Animal Emergency Centre

28/08/2025

🐾✨ AEC Gold Coast – We’re OPEN this Show Day Weekend! ✨🐾

No matter the holiday, your pet’s health comes first 💚 Our team will be here 24/7 throughout the Gold Coast Show Day weekend (29th–31st August 2025).

📍 4/492 Scottsdale Dr, Varsity Lakes QLD
🚨 Emergency care, always here when you need us most.

💡 Whether it’s an urgent concern or sudden emergency, our dedicated team is ready to provide expert care whenever your pet needs it most 🐶🐱

27/08/2025

🐾 ❤️ If your pet happens to need emergency care at AEC Woolloongabba today, these are the wonderful smiling faces waiting to meet you. 🐾 ❤️
Brittany will be there to greet you at the door & our amazing hospital team of Dr Jessica & nurse Josie will be there to care for your pets.

We are here 24/7 to assist you & your pets with their emergency needs.

24/08/2025

🚨 Around 1 in 2 flat-faced dogs struggle to breathe — but the signs are often subtle and easy to miss.

Snoring, gagging, collapsing on walks, vomiting after meals, restless sleep, or noisy breathing — these are all signs of airway obstruction, not just “normal for the breed.”

💔 BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) is common in Frenchies, Pugs, Bulldogs and other squishy-faced breeds — and it can really affect their comfort, energy and long-term health.

🐶 That’s why we’re offering FREE airway assessments at AEC + Specialty Care Moorabbin with specialist surgeon Dr Malcolm Jack.

🩺 Free assessment includes:
✅ Medical history review
✅ Gentle, hands-on examination
✅ Tailored advice on whether surgery could help

📍 Catching it early makes a big difference — even small changes can mean better breathing, better sleep and a happier life.
Because every dog deserves to breathe easy. ❤️

📝 Take 2 minutes to complete our quick survey and our team will be in touch to organise your dog’s free assessment:
👉 https://vtck.it/016cd18c77
(If the link doesn’t open in Facebook, please copy and paste it into any browser)

18/08/2025

What a fantastic night!

Big thanks to all our vet partners who joined us for the AEC + Specialty Care CE & Networking Evening at Grow Event Space in Cheltenham.

Our surgical specialists Dr Malcolm Jack and Dr Charles K***z delivered insightful talks on Effective wound closure in everyday practice and Breathing better: an update on BOAS, sparking great discussion and connection across the room.

A huge shoutout to our surprise VIP guests, Joyce and Audrey — two fabulous pugs who rolled in style and stole everyone’s hearts!

We're thrilled to have had such a great turnout. Thanks for being part of this special evening!

18/08/2025

Did you know Wildcare operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support wildlife in need? 🐨🦘🦜

Save this image and keep our hotline number ☎️ 07 5527 2444 handy, if you find an injured or orphaned native animal in South-East Queensland, we’re here for you anytime 🕓.

Please remember our Team are volunteers. As our wildlife are starting to become more active, please be patient with our team 🙏

15/08/2025

The “New” Opening, 1994 🎉

By the mid‑90s, AEC had been caring for Melbourne’s pets for almost two decades. On 24 November 1994 we turned a new page with a purpose‑built emergency and critical care veterinary hospital at 37 Blackburn Road.

We even made the cover of Vet Business in December 1994.

Our invitation promised an opening ceremony at 2:30 pm, tours of the new facility and refreshments. The heart of AEC stayed the same: being there for pets and their families when they need us most.

From the first meetings in 1976 to a new home in 1994 and still here today, every chapter has been about caring for our community 24/7.

