinaire-montreal/), [Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital](https://www.coastalcarevets.ca/site/emergency-veterinary-care-halifax), [Maritime Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Centre](https://www.maritimevet.ca/), [Bridgwater Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Centre](https://www.bridgwatervethospital.ca/pet-care/dog-cat-services/24-hour-emergency-and-critical-care) - [PawTrace: Find a vet](https://pawtrace.ca/find-a-vet/), checked October 16 2026