Daily acute slots — weekdays 7:45–17
We reserve daily acute appointment slots every weekday for urgent cases. Call (06) 321 7300 — even when the regular schedule looks full, an acute slot may still be available. We assess the situation by phone, give first-aid guidance for the journey, and prepare the clinic for your arrival.
What does an acute appointment cost?
There is no surcharge for an acute appointment during business hours — it costs the same as a regular consultation. Examinations, treatments and medicines are charged according to our regular price list, and you receive an estimate before any procedures. Direct insurance billing is available for LähiTapiola, Agria and Pohjola customers. Outside business hours the regional emergency service adds an after-hours surcharge (see below).
When is it an emergency?
- Severe breathing difficulty — laboured breathing, bluish or very pale gums, cats breathing through the mouth (rare in cats and always a danger sign). Normal panting in a hot or stressed dog is not the same thing.
- Unconsciousness or seizures
- Heavy bleeding or a large wound
- Traffic accident, fall, or other serious trauma
- Difficulty or inability to urinate — most urgent in male cats: urethral blockage is life-threatening within hours, call the same day, do not wait until morning. Also a true emergency in dogs (urethral stones, prostate disease). Any pet straining repeatedly without producing urine needs to be seen immediately.
- A dog with a swollen abdomen attempting to vomit unsuccessfully — gastric torsion (GDV) is life-threatening
- Ingestion of toxic substances — chocolate, xylitol, antifreeze (ethylene glycol), grapes, onion, human medications
- Adder bite — Finland's only wild venomous snake. Carry your pet; do not let it walk. Always requires veterinary assessment.
- Severe vomiting or diarrhoea lasting over 24 hours — or sooner for puppies, kittens, small breeds, and chronically ill pets. Blood in vomit or stool requires immediate assessment.
- Eye injury or sudden blindness
- Uncontrolled pain
- A pregnant female actively straining for over 30 minutes without producing a puppy, or over 2 hours between puppies, or greenish/bloody discharge before the first puppy
What to do in an emergency
- Call first. During business hours: (06) 321 7300. Outside business hours: the regional hotline 0600 399 299 (see next section). We can prepare and give first-aid advice for the journey.
- Keep your pet warm and calm. When transporting trauma patients, use a flat surface — a board, the boot floor, or a stiff cardboard box for large dogs; a carrier for cats and small dogs. Support head and rear together. Lifting in your arms can worsen spinal or joint injuries.
- With suspected poisoning, bring the packaging or a sample of any vomit. Do not attempt to induce vomiting at home before consulting us — in some poisonings (corrosive substances, sharp objects) it is dangerous. Never use salt to induce vomiting — it is life-threatening, especially for cats.
- Do not give human medications. Paracetamol is fatal to cats and toxic to dogs at the wrong dose. Ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin damage the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys in both species.
- Recognise shock: cold ears and paws, pale gums, rapid shallow breathing, sudden weakness. Keep your pet warm, do not give water, leave for the clinic immediately and call en route — shock requires immediate fluid therapy under veterinary care.
Evenings and weekends — Northern Emergency Area
Saari Animal Clinic is closed evenings and weekends, and our office number rings unanswered outside business hours. For the Vaasa region — covering Vaasa, Mustasaari, Laihia, Vähäkyrö and Vöyri — there is a regional after-hours veterinary emergency hotline.
A veterinarian on duty assesses your case by phone and refers you to the right place. Standard regional after-hours call charges apply (around 1.53 €/min daytime, 3.55 €/min nights from 22:00–08:00); emergency consultation fees are 50–100 % higher per regional rules — the exact amount is confirmed during the call.
Common emergencies — read more
We have collected detailed information about some of the most common emergencies on our site: adder bite — treatment and first aid, poisoning in dogs and cats, pyometra (uterine infection) and acute diarrhoea in dogs and cats. Recognising these conditions early significantly improves treatment outcomes.
Frequently asked questions about emergencies
Can I come without an appointment in an emergency? During business hours (weekdays 7:45–17), yes — we reserve daily acute appointment slots specifically for this. Always call (06) 321 7300 first so we can prepare and give first-aid guidance.
What if it's an emergency outside business hours? Call the regional emergency hotline 0600 399 299. It covers Vaasa, Mustasaari, Laihia, Vähäkyrö and Vöyri, weekday evenings 16:00–08:00 and weekends Friday 16:00 – Monday 08:00.
Where is the nearest 24/7 small-animal hospital? Eläinklinikka Syke (Evidensia) in Pori, about 2 hours from Vaasa. For cases that need overnight hospitalisation, the regional hotline can advise whether to head there or to a closer extended-hours option (Evidensia Seinäjoen Eläinsairaala, about 1 h 15 min away, open until 21:00 Mon–Sat).
What do I do if my pet ate something toxic? During business hours, call us at (06) 321 7300 and bring the packaging or a sample. Outside business hours, call 0600 399 299. Do not induce vomiting at home before consulting a vet — in some poisonings it makes the situation worse. Never use salt — it is life-threatening for cats.
How do I recognise shock? Cold ears and paws, pale gums, rapid shallow breathing, and sudden weakness. Shock is always life-threatening and requires immediate fluid therapy under veterinary supervision — call for help straight away.
Is there an extra fee for an emergency appointment at Saari? No — an acute appointment during business hours costs the same as a regular consultation. Procedures and tests are charged per our regular price list. The regional after-hours hotline has its own per-minute charges and surcharged visit fees, which are set regionally.