We’ll continue to share more milestones in the lead‑up to our 50th anniversary celebration. If you remember the 1994 move, tell us your story below. 💙

12/08/2025

🐨❤️ Please be careful on the roads at night as our fluffy little koala boys are out & about this time of year.
We have heard of a few on the M1 around the Mount Gravatt exit so please be cautious & call Wildcare or RSPCA if you see a guy in trouble ❤️🐨

12/08/2025

We need your help to help our animals! 🙏🐾
We’re running low on basics that keep our shelters running and our animals happy ❤️

If you can help by donating new or second-hand items in good condition from our wish list below – our cats and dogs would love to take them off your hands 🐱🐶

Items in most need at RSPCA locations across the state 👇
RSPCA Wacol, Brisbane - Cat and dog toys and treats, small cat scratchers, larger sized dog jackets
RSPCA Cairns - Pet treats, hard plastic toys for dogs, cat toys
RSPCA Dakabin - Cat carriers, pet toys and treats, cat scratchers
RSPCA Gympie - Long-lasting dog treats, cat scratches, cat hidey hole beds
RSPCA Mackay - Dog treats, larger sized dog collars
RSPCA Toowoomba - Dog safe peanut butter

📌 You can find your closest RSPCA location here 👉 rspcaqld.org.au/locations [or follow the link in our bio].

❤️🐱🐶 Our cats and dogs thank you in advance!

10/08/2025

50 Years Ago, It All Began 🐾

In the mid-1970s, a small group of passionate local vets sat around a table with a bold idea — to create Melbourne’s first dedicated after-hours emergency service for pets.

Those first meetings were filled with excitement (and plenty of coffee!) as they debated how to make it work — securing a premise, pooling resources for essential equipment, and even arranging sleeping quarters for the on-duty vet. It was grassroots veterinary care at its finest.

From those early conversations in 1976, the Animal Emergency Centre at Mount Waverley was born. Since then, we’ve been here for pets and their people, every hour of every day, for five decades — through late-night emergencies, stormy weekends, and countless wagging tails.

This is a glimpse into the very first organising committee notes — the blueprint for what would become a lifeline for so many. We think they’d be proud to see the legacy they started still thriving today 💙

We’ll be sharing more pieces of AEC’s history over the next couple of weeks as we count down to a special community celebration. Stay tuned for details — and if you remember the early days of AEC, we’d love to hear your stories below!

06/08/2025

❤️🦘The AEC Woolloongabba team were priveliged to have a visit from a little redneck wallaby tonight.
It had become separated from its mother and was found by a motorist in Birkdale.
After a health check by Dr Tyla & getting the all clear it was swiftly moved on to one of our dedicated carers.
We are so happy to be able to play our part in caring for our native animals in their time of need. 🦘❤️

04/08/2025

Using pet insurance at AEC just got easier with GapOnly® 🐾

We know how stressful it can be when faced with an emergency with your pet—especially when it comes to handling unexpected costs. That’s why AEC offers GapOnly® claiming across all three of our 24/7 locations: Frankston, Moorabbin and Mount Waverley.

💡 What is GapOnly®?
GapOnly® lets you claim your pet insurance on the spot, so instead of paying the full invoice and waiting to be reimbursed later, you only pay the gap—the amount not covered by your insurer.

✅ Eligibility
If your pet is insured with a GapOnly® partner (like Woolworths, RSPCA, Guide Dogs, Bupa, HCF, Bow Wow Meow, and many others), you’re likely eligible. You can confirm your insurer’s participation at gaponly.com.au.

🧾 How it works
1. Let our team know when you arrive that you’d like to use GapOnly®.
2. We’ll lodge your claim while your pet is being treated.
3. The insurer usually responds within 10–15 minutes
4. Once approved, you’ll just pay the gap, not the full invoice

🌟 GapOnly® is just one of the ways we try to make a tough time a little bit easier—for both pets and their people.

📍Available now at:
🔹 AEC Frankston
🔹 AEC+Specialty Care Moorabbin
🔹 AEC Mount Waverley

30/07/2025

Meet Dusty 💙

Dusty spent some time with us for monitoring after getting into lilies – and made the most of it with a bit of feline Netflix while he was here. 🌿🐱

His family acted quickly and brought him straight in, and thanks to that early care, he was safely discharged without developing any symptoms. Go Dusty!

