Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency - CARE

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Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency - CARE The Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency (CARE) is a 24-hour emergency and specialist veteri...

The Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency (CARE) is a 24-hour emergency and specialist veterinary hospital in the heart of Melbourne. Our modern, well-equipped centre has a motivated team of 30+ specialist and non-specialist veterinary doctors, working alongside an exceptional group of experienced nurses and support staff. CARE’s purpose is to provide the gold-standard of patient care, with diagnostic and treatment plans tailored to achieve the best possible outcomes for each case. We consider the unique requirements of each individual pet, their owners, and their primary care veterinarian.

The only thing worth betting on this Cup Day? We're here for you. CARE's emergency team is open 24/7 all through the Mel...
02/11/2026

The only thing worth betting on this Cup Day? We're here for you. CARE's emergency team is open 24/7 all through the Melbourne Cup holiday. 🐎💚

📍 5 Hood Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
📞 (03) 9417 6417
🌐 www.carevet.com.au

🎃 A little spooky, a little stylish… and VERY proud of himself!Meet Oliver, who is absolutely rocking his Halloween-them...
30/10/2026

🎃 A little spooky, a little stylish… and VERY proud of himself!

Meet Oliver, who is absolutely rocking his Halloween-themed bandage!

Complete with a pumpkin and a little bat, his hind leg bandage has had a spooky makeover. And judging by that proud little face, Oliver knows he's looking pretty fabulous!

We don't often get the time to indulge in a bit of vet wrap art, but when we do… we do it properly!

Who says bandages have to be boring?

We think Oliver might just be our best-dressed patient this Halloween! 🦇

20/10/2026

Behind the scenes of emergency vet life… starring our newest hard-working team member 🧺🐾

Meet our NEW washing machine — built to handle a massive 28kg load at a time. And yes, we run it around 6–8 times every single day. 😳

That adds up to roughly 56 tonnes of laundry a year! Blankets, towels, fluffies and patient comfort items… all getting washed, refreshed, and ready for the next pet who needs us. Phew 😅 🐶🐱💙

In emergency care, even the laundry has an important job. Clean, dry, cosy bedding helps keep our patients comfortable while our team focuses on what matters most: caring for your pets when they need us most.

Now we need your help…

What should we name our new washing machine? 👇
Drop your best name ideas in the comments!😂🫧


🏉 CARE is OPEN this Grand Final Eve public holiday!While plenty of Victorians will be getting on the pies and sausage ro...
24/09/2026

🏉 CARE is OPEN this Grand Final Eve public holiday!

While plenty of Victorians will be getting on the pies and sausage rolls, the CARE team will still be on the field this Friday.

So, if things aren’t quite going to game plan, don’t worry, we’re here and ready to help keep you ahead of the pack.

And if there’s been a little too much crumbing around the house… well, we’ll leave the footy puns there before we get benched. 😄

📅 Friday 25 September — OPEN
📍 5 Hood St Colliingwood
📞 03 9417 6417
🌐 www.carevet.com.au

Enjoy the long weekend, enjoy the footy, and may your team kick plenty of sausage rolls! 🏉🙌

Bella's Sticky Situation 🐾Bella, an energetic Border Collie, was doing what Border Collies do best—chasing her favourite...
28/07/2026

Bella's Sticky Situation 🐾

Bella, an energetic Border Collie, was doing what Border Collies do best—chasing her favourite stick at the park. Unfortunately, the stick landed upright, and Bella accidentally fell onto it while trying to grab it. Although she initially seemed okay, her owners noticed she became quiet, was retching, and kept stretching her neck, so they did exactly the right thing and brought her straight to the emergency hospital.

On examination, we found a significant tear in the soft palate at the back of Bella's mouth. She was incredibly lucky. Injuries from sticks can be far more serious than they first appear, with the potential to damage major blood vessels, the airway, or deeper tissues of the neck and chest, cause severe infections, or even become life-threatening if left untreated. Thankfully, Bella's injury was confined to her soft palate, and chest X-rays showed no evidence of a retained stick fragment. She underwent surgery to repair the injury and received plenty of pain relief to keep her comfortable throughout her recovery.

Bella was able to head home the same day with pain medication, antibiotics, and instructions to enjoy plenty of soft food while her mouth heals. We're delighted to report that she's doing really well! 🩷

We think we already know what Bella will be getting for her birthday and Christmas this year... 🎁 A ball or a Frisbee instead of her favourite stick! 🥎🥏

Learning in action 🩺🐱One of the most rewarding parts of veterinary medicine is watching the next generation of ECC clini...
16/06/2026

Learning in action 🩺🐱

One of the most rewarding parts of veterinary medicine is watching the next generation of ECC clinicians develop advanced skills that directly improve patient care. Here, specialist Christine is placing a central venous line in a critically ill feline patient as part of our robust Emergency and Critical Care internship program. We are fortunate to have five ECC interns learning alongside our team this year.

