Emergency vet care
The signs that mean now rather than tomorrow, and what to do on the way. Worth reading before there is an emergency.
- Typical visit
- Seen on arrival
- Home visit
- Clinic only
- Suitable for
- Dogs and cats
Come now, do not wait, if you see
- Collapse, or a pet that cannot stand
- Laboured, noisy or open-mouthed breathing, especially in a cat
- A hard, swollen, painful belly, particularly in a deep-chested dog
- Repeated retching that produces nothing
- Bleeding that will not stop with pressure
- Seizures, or a first-ever fit
- Suspected poisoning, including rat bait and livestock acaricides
- Straining to pass urine, especially a male cat, which is life-threatening within hours
- A bitch straining more than an hour in labour without producing a puppy
In the first ten minutes
Ring on the way so we can prepare. Keep the animal warm, quiet and as still as you can manage. Do not offer food or water if there is any chance surgery will be needed.
If it is poisoning, bring the packet. Knowing exactly what was eaten changes the treatment completely, and guessing costs time your pet may not have.
Do not try to make a pet vomit at home unless a vet has told you to on that call. With some poisons it makes things considerably worse.
About the cost
The range on this page is wide because emergencies genuinely are. We will tell you what we are doing and what it costs as soon as your pet is stable enough for that conversation to be the priority. Stabilisation comes first.
If money is a real constraint, say it early rather than late. It changes what we recommend and there are almost always choices, but only while there is still time to make them.
What is included
- Immediate assessment on arrival
- Stabilisation first, paperwork after
- A costed plan as soon as your pet is stable, not before we know what we are dealing with
What this costs in Kenya
| Treatment | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency treatment | KES 5,000–KES 50,000 | Genuinely this wide; depends entirely on what is wrong and how long support is needed |
Indicative market ranges for Kenya, reviewed 2026-08-29. This is not a quotation. Prices vary with your pet’s weight, the brand of vaccine or drug used, and whether the visit is at a clinic or at your home. Ask for a figure before treatment starts, any vet should give you one. We publish the real range rather than a comforting number. A stabilised animal home the same evening sits near the bottom; several days of intensive support sits near the top.
Common questions
What counts as an emergency?
Collapse, laboured or noisy breathing, a hard swollen belly, repeated unproductive retching, bleeding that will not stop, seizures, suspected poisoning, straining to urinate especially in a male cat, or a bitch straining over an hour without producing a puppy.
Should I ring first?
Yes, on the way. It lets us prepare, and it lets us tell you anything useful to do in the car.
Read the full guide first
Book a vet in Nairobi
Clinic appointments, or a vet at your door across Nairobi. Tell us what is wrong and we will say how soon your pet needs to be seen.