Animal Emergency Centre

02/10/2026

Every day our team sees families on some of their hardest days. Reading kind words like these means more than we can say. 💛

From late night emergencies to specialist care, it takes a whole team to care for a pet. That team is our vets, nurses, specialists and reception staff, and every one of them shows up for your pets with skill and heart.

Thank you to all the families who took the time to share their experience. We're so grateful you trusted us with your pets.

Ready when you need us most. 24/7 emergency care, with specialists under the same roof.

📍 252 Wickham Road, Highett
📞 (03) 9532 5261

22/09/2026

Footy's on, snacks are out, and the couch is taken 🏉

If your pet gets into trouble this Grand Final long weekend, we're open 24/7 for emergencies at all three of our hospitals:

📍 AEC+Specialty Care Moorabbin
📍 AEC Mount Waverley
📍 AEC Frankston

No appointment needed. Just come straight in.

Enjoy the long weekend, and keep an eye on those party pies. Dogs love them, but they don't always love dogs back.

17/09/2026

AEC Gold Coast needs pet blood donors.

Just like people, pets can require lifesaving blood transfusions during emergencies, surgery and treatment for serious illness. Our donor dogs play an incredibly important role in helping us be ready when another pet needs them most.

Could your dog be a blood donor? Essential requirements include:

* Aged between 1–7 years
* Weighs over 25kg

As a thank you, blood donors receive:

* Free initial blood typing test
* $100 Petbarn voucher with each donation
* Free full physical exam with each donation
* Free full blood test once a year, plus basic blood screening prior to each donation*

If your dog meets the requirements, contact AEC Gold Coast to find out more:

(07) 5593 4544
[email protected]

Real pets save lives.

*Combined value of over $800. Value may vary by hospital.

08/09/2026

Did you know most dog and wildlife encounters happen right in our own backyards? 🐾

It's rarely about an aggressive dog or an irresponsible owner, it's usually just instinct, a curious or playful dog chasing something that moves. But even a gentle dog can cause real harm. Fractures, puncture wounds and internal injuries are common, and dog bite wounds often don't bleed, so an animal can look fine and still be seriously hurt.

If your dog has an encounter with wildlife, please:

📦 Contain the animal safely and quickly
📞 Call our team straight away, don't wait to see if it "seems okay"
🏥 Every minute counts, prompt treatment can be the difference between life and death

Check out the infographic below for more information 👇

If you find sick, injured or abandoned wildlife, please call our ☎️ 24/7 Hotline on 5527 2444

08/09/2026

Spring has Sprung 💐 & the team at AEC Woolloongabba are treating lots of wildlife every day. We are inundated with baby possums and birds at this time of year but sometimes something unusual comes along, like our slithery friend here 🐍
Dr Cathy and a reluctant nurse Morna examined him for injuries after he was picked up off Toohey Rd. He had xrays & an ultrasound with nurse Jaide before it was decided that his injuries were too severe. While it was a very unfortunate outcome for this fellow, our very dedicated team are here 24/7 for emergencies, for your pets, or for our amazing wildlife, doing everything we can for our furry, feathered or slithery friends. ❤

03/09/2026

☀️ Hot Weather Warning 🔥

Southeast QLD is expecting some very warm weather this weekend & we want you to be prepared! 🥵

☀️Please don’t walk your dog in the heat of the day
🔥 be mindful of the surface temperatures of the roads & walkways
💧 always provide plenty of shade & access to cool water.

Dont hesitate to call us if you have any questions or concerns about your pets. ❤️

03/09/2026

❤️Riverfire reminder for Saturday❤️

Unfortunately our pets & often wildlife do not enjoy the show as much as we do. They can become scared, disoriented & try to run or hide.
So please help us keep them safe-
* keep your pets secured,
* ensure their microchip details are up to date
* speak to your vet today about anxiety medications if necessary.

26/08/2026

🐾✨ AEC Gold Coast – We’re OPEN this Gold Coast Show Weekend! ✨🐾

No matter the holiday, your pet’s health comes first 💚 Our emergency team will be here 24/7 throughout the Gold Coast Show weekend (28th–30th August 2026), with the Gold Coast Show public holiday on Friday, 28th August.

📍 4/492 Scottsdale Drive, Varsity Lakes QLD
🚨 Emergency care, always here when you need us most.