This particular patient was suffering from severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), requiring prolonged volumetric infusions and intensive monitoring. In cases like these, central venous access can make a significant difference for both the patient and the clinical team.

Why place a central venous line?

🔹 Reliable vascular access for patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy
🔹 Delivery of large volumes of fluids and medications
🔹 Administration of hyperosmolar or potentially irritating solutions that may not be suitable for peripheral veins
🔹 Essential access for Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), which requires central venous administration
🔹 Reduced need for repeated catheter placements in complex, critically ill patients
🔹 Improved comfort and efficiency during extended hospital stays

For patients with complex, long-term intravenous needs, central venous lines are often the safest and most practical option, helping us deliver the highest level of care while minimizing stress on the patient.

We're proud to provide hands-on learning opportunities that combine advanced training with exceptional patient care—because every procedure is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference. 💙🐾

Maisy’s family noticed something wasn’t right. Their energetic Border Collie suddenly seemed uncomfortable, painful, and...
12/06/2026

Maisy’s family noticed something wasn’t right. Their energetic Border Collie suddenly seemed uncomfortable, painful, and occasionally disoriented.

After referral and a series of investigations, imaging revealed suspicious changes in her lung and around her heart. Although antibiotics helped her feel much better, follow-up scans suggested there was still an underlying problem.

Further testing pointed toward a surprising suspect: a migrating grass seed. 🌱

A CT scan identified a large lesion between Maisy’s heart and lung, and surgery was performed to uncover the cause. What did we find?

👉 Two grass seeds lodged in the tissues surrounding her heart (pericardium) and lung.

The infected tissue and foreign material were successfully removed, and after a short recovery, Maisy was back to doing what Border Collies do best, being full of energy! 🐕💨

Grass seeds may look harmless, but their barbed structure allows them to travel through the body, sometimes ending up in the most unexpected places. They can cause infections, pain, and confusing symptoms that can be difficult to track down.

Thankfully, Maisy’s story has a happy ending, and she’s back to enjoying doggy daycare and all her favourite activities. ❤️

Have you ever seen a grass seed cause trouble for your pet? Let us know below! 👇

We're open 24hrs all through Kings Birthday weekend for all your pet emergencies.
02/06/2026

We're open 24hrs all through Kings Birthday weekend for all your pet emergencies.

🐾 Celebrating Our Vets on World Veterinary DayToday, on World Veterinary Day, we’re taking a moment to recognise the peo...
24/04/2026

🐾 Celebrating Our Vets on World Veterinary Day

Today, on World Veterinary Day, we’re taking a moment to recognise the people behind the care, our veterinarians.

This year’s theme highlights the One Health approach: the idea that animal health, human health, and environmental health are all connected. It’s something that shows up in small, everyday ways in our clinic, through the work we do with pets and the people who love them.

In a small animal specialty and emergency setting, no two days are the same. Some are busy, some are tough, some are quietly rewarding. Our vets move between urgent cases, detailed problem-solving, and conversations with families, often all in the same hour.

They’re not superheroes. They’re people who care deeply about their work, who rely on their training and each other, and who show up every day to do the best they can for their patients.

That might look like managing a critical case, helping a worried owner understand their options, or celebrating a patient going home after a long stay. It’s a mix of science, teamwork, and empathy, often under pressure, and always with care.

To our vets, thank you for what you do, and for how you do it.
And to our clients, thank you for trusting us with your loved ones

Happy World Veterinary Day 🐶🐱💙

🐾 We’re Open This Anzac DayThis Saturday 25 April, on Anzac Day, our team will be here for any emergency cases.While man...
24/04/2026

🐾 We’re Open This Anzac Day

This Saturday 25 April, on Anzac Day, our team will be here for any emergency cases.

While many take time to pause and reflect, we understand that emergencies don’t take a day off. If your pet needs urgent care, our team is available to help.

If you require emergency assistance, please contact us immediately
📞 03 9417 6417
📍 5 Hood St Collingwood
🌐 www.carevet.com.au

Address

5 Hood Street
Collingwood, VIC
3066

Opening Hours

Monday 12am - 11:59pm
Tuesday 12am - 11:59pm
Wednesday 12am - 11:59pm
Thursday 12am - 11:59pm
Friday 12am - 11:59pm
Saturday 12am - 11:59pm
Sunday 12am - 11:59pm

Telephone

+61394176417

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