Key things to know about lilies & cats:

All parts are toxic – petals, leaves, pollen, and even the vase water
Small exposures matter (a lick of pollen can be enough)
Early vet care is critical to protect the kidneys
Don’t wait for symptoms (vomiting, drooling, lethargy) – come straight in

Please keep lilies out of homes with cats.
Share this to help another pet parent avoid an emergency.

30/07/2025

Wildlife have specific dietary needs, and feeding them human food can disrupt their natural feeding behaviours.

It can lead to nutritional imbalances, obesity, and dependency on human sources for survival.

Feeding wildlife can also expose them to harmful substances or foods that are detrimental to their health.

Take a look at our infographic featuring alternative options for feeding wildlife in a healthier manner, although we strongly discourage the practice altogether.

21/07/2025

Its already that time of year again!
AEC Woolloongabba have already seen multiple pets with tick paralysis & would love to remind you all to get your pets up to date with their preventative’s. If you are unsure, pop in to your regular vet to get all the information you need to keep your pets safe. 🐾 ❤️‍🩹 🐾

20/07/2025

Sweet Lacey's unexpected labour 💕🐾

Lacey was brought to AEC Mount Waverley one late evening after her new owners noticed she was very unsettled. She was panting heavily, pacing in circles and trying to hide. They had rescued her just three weeks earlier from a breeder that was closing down, with almost no information about her background.

During her physical examination, it was immediately obvious to our emergency vet that Lacey was in labour. To everyone’s surprise, she delivered a puppy right there in the ICU.

With no idea she was pregnant, her owners were understandably overwhelmed and concerned about what might happen next. Our team admitted Lacey into hospital where she could be kept comfortable and closely observed.

Under our care and medical support, she went on to deliver three more puppies. Tragically, one was stillborn, but the remaining pups were delivered safely thanks to the quick action and experience of our clinical team.

Cases like Lacey’s are a reminder of how quickly things can change in emergency medicine. Her new owners showed great compassion by seeking help when something didn’t seem right, and our team stepped in to provide the care and support she needed to get through a very unexpected night.

We’re so proud of the work our team does every day to help animals like Lacey, and grateful to have played a part in her journey. She may have come from an uncertain start, but she’s clearly found her way to a home full of love.

17/07/2025

❤️‍🩹 AEC Woolloongabba had quite the unusual visitor last night!
The very aptly named Storm Boy was brought in by a concerned member of the public after he was found on their driveway. He was sedated to reduce stress while he was examined & xrayed to check for any injuries, before being given the all clear & heading off to the Seaworld Hospital to recover from his ordeal.
The team were very happy to take care of their very special patient, especially nurse Mishayla ‘big birds are my jam’ she said. ❤️‍🩹

17/07/2025

16/07/2025

🎉 Big congratulations to Dr Zoe and Dr Alona on passing their ANZCVS Membership exams in Emergency & Critical Care (ECC)!

This is a major professional milestone, recognising a high level of expertise and clinical excellence. The Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) is awarded to vets who demonstrate advanced knowledge and critical thinking in their chosen field. The ECC chapter focuses on managing complex, high-stakes emergencies—everything from trauma and toxicities to shock and intensive care.

We’re proud to now have 10 ECC Membership holders on our team, alongside many others who’ve completed postgraduate study and additional qualifications.

📸 This photo shows part of our incredible vet and nurse crew attending the recent Clinical Conference, where they spent days immersed in case studies, cutting-edge research, and peer collaboration—all to bring the best back to our patients.

At AEC, continued learning isn’t optional—it’s part of our culture. We're committed to providing the highest standard of emergency and critical care, every patient, every time.

24-hour emergency vet care, with locations open 24 hours, 365 days. Find the closest Vet Hospital, and call us to get prompt treatment today.

11/07/2025

You’re not seeing double. Meet Mia and Tiarna, identical twins and two of the kindest, most capable nurses in our surgical team at AEC + Specialty Care Moorabbin.

