Pet suddenly falls ill at night? Find the best 24-hour vet clinics and fees.

Pets are not only human companions, but also important members of the family. As a responsible owner, you need to devote love and care to protecting your pet, treating it as you would a newborn baby and giving it constant, attentive care. If your beloved pet suddenly falls ill in the middle of the night, many owners will be at a loss. In this anxious and helpless emergency, you will need to take it to a 24-hour veterinary clinic for treatment. However, which veterinary clinic is the best? And how are charges at night-time veterinary clinics calculated?

If a pet accidentally eats something it should not, such as chocolate, dogs and cats may develop acute poisoning; if it eats grapes, it may suffer acute kidney failure. Experienced owners may induce vomiting in time to prevent a life-threatening situation. However, after ingesting certain items, some pets may not show signs of poisoning in the short term. Once a pet has ingested these “harmful foods”, the owner should immediately take it to a nearby 24-hour veterinary clinic for a thorough examination.

In addition, if a pet starts bleeding for no apparent reason, has difficulty walking, behaves abnormally, or becomes emotionally unstable, the owner should also take it to a 24-hour veterinary clinic as soon as possible, so that a veterinarian can carry out the most comprehensive examination and avoid missing the best time for treatment.

The fees charged by veterinary clinics in Hong Kong can generally be divided into the following items:

- Consultation fee
- Medication fee
- Feeding fee
- Hospitalisation fee
- X-ray
- Consultation fee

Some first-time pet owners may not be familiar with the fees charged by night-time veterinary clinics. There is a significant difference between the charges of night-time and ordinary daytime veterinary clinics. Generally, daytime veterinary clinic consultation fees start from $300. Compared with non-profit veterinary clinics, private veterinary clinics tend to charge higher fees. The charges of 24-hour veterinary clinics in Hong Kong vary depending on the clinic’s location and the time of the consultation, and some clinics adjust their consultation fees according to the time period. Table 1 sets out the charges of nine 24-hour veterinary clinics across different districts in Hong Kong for reference:

As a pet owner, you should do your homework and find out in advance the opening hours and fees of veterinary clinics near your home, so that you are prepared for any eventuality. But which veterinary clinic is better? Veterinary clinics are available across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. In addition to considering the fees charged by veterinary clinics, owners should also choose a clinic based on the following criteria, so that they need not feel helpless even in an emergency.

Reputation

Owners may use social media, or ask friends and relatives who keep pets, to understand a clinic’s reviews and reputation. They may also pay attention to media reports about the clinic, including whether any medical incidents have occurred in the past, to assess whether the clinic is trustworthy.

Facilities

It is difficult for owners to judge their pet’s symptoms on their own. Visiting a veterinary clinic with comprehensive medical equipment can help to address a pet’s various conditions, thoroughly assess the pet’s health, identify the cause of the illness, and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Therefore, owners may first find out what facilities and treatment services the clinic offers, so as to provide their pet with sufficient protection.

Veterinary experience

Each clinic is led by different veterinarians, and each veterinarian holds different professional qualifications. When looking for a veterinary clinic, owners may wish to take note of the veterinarian’s academic background, years of experience, and the types of animals they specialise in treating.

Pet insurance can help reduce the owner’s financial burden

When a pet falls ill, owners will spare no expense in treating their pet. However, veterinary care is expensive: even a night-time consultation alone can cost over HK$1,000; together with medication, hospitalisation and other charges, the total can easily exceed HK$10,000. Therefore, taking out pet insurance is also very important.

If owners wish to provide their pet with the most comprehensive protection while also saving on veterinary expenses, they may consider taking out pet insurance. Before doing so, owners may wish to pay attention to the policy coverage, and choose suitable insurance based on their pet’s health condition, breed and age, so as to provide their pet with the most comprehensive protection.

Finally, in addition to knowing which veterinary clinic is best, when purchasing pet insurance, owners should also first check whether the policy includes fees charged by 24-hour veterinary clinics, to avoid treatment costs becoming a financial burden. At present, most pet insurance policies can be purchased online, which is very convenient. Consumers are advised to compare options carefully before taking out a policy, understand the scope of cover, and may also refer to 10Life’s exclusive actuary ratings, and consult a professional if necessary.

Last updated: 23 November 2023

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.