AFTER HOURS EMERGENCIES | TOWNSEND VET CLINIC ALBURY WODONGA
Our clinic closes at 6pm on weekdays and at 1pm on Saturdays. WE ARE NOT A 24HR HOSPITAL.
Since our local emergency centre closed at the end of 2020, our staff have had to become available 24hrs a day to attend to our patients with urgent issues. This brings a unique set of challenges to our small team (many of whom have young families), and we are working out a way to make this as sustainable as possible. Currently we are sharing the afterhours work with Murray River Animal Hospital who are in a similar situation to us. We are only able to attend to pets of existing clients of either practice and we cannot attend for non-urgent matters which could be addressed the next day.
We encourage pet owners to check their pets early each day and act on any problems noted straight away, rather than allowing the condition to progress into the night or throughout the weekend.
Afterhours surcharges apply and typically the cost for veterinary consultation and nurse assistance afterhours will be above $400; with tests, medications and treatments at an additional cost. We strongly recommend pet insurance, which will cover the majority of the costs associated with "accident and emergency" problems in most instances. Call the regular clinic number for emergency assistance out of hours.
What is an emergency?
Snake Bites! We are prepared - are you?
Albury/Wodonga is home to many venomous snakes such as Tiger Snakes, Brown Snakes and Red Bellied Black Snakes. Please seek immediate veterinary attention for your pet if you suspect they have been bitten.
Symptoms are variable and can include transient collapse, vomiting, salivation, paralysis, dilated pupils, bleeding, difficulty breathing, trembling, weakness, disorientation and discoloured urine. Some animals will show these symptoms and then appear to 'recover' - they still need immediate veterinary attention as they may still have received a lethal dose of venom.
Treatment of an animal bitten by a snake involves emergency assessment, stabilisation and monitoring, blood and urine tests, IV fluid therapy, pain relief and lifesaving antivenom. Some animals will require support to help them breathe. Each case is unique and treatment is tailored to each individual pet.