💡 Whether it’s an urgent concern or a sudden emergency, our dedicated team is ready to provide expert care whenever your pet needs it most. 🐶🐱

21/08/2026

🐾 TODAY’S THE DAY — PAWS AT THE PARK! 🐾

Come and find the AEC Gold Coast team at Paws at the Park today! ❤️🐶

📅 Saturday 22 August 2026
⏰ 9am–2pm

We’ll be there for a fun-filled day celebrating our four-legged friends — so bring the pups, come say hello and meet the AEC team! 🐕🐾

We can’t wait to see you there! ❤️

19/08/2026

🐾 PAWS AT THE PARK 2026! 🐾

AEC Gold Coast is heading to Paws at the Park and we can’t wait to see you and your four-legged besties! ❤️🐶

📍 Mudgeeraba Showgrounds
📅 Saturday 22nd August
⏰ 9am–2pm

Come visit the AEC team for:
🎁 Free goody bags
🐾 Expert pet care advice
📍 Complimentary microchip scans
🏆 Exciting prizes to win
💕 Plenty of puppy cuddles

Save the date, bring your pup and come say hello! ❤️🐾

Paws Paws at the ParkwsAtThePark

18/08/2026

🩸🐾 Meet Oakley, One of Our Blood Donor Heroes! 🦸‍♂️❤️

Not all heroes wear capes… some have four paws, a wagging tail and donate blood to help save the lives of other pets. 🐶🩸

Our handsome hero Oakley recently rolled up his imaginary sleeves and donated blood for patients in need at AEC. One donation can make an incredible difference for critically ill and injured pets requiring emergency transfusions.

Oakley handled his donation like an absolute superstar with plenty of pats, praise and treats included! ⭐️

A huge thank you to Oakley and his family for helping us give another pet the chance to make it home. ❤️

Could your dog be our next blood donor hero? 🩸🐾
Ask our AEC team about becoming part of our blood donor program.

16/08/2026

🐈‍⬛ BLACK CAT APPRECIATION DAY | 17 AUGUST 🖤

Today we’re celebrating the sleek, mysterious and seriously lovable black cats in our lives! 🐾

But black cats have been surrounded by myths for centuries… so let’s bust a few! 👇

❤️MYTH: Black cats are bad luck.
🖤FACT: The only thing they’re guilty of is stealing hearts and probably your favourite spot on the couch.

❤️MYTH: Black cats are less friendly.
🖤FACT: Coat colour doesn’t determine personality. Black cats can be just as affectionate, playful and social as any other cat.

❤️MYTH: Cats don’t need regular vet checks.
🖤FACT: Cats are experts at hiding signs of illness. Routine health checks can help identify subtle changes before they become more serious.

🚗🐈‍⬛ let’s keep our cats engines purring, When was their last check-up?

This Black Cat Appreciation Day, show your little house panther some extra love from all of us at AEC… and don’t forget a few extra “pspspsps” ❤️🐈‍⬛🐾

17/06/2026

Last night we hosted our continuing education event at Sandy by the Bay, bringing together local vets for an evening of specialist-led learning.

Our in-house specialists shared their expertise across three presentations:
Dr Chad Berman covered his approach to complex medical cases and reaching a diagnosis. Dr Malcolm Jack discussed management of pelvic fractures, and Dr Charles K***z walked through perineal surgery, hernias and urethrostomy.

We're proud to offer this kind of education to our vet community, because when we learn together, our patients benefit. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our incredible specialist team for sharing their knowledge.

We look forward to seeing you at the next one. 🐾

04/06/2026

Happy Hug Your Cat Day 🐱

June 4 is officially the day we all needed.

Nobody knows exactly who started it, but the idea goes back to the 1980s and honestly, we're just glad it exists. Humans and cats have had each other's backs for over 9,000 years. The Egyptians literally worshipped them. We get it.

And it turns out hugging your cat is actually good for you. Lower stress, better sleep, and their purr has real healing properties. Sounds like a prescription we can all get behind.

So today, give yours a squeeze. Even if they pretend to hate it.

We're here 24/7 for the cats who need a little more than a hug.

07/05/2026

24/04/2026

World Veterinary Day tomorrow, and honestly, these photos say it all.

Somewhere along the way, we normalised things that would make most people's jaw drop. Iguanas in treatment rooms. A tortoise on the ultrasound table (which anyone who has held a probe to a shell will tell you is more hope than science). A macaw sitting in for a consult. An owl that clearly had opinions. And yes, a leopard going through the CT scanner like it was just another Friday.

