Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency - CARE

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 diagn

ostic 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.

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

18/04/2026

Lily’s Emergency Delivery 💛

On Good Friday, things took an unexpected turn for Lily, our mini poodle. 🐩💔
Her puppies were not progressing, and despite oxytocin and medical support, she wasn’t responding as we had hoped.

A quick decision was made to move to emergency surgery, and the team stepped in straight away.

A handful of surgery nurses, who were there helping with stocktake, dropped everything without hesitation. There was no time to don scrubs, but within minutes they had transformed the clinic into a maternity ward. 🏥🐾

Five nurses helped bring five puppies safely into the world. ❤️

It was a true team effort, with everyone focused on making sure Lily and her puppies were safe.

We are so pleased to share that Lily is doing well and her puppies are healthy and thriving. ✨

Moments like this are a reminder of the care and teamwork that go into what we do every day. 💛

Handsome Ares the German Shepherd came in this month after eating a dried roo tail 🦴What seemed like a simple treat turn...
17/04/2026

Handsome Ares the German Shepherd came in this month after eating a dried roo tail 🦴

What seemed like a simple treat turned serious, fast.

A bone became lodged in his oesophagus, with more sitting in his stomach, causing painful bloat. 🚨
Our emergency team acted quickly, removing the obstruction via endoscopy and getting Ares back on track.

He’s now recovering well 💛

⚠️ Important reminder:
Bones (especially cooked or hard dried chews) can splinter, get stuck, and cause life-threatening complications. They are the #1 thing removed by vets!
If your dog shows signs like vomiting, gagging, drooling, or abdominal pain after chewing bones, seek vet care immediately.

Think twice about your dog’s snacks 🐾

🐰 Easter Pet Safety Tips 🐾🍫 Chocolate – Toxic to both dogs and cats. Dark and baking chocolate are especially dangerous....
04/04/2026

🐰 Easter Pet Safety Tips 🐾

🍫 Chocolate – Toxic to both dogs and cats. Dark and baking chocolate are especially dangerous. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, or worse.

🍇 Hot Cross Buns – Raisins, sultanas, grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs. Cats are usually less interested, but still avoid giving any.

🥚 Foil wrappers & plastic eggs – Dogs and cats may chew or swallow them, causing choking or intestinal blockages.

🧺 Easter egg hunts – Hidden chocolate can easily be sniffed out by dogs—be mindful of where eggs are placed, especially in the garden.

⚠️ We’re open 24/7 for all pet emergencies over the Easter long weekend. If your furry friend gets into something they shouldn’t:
📞 Call us: 03 9417 6417
📧 Email: [email protected]
www.carevet.com.au

Stay safe and enjoy a happy Easter with your pets!

Easter long weekend plans? We’ve got you covered 🐣🐾We’re open 24/7 for all your pet emergency needs, because accidents d...
02/04/2026

Easter long weekend plans? We’ve got you covered 🐣🐾
We’re open 24/7 for all your pet emergency needs, because accidents don’t take holidays.

For our Healthy Pets Plus (HPP) members, emergency consultations are included in your membership — giving you extra peace of mind if the unexpected happens 💛

Need us? Get in touch anytime:
📞 03 9417 6417
📧 [email protected]

Meet Toby 🐾  an adorable (and slightly mischievous) Bernese Mountain Dog pup with a BIG personality… and apparently, a t...
31/03/2026

Meet Toby 🐾 an adorable (and slightly mischievous) Bernese Mountain Dog pup with a BIG personality… and apparently, a taste for laundry 😅

In a moment of questionable life choices, Toby decided that a sock looked like the perfect snack 🧦👀
(Spoiler: it was NOT.)

Thankfully, his humans caught on quickly and rushed him to CARE because when dogs swallow items like socks, it can sometimes lead to serious blockages if not treated fast

But here’s where the story turns around 💙👇
With a simple emesis procedure, Toby safely returned the sock back into the world — slightly slimy, but mostly intact 😂👏

✨ No surgery
✨ No complications
✨ Just one embarrassed pup and a sock with a story to tell

Toby is now back to doing what he does best: being cute, chaotic, and closely supervised around laundry baskets 😆🐕

Has your pet ever eaten something they definitely shouldn’t have? Tell us your funniest (or wildest) pet stories below! 👇


27/03/2026

Today we want to give a HUGE shoutout to the incredible Anicka and her beautiful greyhound, Biffy 🐕✨ (you may know them from ) for their amazing dedication to helping other pets in need.

Bringing your beloved companion in to donate blood is not something every pet owner considers — but it’s one of the most selfless and life-saving gifts you can give 💉🐾

Because of donors like Biffy, we’re able to help critically ill and injured pets receive the urgent care they need. From emergency surgeries to treating serious conditions, blood donations truly save lives every single day ❤️

🩸 Our Blood Donor Program
Our program relies on healthy, gentle pets who can safely donate blood to support others in need. Every donation can help multiple animals — giving families more time, more hope, and more happy moments together.

We are beyond grateful to Anicka for her commitment and compassion — and to Biffy for being the goodest lifesaver 🐾💖

Together, we’re building a community of care, one donation at a time.

If you’ve ever considered enrolling your pet in our donor program, now is the perfect time to learn more and make a difference 🐶❤️
Call us on 039417 6417 anytime!

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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