Ternwood Animal Clinic Call

Same-day sick visits for dogs and cats in Melbourne

If your pet is not themselves, call in the morning. We hold times every weekday for pets who need to be seen today.

A technician holds a tabby cat wrapped in a soft towel

When to call us

A brown and white dog rests on a patterned blanket

Call when something changes: your pet stops eating, vomits, limps, scratches, or just is not itself. Tell us what you saw and when it started.

If vomiting or diarrhea happens more than twice in a day, or your pet will not drink, treat it as an emergency.

When to go to an emergency hospital

The lit glass entrance of an animal hospital at dusk

Some problems cannot wait. Go to a 24-hour emergency animal hospital right away if your pet:

  • Is struggling to breathe
  • Has collapsed or had a seizure
  • May have eaten something poisonous
  • Has been hit by a car or badly hurt
  • Is straining or unable to pass urine
  • Has heatstroke
  • Is bleeding and it does not stop within five minutes

If you are not sure, call us during opening hours, or call the emergency hospital after hours.

What to bring

A small tan dog on a leash sits on a sidewalk

A list of your pet's medicines and supplements, and anything that helps us see the problem: a photo of a rash, or the packaging of something your pet chewed.

Questions about sick visits

Can I walk in without an appointment?

Please call first. We can often see a sick pet the same day, and a call lets us have a room and a vet ready when you arrive.

What if you cannot fit my pet in today?

If we cannot see your pet the same day, we will tell you on the phone whether it can wait until tomorrow or whether you should go to an emergency hospital now.

Reviewed by Dr. Silas Whitlock, DVM, October 7, 2026