For pet owners
What happens when you call after hours
Your vet's clinic is closed and something's wrong with your pet. Before you dial, here's what's on the other end of the line: a person who can help.
If it may be an emergency
If you believe your pet is in danger right now
Call an emergency veterinary hospital or your vet's emergency number immediately. Don't wait for the next available call.
Good to know
Not sure whether it's an emergency?
Read the emergency signs guide.
Learn more →Who you'll talk to
VetWise answers after-hours calls for your veterinary practice, in your practice's name. The person who picks up is a licensed veterinary technician with clinical experience, not a receptionist reading from a screen. They follow your own vet's protocols. If your pet needs a veterinarian, they can connect you to one, usually right from the same call.
What we'll ask, and what to have handy
- Your pet's name, species, age, and roughly what they weigh
- What's wrong and when it started
- Whether your pet is eating, drinking, and acting normally
- Any medications or health conditions you know of
- Whether your pet may have gotten into something (medications, plants, household items)
No need to have it memorized. We'll ask, you'll answer, and "I don't know" is a fine answer.
How the call can go
If you have a concern, or you're not sure whether it's an emergency, call anyway. Sorting that out is exactly what triage is for.
Your pet needs emergency care right now.
The veterinary technician takes your pet's history quickly, helps you get to an emergency hospital (often your practice's ER partner), and sends your pet's information ahead so the ER team is ready when you arrive. You won't be kept on the phone when time matters.
Your pet should be seen by a veterinarian tonight.
If your practice offers virtual consults, you may be transferred to a licensed veterinarian for a video, phone, or secure message consultation. The veterinarian can assess your pet, and where appropriate, treat them that night.
It can wait until morning.
You'll get clear at-home guidance for the night, and your practice will have the full record when they open. If your practice uses VetWise booking, they may schedule a morning appointment for you.
About cost
The triage call itself is covered by your veterinary practice. A virtual consultation with a veterinarian may carry a fee set by your practice; they'll confirm the amount before the consult begins, and you can decide from there. If medication is prescribed, it's filled at your local pharmacy, and the pharmacy charges separately for the medication itself.
After the call
- A complete record of the conversation goes to your veterinary team, so you don't repeat yourself in the morning.
- Your practice may call or text you with follow-up or to confirm an appointment.
- The same service, the same standard, at 2 a.m. or 2 p.m.
What we won't do
We won't pretend to be your vet, guess at a diagnosis, or tell you it's nothing when we're not sure. And we won't leave you on hold or send you to a recording. If your pet needs the ER, our job is to help you get there quickly and safely, not to talk you out of it.
Not sure whether it's an emergency?
Read the emergency signs guide. And if you believe your pet is in danger right now, call an emergency veterinary hospital or your vet's emergency number immediately. Don't wait for the next available call.
If you can't reach your vet at all, that page walks you through what to do next.
Save the number
If your vet uses VetWise, save their after-hours number in your phone now. It's the number to call when the clinic sign says closed and your pet needs an answer.
Common questions
Did I reach my vet's clinic?
You reached your vet's after-hours team. We answer in your practice's name and follow their protocols. In the morning, your clinic picks up where we left off.
Who am I actually talking to?
A licensed veterinary technician. If your pet needs a veterinarian, the veterinary technician can connect you to one from the same call, by video, phone, or secure message, depending on what your practice offers.
Will my regular vet know about this call?
Yes. Every call is documented, and your practice has the full record by morning.
Will this cost me anything?
The triage call is covered by your practice. If a virtual consult with a veterinarian is recommended, your practice confirms any fee before it begins. Medication, if prescribed, is billed separately by your pharmacy.
Can the veterinarian prescribe medication?
Sometimes. A veterinarian can prescribe only when it's medically appropriate for your pet's situation, and only within limits set by your province's or state's regulations. Those rules restrict what can be prescribed remotely and for how long, and some medications can't be prescribed without an in-person visit. If a prescription is written, it can usually be filled at your local pharmacy. If medication isn't right for your pet, the veterinarian will explain why. For the rules where you live, see our state and province telemedicine guide.
Why did I get a call or text from VetWise?
Usually it's follow-up from your after-hours call or an appointment confirmation from your practice. More on that: Why did VetWise call me?
What if my vet doesn't use VetWise?
Call your veterinary hospital's regular number or, if it's urgent, an emergency hospital near you. If you can't reach your vet, start there.
General information, not medical advice
This is general information, not medical advice. Only a veterinary professional can assess your pet. When in doubt, contact your veterinary hospital or the nearest emergency hospital.