Emergency Resources

Pet emergency in Burlington? Start here.

Burlington's 24-hour emergency vet is BVERH at (905) 637-8111, 775 Woodview Road. Below: poison hotlines and first-aid steps for the most common pet emergencies in Burlington and Halton. Bookmark this page, every second counts.

24/7 Burlington ER

(905) 637-8111

Burlington Veterinary Emergency Hospital

775 Woodview Road, Burlington

Tap to call
24/7 toxin hotline

1-855-764-7661

Pet Poison Helpline

Phone only · $85 consult fee

Tap to call
24/7 toxin hotline

1-888-426-4435

ASPCA Animal Poison Control

Phone only · $95 consult fee

Tap to call
First aid

Quick action by emergency type

Tap a card to expand the first-aid steps. Call BVERH or the poison hotline first, don't wait for symptoms.

☠️

Suspected poisoning

Chocolate, grapes, xylitol, antifreeze, plants, medication

▼
  1. 1 Don't induce vomiting unless a vet or poison hotline tells you to.
  2. 2 Collect what was eaten and any packaging, note the brand and ingredients.
  3. 3 Call the Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661) or BVERH immediately.
  4. 4 Note quantity, time of ingestion, and your dog's weight.
  5. 5 Drive to BVERH if symptoms appear: vomiting, drooling, weakness, or seizures.
🌡️

Heatstroke

Excessive panting, bright red gums, stumbling, distress

▼
  1. 1 Move to shade or air conditioning immediately.
  2. 2 Wet paws, belly, and inner thighs with cool (NOT ice-cold) water.
  3. 3 Run a fan if available, air movement helps evaporative cooling.
  4. 4 Offer cool water; do not force it.
  5. 5 Drive to BVERH now. Heatstroke kills fast, especially in flat-faced breeds.
😮

Choking

Pawing at mouth, gagging, blue gums, panic

▼
  1. 1 Open mouth and look. Only remove the object if you can see it clearly.
  2. 2 Do NOT blindly sweep with fingers, you can push it deeper.
  3. 3 Small dog: hold upside down by hind legs, firm chest pats.
  4. 4 Large dog: Heimlich, fist behind ribcage, sharp upward thrusts.
  5. 5 Drive to BVERH even if dislodged, throat trauma is common.
🩸

Heavy bleeding

Deep cuts, torn nails, paw wounds, open injuries

▼
  1. 1 Apply firm direct pressure with a clean cloth, towel, or gauze.
  2. 2 Do NOT remove anything embedded in the wound.
  3. 3 Elevate the wound if it is on a leg.
  4. 4 Keep your dog warm and calm to slow shock.
  5. 5 Drive to BVERH, most heavy bleeds need stitches and antibiotics.
🚗

Trauma or hit by car

Falls, car strikes, fights, sudden collapse

▼
  1. 1 Move carefully, use a board, blanket, or large towel as a stretcher. Don't twist the spine.
  2. 2 Apply pressure to any visible bleeding.
  3. 3 Keep them warm; cover with a blanket. Shock kills.
  4. 4 Even if they seem fine, internal injuries are common.
  5. 5 Call BVERH while driving so the team is ready when you arrive.
⚡

Seizure

Convulsions, paddling, loss of consciousness

▼
  1. 1 Move objects away from your dog. Do NOT restrain them.
  2. 2 Time the seizure, most last under 2 minutes.
  3. 3 Do NOT put anything in their mouth.
  4. 4 After the seizure, keep them in a quiet, dim space to recover.
  5. 5 Vet same day for a first seizure, anything over 5 minutes, or multiple seizures in a row.
🦝

Wildlife bite or encounter

Raccoon, skunk, coyote, snake, porcupine

▼
  1. 1 Get your dog away from the animal safely.
  2. 2 Check carefully for puncture wounds (often hidden in fur).
  3. 3 Skunk spray in eyes: rinse with cool water immediately.
  4. 4 Porcupine quills: do NOT pull them out yourself.
  5. 5 Vet visit same day. Bites need antibiotics and a rabies booster.
🌊

Blue-green algae exposure

Suspected contact with contaminated lake or pond water

▼
  1. 1 Rinse your dog thoroughly with clean fresh water immediately.
  2. 2 Do NOT let them lick themselves while wet.
  3. 3 Watch for vomiting, drooling, weakness, or seizures.
  4. 4 These toxins can kill within hours. Do not wait for symptoms.
  5. 5 Drive to BVERH and tell them about the suspected algae exposure.
Nearby backup

Other 24/7 emergency vets in the region

Use these if BVERH is overwhelmed or you're closer to another option.

