Fremantle is open right now, and every night
A vet and two nurses are on the floor at Fremantle through the night, every night of the year. Call before you drive: two minutes on the phone tells us what is coming and starts the preparation before you arrive.
24hours a day, 365 days a year, at Fremantle
What happens, from the call to the handover
Call us on the way
The number is (08) 5550 0000 and it is answered by a nurse rather than a machine. Tell us the species, the weight, what happened and when, and we will tell you what to do in the car.
Getting there safely
Drive normally. A pet arriving four minutes later with everybody intact is a better outcome than any four minutes saved, and a distressed animal in a moving car is a hazard to the driver.
Triage on arrival
A nurse assesses every animal within a minute of the door. Order of treatment follows severity rather than arrival, so an animal that is stable may wait while one that is not is treated.
Stabilise, then investigate
Oxygen, fluids, pain relief and warmth come first. Imaging and blood work follow once the animal is stable enough for them, which is usually within the hour.
The estimate, before we go further
Once your pet is stable you get a written estimate with the options on it. Emergency treatment starts before that conversation, and the larger decisions wait for it.
Overnight and handover
Animals staying overnight are nursed through the night at Fremantle, then either go home in the morning or transfer to the hospital nearest you with the record already there.
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What to tell us when you call
Six questions, in this order. They are what the nurse needs to have the right room, the right drugs and the right people ready when you pull up.
- 1What animal, and how heavySpecies, breed and rough weight. Drug doses are calculated from weight, and knowing it before you arrive saves several minutes.
- 2What happened, and whenThe time matters as much as the event. A snake bite twenty minutes ago and one two hours ago are different situations.
- 3What you can see nowBreathing, gum colour, whether the animal is standing, and any bleeding. Say it plainly, and guessing is fine.
- 4What it has eaten or been givenAny medication, any food, any substance, including anything given by another person in the household. Bring the packet if there is one.
- 5Existing conditions and medicationHeart disease, diabetes, epilepsy and recent surgery all change the plan. If you are a Harbourline client, we already hold this.
- 6How long until you arriveSo the team is at the door. Tell us if you are coming from Joondalup or Rockingham, because that is a different preparation window.
Snake bite, bloat, difficulty breathing, a seizure lasting over five minutes, heat stress and any road accident are all straight-in cases. Call from the car and start driving.
Where you can get this
One hospital, and it is the one that never closes.
Questions we get asked
Do I need an appointment?
No. Emergency is walk-in, day or night. Calling ahead gets the team ready and it is never a requirement.
What does an emergency visit cost?
The after-hours consult is $220, and everything beyond it is quoted in writing once your pet is stable. Ask us for the estimate at any point.
Can I come to my usual hospital instead?
During opening hours, yes, and call first. Outside those hours Fremantle is the one with a team on the floor.
Do you take pets that are not Harbourline clients?
Yes. Bring any history you have, and we will send the record to your own vet the next morning.
Can I stay with my pet?
You can stay in the building. During resuscitation the team needs the space, and a nurse comes out to you with an update as soon as there is one.
What about after-hours prices for medication?
Medication and imaging are the same price at 3am as at 3pm. The consult fee is the part that carries the after-hours loading.
Call before you drive
Two minutes on the phone starts the preparation before you arrive.