FAQs

Why does my vet use CVS Vets 24/7?

Using our CVS Vets 24/7 service means that your vets can concentrate on delivering the highest level of care for your pet in the daytime, while our dedicated team always has a vet and nurse on site to deliver the same excellent care out of hours.

Can I use the CVS Vets 24/7 service?

Where they do not provide 24hr care themselves your vet is required to have an arranged relationship with an out of hours care provider. In the first instance please call your vet where you will be directed to the facility they have chosen.

If you are travelling away from home or have another reason to not use your practices dedicated provider, then please do contact us as in these circumstances we are able to help. To find your nearest CVS Vets 24/7 registered practice, search your location or postcode using our Practice Finder.

How do I get help in an emergency?

If your practice is signed up to the CVS Vets 24/7 service and you are at all concerned about your pet while your practice is closed, you can call us for free advice on whether your pet needs to be seen.

If we advise that your pet should be seen, we will ask you to bring them down to the surgery.

Can a vet come to my home?

As is the case for human emergencies, the best place for your pet to receive emergency treatment is in our veterinary hospital. It is only there that we can have access to the full range of drugs and equipment that we need to give them the best chance of making a full recovery. Bringing your pet to the surgery will allow us to start effective treatment more quickly.

However, we will provide a house visit when necessary and in exceptional circumstances our vet may even advise that your pet is not moved without veterinary supervision. In these circumstances our vet will make arrangements to come out to you to further assess your pet and to help transport it back to the surgery for emergency treatment. As you might expect this service will incur additional costs and these will be discussed with you prior to the vet making the visit.

Please also be aware that our vets and nurses often have to balance the needs of several very sick animals and this can mean that there may be a delay in providing a visit where another case has to take clinical priority. In some instances we may even need to arrange for another vet to provide ongoing care for inpatients before our vet can leave the surgery to make the visit.

How will my usual vet know what treatment my pet received?

Our team works very hard to make sure that we are a true extension of your daytime practice. We send a full copy of our comprehensive notes and any X-rays to your daytime vet before they open the following day. If we feel that there is any more information that your vet might need we will give them a quick call before ending our shift.

What happens if my pet needs to stay in for treatment?

If your pet does need to stay with us we will keep you fully informed of your pet’s progress and of the cost of treatment being received.

If your pet is well enough we will then make arrangements to discharge them the following morning for ongoing treatment with your usual vet.

In some cases you may be asked to transport your pet directly to your daytime practice for ongoing treatment but if there is any concern at all about whether your pet is well enough to travel we will arrange for them to receive excellent ongoing care on site until such time as they are well enough to be moved.

Will I need to pay for treatment straight away?

We do expect payment at the time of treatment in the same way as your daytime veterinary practice would as this is the only way that we can run a successful practice and be there for you in times of emergency.

However, your pet’s welfare will always take priority and if you are concerned about any financial difficulty you should discuss this with our team. We can then work together to provide an appropriate level of care for your pet and if necessary we can discuss payment options with you.

Will my pet insurance cover treatment costs?

It’s not possible for us to say for certain that your pet’s treatment will be covered by pet insurance. However, the majority of insurance companies will provide cover for emergency treatment received at the surgery.

Pet insurance provides many different levels of cover and we would strongly advise that you check what is covered under your insurance BEFORE an emergency occurs.

Please be aware that due to the opening hours of the service we are unable to approve direct claims.