EQUINE & LARGE ANIMAL EMERGENCY VET CARE

TOWNSVILLE VETERINARY CLINIC - LARGE ANIMAL DEPARTMENT

24/7 Emergency Hotlines
Call 07 4779 0233

Clinic Address
32-34 Anne St, Aitkenvale QLD 4814

Equine Entrance
6 Casey St, Aitkenvale QLD 4814

EMERGENCY CARE

ON-PROPERTY MOBILE SUPPORT OR DIRECT CLINIC ADMISSION

When facing an equine or large animal emergency, we provide two flexible options to ensure your animal receives rapid attention. Regardless of which option you choose, please always call us first on 07 4779 0233 before taking action.

OPTION 1

On-Site Property Emergency Calls

If your horse cannot be safely moved or loaded into a float, our team is fully equipped to dispatch an ambulatory veterinarian directly to your property to stabilise the animal on-site.

OPTION 2

Direct Admission to Our Equine Hospital

For complex injuries, severe colics, or critical conditions, transporting your horse straight to our Aitkenvale facility is highly recommended. Our dedicated equine hospital houses our full suite of advanced diagnostic imaging, specialist surgical suites, padded recovery room, and intensive care monitoring—facilities that cannot be transported in a field vehicle.

IN AN EMERGENCY

ALWAYS CALL FIRST ON

07 4779 0233

Calling ahead is vital because it allows our senior equine veterinarians to:

Provide you with critical, immediate first-aid advice to stabilise your animal on the property.

Help you determine whether it is safer to wait for an ambulatory vet or to load your horse for immediate clinic admission.

Prepare our custom equine treatment areas, fluid lines, and surgical suites so our hospital team is fully ready the moment your float arrives.

GENUINE 24/7 AROUND-THE-CLOCK ON-CALL SUPPORT

Equine and large animal emergencies rarely happen during normal business hours. Whether it is a severe wire laceration in the middle of the night, an acute bout of colic, or a difficult foaling at dawn, our large animal team never leaves you stranded.

We operate a genuine, 24/7 emergency service driven by our own trusted team. They share a dedicated on-call rotation to guarantee that an expert horse vet who knows the North Queensland climate is always available to help.

GENUINE 24/7 AROUND-THE-CLOCK ON-CALL SUPPORT

HOW TO CONTACT THE ON-CALL LARGE ANIMAL VET AFTER HOURS

Phone our main clinic line on 07 4779 0233.

Listen carefully to the automated menu instructions.

Press 5 on your keypad to be diverted to our veterinary triage team.

CRITICAL SYMPTOMS REQUIRING URGENT CARE

Please contact our large animal team promptly if your horse or livestock is experiencing any of the following critical signs:

Signs of Colic

Pawing at the ground, rolling repeatedly, sweating, biting at the flanks, or lying down persistently.

Severe Trauma & Deep Wounds

Profuse bleeding, deep wire lacerations, or puncture wounds near joints and tendon sheaths.

Dystocia (Foaling Difficulties)

A mare having prolonged contractions without producing a foal, or obvious malpresentation during birth.

Sudden, Severe Lameness

Complete non-weight-bearing lameness, sudden heat in the hoof, or inability to walk.

Ophthalmic Injuries

Severe swelling, squinting, or cloudiness of the eye, which can quickly deteriorate if left untreated.

Acute Respiratory Distress

Sudden, heavy, or rapid breathing, flared nostrils, or a persistent, painful cough.

ARRIVING AT THE CLINIC: SAFE FLOAT AND TRUCK ACCESS

Our Aitkenvale clinic grounds are specifically engineered to accommodate large animal transport safely.

STANDARD FLOATS AND SMALL GOOSENECKS

We feature a convenient turnaround drive system that allows you to easily drive completely around our stables and head straight out the exit without complex reversing.

LARGE COMMERCIAL TRUCKS AND 40FT GOOSENECKS

While these large rigs cannot navigate our internal stable loop, we have an alternative system for safely unloading your horse directly at our main gates. Ample parking is available immediately across the road in the public parklands to store large vehicles safely away from traffic while your horse is treated in the hospital.

If you are facing a large animal emergency, do not wait for symptoms to worsen.
Call our on-call vet immediately on 07 4779 0233.