Top 20 Rated Emergency Vets in the GTA (24/7 Urgent Care Guide)

When a pet emergency happens, every second counts. Finding an emergency vet in the GTA that is open late, fully equipped, and highly rated shouldn't require frantic digging through outdated search results.
Whether your pet swallowed a toxic food, suffered a sudden injury, or is showing signs of severe distress, you need immediate care. To help you act fast, we have curated the ultimate directory of the top 20 rated emergency vets in the GTA.
This comprehensive list breaks down the best 24-hour animal hospitals and urgent care clinics across Toronto, Peel, York, and Durham regions, ensuring you can find life-saving care closest to your current location.
🚨 Emergency Vets in Toronto & East York
1. Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital (TVEH)
- Address: 21 Rolark Dr, Scarborough, ON M1R 3B1
- Phone: (416) 247-8387
- Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
- Best For: Advanced trauma, ICU monitoring, and board-certified specialized surgery.
- Why They Are Top Rated: TVEH is a massive, state-of-the-art facility widely considered one of the premier referral and emergency hospitals in Ontario. Their triage system ensures the most critical animals are stabilized immediately, and they have on-site CT scanners and digital imaging.
2. Central Toronto Veterinary Referral & Emergency Clinic
- Address: 1051 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON M6C 2C9
- Phone: (416) 784-4444
- Hours: 24/7 Urgent Care
- Best For: Central Toronto residents needing fast nighttime or weekend stabilization.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Located right in the heart of Midtown, this clinic is highly praised for its compassionate staff and incredibly transparent communication during high-stress triage situations.
3. VCA Canada Toronto Downtown Animal Hospital
- Address: 474 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5T 2S6
- Phone: (416) 966-1021
- Hours: Extended emergency evening and weekend hours (Call ahead to confirm daily capacity)
- Best For: Downtown core pet owners seeking urgent medical attention without traveling to the suburbs.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Navigating a pet emergency in downtown Toronto can be tough. This VCA location offers a highly efficient urgent care team capable of handling toxicity issues, severe lacerations, and sudden illnesses right in the city center.
4. Veterinary Emergency Clinic (VEC) – South
- Address: 920 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 3C7
- Phone: (416) 920-2002
- Hours: 24 Hours / 365 Days a Year
- Best For: Advanced diagnostics and critical care near Yorkville/Downtown.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Operating for decades, the VEC is an institution for critical pet care. They work closely with local family vets to provide seamless overnight monitoring and intensive care tracking.
5. Beaches Animal Hospital (Urgent Care Services)
- Address: 2304 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4E 1G8
- Phone: (416) 690-4040
- Hours: Open late daily for urgent drop-ins
- Best For: East-end residents dealing with minor-to-moderate urgent care situations.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Known for their deep community ties in The Beaches, their extended hour team manages everything from allergic reactions to sudden infections with immense warmth and professionalism.
🚗 Emergency Vets in Mississauga, Brampton & Peel
6. Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital (MOVEH)
- Address: 2285 Bristol Cir, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8 (Bordering Mississauga)
- Phone: (905) 829-9444
- Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
- Best For: High-level emergency triaging, oxygen therapy, and internal medicine.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Serving the West GTA for years, MOVEH features a sprawling facility designed to handle multi-car accident trauma and complex medical emergencies effortlessly. Their team handles critical situations with profound calm and precision.
7. Emergency Veterinary Clinic Hwy 10
- Address: 1 Wexford Rd Unit 10, Brampton, ON L6Z 2W1
- Phone: (905) 495-9907
- Hours: Open weeknights, 24 hours on weekends and holidays
- Best For: Brampton pet parents facing late-night or weekend health scares.
- Why They Are Top Rated: This clinic operates explicitly to fill the gap when regular clinics close. They are highly efficient at treating sudden bloat, toxin ingestion, and stitching up wounds from animal altercations.
8. VCA Canada Mississauga Veterinary Emergency Referral Hospital
- Address: 405 Industrial Dr, Milton, ON L9T 5B1 (Servicing the wider Peel/Halton area)
- Phone: (905) 858-2266
- Hours: 24/7 Continuous Emergency
- Best For: Comprehensive critical care, blood transfusions, and overnight observation.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Backed by the extensive VCA network, this location provides premium specialty support alongside their frontline emergency room doctors, meaning your pet never has to be transferred elsewhere for major surgery.
9. Southdown Animal Clinic (Extended Hours)
- Address: 2100 Lakeshore Rd W, Mississauga, ON L5J 1J7
- Phone: (905) 823-1700
- Hours: Extended evening and weekend availability
- Best For: Prompt treatment for dehydration, blockages, or sudden high fevers.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Reviewers consistently mention how patient the staff is when explaining costs and care pathways upfront, removing much of the financial panic associated with urgent vet visits.
10. Credit Valley Animal Hospital (Urgent Care)
- Address: 2000 Credit Valley Rd, Mississauga, ON L5M 4N4
- Phone: (905) 828-8387
- Hours: Late-night urgent slots
- Best For: Fast stabilization and diagnostic bloodwork.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Conveniently located for central and west Mississauga residents, they maintain a highly organized, clean facility with very rapid diagnostic turnaround times.