From an early age, both Mia and Tiarna knew they wanted to work with animals. After finishing school, they spent some time working at Petbarn while studying veterinary nursing — and even did a short stint as traffic controllers somewhere along the way, just to mix things up.

They’ve now been qualified vet nurses for four years, with experience across both general practice and specialty hospitals. Despite never planning to work together, they’ve somehow always ended up in the same clinics — something they’ve come to appreciate more with each step in their careers.

Now part of our surgical nursing team, both Mia and Tiarna are doing what they love. Mia loves knowing that the care she provides can make a real difference to both patients and their families. Tiarna enjoys the fast pace and variety that comes with surgical nursing in a specialist setting, where no two days are quite the same.

They bring calm, confidence and care to everything they do — and while they might look alike, their individual strengths shine through in the way they support our patients and their team.

We’re lucky to have them both with us!

05/07/2025

Absolutely glowing feedback from our amazing clients – and it all comes down to the dedication, care and compassion of our incredible teams. 💛

Whether it’s 3am or 3pm, we’re here for your furry family members when they need us most.

📍Find us at:
AEC Frankston – 39 McMahons Rd, Frankston
AEC + Specialty Care Moorabbin – 252 Wickham Rd, Highett
AEC Mount Waverley – 37 Blackburn Rd, Mount Waverley

02/07/2025

Meet Erin 🐾 Surgery Nurse Team Leader
Erin is the kind of nurse every surgical team hopes for — calm, capable, and deeply committed to both her patients and the people she works with.

She recently joined AEC + Specialty Care as our surgery nurse team leader, bringing more than eight years of experience with her. After four years in general practice and another four at a specialist hospital working across surgery and medicine, Erin has found her stride in anaesthesia and surgical nursing. She’s also passionate about mentoring nurses and supporting the professional growth of the team around her.

When she’s not at work, Erin enjoys reading, playing basketball and spending time with her dog, Olive — who is absolutely obsessed with the beach and loves waiting for just the right wave before launching in with full enthusiasm.

We’re lucky to have Erin leading the way in our surgical team. Her experience, leadership and gentle presence make a big difference every single day.

27/06/2025

✨ There’s more to this building than meets the eye.

Our new home at 252 Wickham Road, Highett, is a modern animal emergency and specialist hospital with a proud industrial past. The structure you see today began its life as a classic mid-century warehouse, built in a time when form followed function—but still carried a striking sense of design.

One of the most distinctive features is the saw-tooth roofline—a hallmark of industrial architecture in the post-war era. These angular, repeating roof shapes were originally designed to maximise soft natural light into factory floors while minimising heat and glare, improving working conditions long before air-conditioning was standard. Today, the silhouette remains a nod to that era of smart, purposeful design.

The original red-brick facade has also been retained, adding warmth, texture and a sense of continuity to the streetscape. It tells its own quiet story: of a building that’s seen decades of use, of tradespeople and workers, and now, of the veterinary teams and pets who fill its halls with new energy.

We’ve embraced this building’s industrial charm while adapting it for modern care. The structure may have changed on the inside—but the bones, the lines, and the spirit remain.

This is more than a hospital. It’s a piece of Highett’s built history, reimagined 🐾

11/06/2025

🐾 Maple's Big Bone Adventure 🐾

Meet Maple, our brave 13-week-old Poodle mix who gave the team at AEC Woolloongabba quite the scare this weekend! This little adventurer managed to swallow an entire lamb bone - about half her body length! 😱
We immediately admitted Maple for emergency surgery, deeply concerned about potential stomach perforation. But sometimes miracles happen in veterinary medicine! When we opened her up, we discovered her stomach was remarkably intact with no significant damage.
The surgery went smoothly, the bone was successfully removed, and our sweet Maple is now back home with her grateful family! 🏠💕
This is a perfect reminder to keep a close eye on what our curious puppies get into. Maple's story had a happy ending, but bones can be extremely dangerous for our furry friends.
Welcome to the world, little Maple - may your future adventures be much safer! ❤️