This is veterinary medicine. It is unpredictable, occasionally terrifying, frequently hilarious, and never, ever boring.

What these photos don't show is how much this team genuinely cares. People who studied for years, who work long shifts, who make hard calls at 3am, who cry in the car sometimes and still come back the next day. People who chose this because they couldn't imagine doing anything else.

To every vet, nurse, technician, and support team member who shows up and figures it out no matter what comes through the door, this day is for you. You don't always get the recognition you deserve, but the animals are better off because of you.

And to the animals, thanks for keeping us humble. And occasionally keeping us on our toes.

(Photos may or may not be accurate. The dedication absolutely is.)

Happy World Veterinary Day from the team at AEC. 🦎🐢🦜🦉🐆

23/04/2026

Meet Popcorn.

This little ginger girl came through Spirit Animal Rescue, a rescue organisation founded and run by one of our own vets here at AEC + Specialty Care Moorabbin. And if that wasn't already a good enough story, she was then adopted by another one of our team members who, let's be honest, didn't stand a chance the moment they met her.

She is now living her absolute best life. Spoiled, safe, and very much loved.

What most people don't see is how much our team pours into animal welfare outside of their clinical shifts. The pro bono work, the late night calls, the fostering, the fundraising, the rescue coordination. None of it shows up on a timesheet. It's not something anyone is asked to do. It's just something they do because they genuinely can't help it.

Emergency veterinary work is hard. The hours are long, the cases are intense, and the emotional weight of this job is real. But the same people who show up for the most critical cases at 3am are also the ones quietly running rescues, fostering kittens between shifts, and spending their days off making sure animals like Popcorn get a second chance.

We are incredibly proud of the team we have here. Not just for the clinical work, which speaks for itself, but for the kind of humans they are outside of it too.

If Popcorn has made you smile today, give Spirit Animal Rescue some love. Follow them at
🧡🐱

21/04/2026

Specialist internal medicine consults now available at AEC + Specialty Care

We know how challenging it can be to access timely internal medicine support. Our specialist medicine consult service is now open at AEC + Specialty Care, with appointments available for referred cases.

Led by Dr Chad Berman, our service is here to support the investigation and management of complex and chronic medical cases, with a strong focus on practical guidance and clear communication.

What this means for you

-Access to specialist medicine consults when you need them
-Support with complex or ongoing medical cases
-Collaborative case management alongside your team
-Clear, tailored recommendations you can act on
-Seamless integration with emergency, critical care and surgical services if needed

Referrals are open, and our team is ready to help.

18/04/2026

She came in on a Thursday night.

By Friday, she was on a ventilator.

By the following Thursday, she walked out.

Molly was a healthy five year old toy poodle until one camping trip to Gippsland changed everything. Her family had no idea she was carrying six ticks. No idea that the tiredness and wobbling they were seeing was her nervous system shutting down.

Tick paralysis moves fast. Within 24 hours her oesophagus had stopped working. Within 48 hours she could no longer breathe on her own.

Our team worked around the clock. Ventilator. Feeding tube. IV antibiotics. Chest physio every four hours. Blood tests. X-rays. Constant monitoring.

And a sunset on a tablet next to her bed. Because even in the ICU, the small things matter.

Seven days later, Molly ate a meatball. Then she wagged her tail. Then she walked out of our hospital in a purple daisy jacket.

If you are heading to the bush, the coast, or anywhere in regional Victoria this season, please speak to your vet about tick prevention. It does not matter if your dog is young and healthy. It does not matter if you have never had a problem before.

One tick is all it takes.

Molly made it. Not every dog does.

AEC + Specialty Care. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

30/03/2026

Many pet owners don’t realise how risky Easter can be… until they’re sitting in an emergency clinic.

Chocolate eggs left on the table.
Hot cross buns within reach.
Lilies on the kitchen bench.

They all seem harmless — but these are some of the most common reasons pets end up in emergency over Easter.

Chocolate contains theobromine, which affects the heart and nervous system.
Grapes and raisins (including in hot cross buns) can cause sudden kidney failure, even in small amounts.
And lilies are extremely toxic to cats — even a little pollen can be life-threatening.

The challenge is, symptoms aren’t always immediate.
What seems minor at first can escalate quickly.

A little awareness now can prevent a very stressful situation later.

We’re here when you need us.
Open 24/7 throughout Easter and all public holidays — no appointments needed.