(905) 829-9444

Oakville Emergency Veterinary Hospital

2285 Bristol Circle, Oakville

~15 min east of Burlington

(289) 639-5600

Niagara Emergency Veterinary Clinic

131-135 Upper Centennial Parkway, Stoney Creek

~25 min west in Stoney Creek

(905) 803-8116

Mississauga Oakville Veterinary Emergency

2285 Bristol Circle, Oakville (joint facility)

~25 min east in Mississauga
Other contacts

Local pet authorities and welfare resources

(905) 335-3030

City of Burlington Animal Services

Lost pets, wildlife, bylaw

(905) 627-6599

Burlington Humane Society

Stray pets, adoption, welfare concerns

(905) 522-6209

Hamilton/Burlington SPCA

Welfare emergencies, foster, hospital

(905) 825-6000

Halton Region Public Health

Beach advisories, algae, rabies
Step-by-step guides

Detailed guides by emergency type

Dose math, symptom timelines, first-aid steps, and what to expect at BVERH for the most common dog emergencies in Burlington and Halton.

🍫 If your dog ate

Toxic ingestions and foreign objects

🚨 Injury or sudden illness

Trauma, attacks, and acute conditions

🌿 Outdoor & seasonal

Burlington and Halton specific risks

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pawlington.ca/emergency

Common questions

Emergency vet questions, answered

How do I know if my dog needs an emergency vet? ▼

Call BVERH or your regular vet immediately if your dog is: bleeding heavily; having a seizure that lasts more than 2 minutes; struggling to breathe; vomiting or having diarrhea repeatedly within a few hours; showing extreme weakness or collapse; suspected of eating something toxic; or has had any major trauma. When in doubt, call, the front desk will help you decide whether to come in.

What should I do if my dog ate chocolate? ▼

The danger depends on the type of chocolate, the amount eaten, and your dog's weight. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are most toxic; milk chocolate is moderate; white chocolate is mild. Call the Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661) with the brand, amount, and your dog's weight. They will tell you whether to monitor at home or head to an emergency vet.

How can I recognize heatstroke in a dog? ▼

Early signs include heavier-than-normal panting, bright red gums and tongue, thick stringy drool, restlessness, and reluctance to keep moving. Severe signs include weakness, vomiting, disorientation, and collapse. Heatstroke kills within minutes once severe symptoms appear. Move your dog to a cool space, wet their belly with cool water, and drive to BVERH immediately.

Where is the nearest 24-hour emergency vet in Burlington? ▼

Burlington Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital (BVERH) at 775 Woodview Road is the city's primary 24/7 emergency clinic. Phone (905) 637-8111. For backup options in surrounding areas, see the list above, Oakville Emergency, Niagara Emergency in Stoney Creek, and Mississauga Oakville Veterinary Emergency are all open 24/7.

Should I induce vomiting if my dog ate something dangerous? ▼

Not without instruction. Inducing vomiting is the right call for some toxins (within the first 1-2 hours) and the wrong call for others, corrosive substances, sharp objects, and certain medications cause more damage on the way back up. Always call Pet Poison Helpline or your vet first. They will tell you whether to induce vomiting, and how to do it safely.

What if it is after hours and my regular vet is closed? ▼

For Burlington pet emergencies after-hours, drive to BVERH at 775 Woodview Road (24/7). Call ahead while driving so the team is ready when you arrive. Your regular vet does not need to be involved for the initial emergency stabilization, BVERH will share records with your vet after the fact.

This page is a quick-reference resource, not a replacement for veterinary advice. When in doubt, call BVERH or your regular vet. Pawlington maintains this list as a service to Burlington pet families; we are not affiliated with the listed clinics. Last reviewed May 2026.