Emergency vets in Ireland
We list 9 practices across Ireland that advertise emergency or after-hours care, 8 of which post round-the-clock hours.Call before you drive — availability changes without notice, and hospitals divert cases when they are full.
How emergency vet care works in Ireland
Ireland has a small number of dedicated emergency hospitals, concentrated in and around Dublin, alongside UCD's veterinary hospital. Elsewhere, practices typically run their own out-of-hours rota or share one with neighbouring surgeries, so emergency cover comes from a vet you may already know.
Before you call
Because much of the country runs on practice rotas rather than standalone hospitals, your own vet's emergency number is usually the right first call — it will tell you who is covering tonight and where to go. Ireland uses the UK-based Animal PoisonLine, which charges for the call.
Where cover is thin
Dublin and the eastern counties are reasonably served. The west and north-west depend on rotas, and an overnight emergency there can mean a long drive to Dublin, Galway or Cork.
In our data the best-covered regions are Munster (4), Connacht (2) and Leinster (2).
Costs and poisoning in Ireland
Walking into an emergency hospital here typically costs €100–€250 for the exam and triage alone, before treatment. An emergency needing an overnight stay commonly runs €700–€2,500. Dublin practices run highest; regional clinics are typically lower. Full cost breakdown, what to do if you cannot pay.
Suspected poisoning: Animal PoisonLine (UK-based) on +44 1202 509000 (24/7, call charge applies). Call on the way in — they can start treatment advice before you arrive. Our poisoning guide covers what acts fast and when not to induce vomiting.
Not sure whether to go?
The labels practices use — emergency, 24-hour, out-of-hours, urgent care — are not interchangeable, and the differences decide whether anyone is in the building when you arrive. What the labels actually mean explains them. If you are still weighing whether this is an emergency at all, the symptom triage list is written for exactly that moment, and what happens when you arrive walks through the visit.