🌲 Emergency Vets in York Region (Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan)
11. 404 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital
- Address: 510 Harry Walker Pkwy S, Newmarket, ON L3Y 0B3
- Phone: (905) 953-1933
- Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
- Best For: Severe trauma, intensive respiratory support, and continuous monitoring.
- Why They Are Top Rated: For anyone living in northern York Region, the 404 Hospital is the primary lifeline. Their massive emergency wing functions exactly like a human ER, featuring top-tier veterinary triage professionals.
12. Animal Emergency Clinic of York Region
- Address: 10303 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B7
- Phone: (905) 884-1632
- Hours: Open nights, weekends, and statutory holidays
- Best For: After-hours sickness, chocolate ingestion, or sudden limping.
- Why They Are Top Rated: This dedicated after-hours collective is highly praised for its fair pricing metrics and incredibly fast phone consultations when you aren't sure if you need to drive in.
13. Vaughan-Woodbridge Veterinary Emergency Clinic
- Address: 5281 Rutherford Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4H 2T2
- Phone: (905) 264-7833
- Hours: Open evenings and weekends
- Best For: Laceration repair, sudden fluid buildup, and pain management.
- Why They Are Top Rated: This spot offers localized emergency response for the Vaughan area, eliminating the need to rush down the 400 highway during peak traffic hours to reach downtown facilities.
14. Markham Veterinary Clinic (Urgent Appointments)
- Address: 280 Main St N, Markham, ON L3P 1Y8
- Phone: (905) 294-4422
- Hours: Extended day/evening hours
- Best For: Urgent ear infections, minor toxicities, and sudden gastrointestinal issues.
- Why They Are Top Rated: While they function as a standard hospital by day, their prompt triage handling for walk-in urgent cases makes them a vital pillar for Markham pet owners.
15. Willowdale Animal Hospital (Near York Region Border)
- Address: 256 Sheppard Ave W, North York, ON M2N 1N3
- Phone: (416) 222-5411
- Hours: 24 Hours / 365 Days a Year
- Best For: General emergencies and 24-hour boarding observation for recovering pets.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Sitting right on the North York/Thornhill border, Willowdale is open every single second of the year, making it a reliable choice for families coming from south Vaughan or Markham.
🌊 Emergency Vets in Durham Region & East GTA
16. Animal Emergency Clinic of Durham Region
- Address: 1910 Dundas St East, Whitby, ON L1N 2L6
- Phone: (905) 576-3031
- Hours: Open nights, weekends, and holidays 24/7
- Best For: Poison control, snake bites, hit-by-car accidents, and severe dehydration.
- Why They Are Top Rated: This is the absolute hub for emergency care in Durham. Their team works tirelessly under high volumes, yet consistently wins local reviews for keeping pet owners thoroughly updated during surgery procedures.
17. Pickering Cleanbrook Animal Hospital (Urgent Care)
- Address: 1794 Liverpool Rd, Pickering, ON L1V 1V9
- Phone: (905) 831-2999
- Hours: Extended operational hours
- Best For: Quick stitching, severe allergic reactions, and eye injuries.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Highly accessible right off the 401, this location handles urgent drop-ins efficiently with lower baseline wait times than major referral networks.
18. Clarington Animal Hospital (Extended Emergency Care)
- Address: 2434 Highway 2, Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K3
- Phone: (905) 623-4431
- Hours: Late-night support
- Best For: East Durham residents who need to stabilize a pet immediately without driving into Oshawa or Whitby.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Their staff is renowned for providing incredibly empathetic end-of-life emergency care and pain management systems during tragic, unexpected scenarios.
🦉 Exotic Pet & Specialized Emergency Vets in the GTA
19. Link Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Clinic
- Address: 1010 Lorne Park Rd, Mississauga, ON L5H 3B1
- Phone: (905) 486-1010
- Hours: 24/7 Specialized Response
- Best For: Multi-system failures, advanced neurological emergencies, and specialty diagnostics.
- Why They Are Top Rated: When standard emergency vets encounter an extremely intricate medical mystery, Link is frequently the elite destination they refer clients to for specialized critical care intervention.
20. High Park Animal Clinic (Exotic Urgent Care Support)
- Address: 3184 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 2A3
- Phone: (416) 763-4200
- Hours: Call ahead for active exotic vet availability
- Best For: Urgent triage for birds, reptiles, rabbits, and small rodents.
- Why They Are Top Rated: Most emergency rooms only have dog and cat specialists on shift. High Park provides essential medical support for alternative pets when time is of the essence.
💡 What to Do in a Pet Emergency: Quick Checklist
- Call Ahead: Always phone the emergency clinic while you are in the car or putting your pet in a carrier. This allows the staff to prepare the oxygen tanks or surgical suites before your tires hit the parking lot.
- Bring Toxic Packaging: If your pet ate something poisonous, bring the exact product wrapper or a photo of the ingredients list with you.
- Secure Your Animal: Even the sweetest pets can bite or scratch when experiencing extreme pain. Use a secure crate or blanket wrap to protect both your pet and yourself during transport.
Looking to support local pet services across Ontario? Explore the full Shop Local GTA Business Directory to find top-rated family veterinarians, mobile groomers, and pet supply boutiques right in your neighborhood.