Weeknight and 24 hr weekend emergency service
Emergency Vet Hamilton and Greater Waikato
For Pet Owners and Veterinarians
Our Professional Vet Team
The Waikato After Hours Veterinary Hospital (WAVH) is your surrogate veterinary clinic until your primary care clinic opens. Our emergency veterinary team consists of highly experienced emergency vets that together bring a diverse skill set to the practice, and are proficient in the care of emergency patients.
We have the support of a registered Emergency and Critical Care specialist in a consultant role.
Dedicated and highly-trained nurses and technicians closely support our veterinarians, to ensure that our team can provide the best specialised care for your pet when your primary vet is closed.
Emergencies & Urgent Care
We have experienced veterinarian and staff that are equipped to handle any urgent care your pet needs. Usually, an emergency team consists of at least one veterinarian and nurses working together to save a pet’s life. To allow our team to take decisive action, they have diagnostic equipment, including digital radiography, ultrasound and blood analysers, to enable rapid diagnosis. Emergencies can be things such a rat poisoning, hit by a car, seizures, bleeding, chocolate ingestion, etc.
If you feel that your pet needs emergency treatment do not hesitate to call or come in immediately. If possible, it is best to call before coming in so that a team member can advise you on your particular emergency and be prepared when you arrive.
For Vets
We know that entrusting your patients to another doctor is a serious responsibility. At Waikato After Hours Veterinary Hospital, your referred patients will receive the best care from us. You can count on us to be your partners in health care. At our hospital, we have a full range of services to meet the needs presented by even your most challenging cases. If you need more information contact us, we are more than happy to discuss this with you.
We provide urgent, emergency care for your clients, by acting as an extension of your practice by providing after-hours care.
- No appointments are required for veterinary emergency visits.
- Walk-ins welcome.
- We are the Waikato’s vet emergency hospital.
Our Professional Vet Team
The Waikato After Hours Veterinary Hospital (WAVH) is your surrogate veterinary clinic until your primary care clinic opens. Our emergency veterinary team consists of highly experienced emergency vets that together bring a diverse skill set to the practice, and are proficient in the care of emergency patients.
We have the support of a registered Emergency and Critical Care specialist in a consultant role.
Dedicated and highly-trained nurses and technicians closely support our veterinarians, to ensure that our team can provide the best specialised care for your pet when your primary vet is closed.
Emergencies & Urgent Care
We have experienced veterinarian and staff that are equipped to handle any urgent care your pet needs. Usually, an emergency team consists of at least one veterinarian and nurses working together to save a pet's life. To allow our team to take decisive action, they have diagnostic equipment, including digital radiography, ultrasound and blood analysers,which would enable for near-instant diagnostic results. Emergencies can be things such a rat poisoning, hit by a car, seizures, bleeding, chocolate ingestion, etc. If you feel that your pet needs emergency treatment do not hesitate to call or come in immediately. If possible, it is best to call before coming in so that a team member can advise you on your particular emergency and be prepared when you arrive.
For Vets
We know that entrusting your patients to another doctor is a serious responsibility. At Waikato After Hours Veterinary Hospital, your referred patients will receive the best care from us. You can count on us to be your partners in health care. At our hospital, we have a full range of services to meet the needs presented by even your most challenging cases. If you need more information contact us, we are more than happy to discuss this with you.
We provide urgent, emergency care for your clients, by acting as an extension of your practice by providing after-hours care.
- No appointments are required for veterinary emergency visits.
- Walk-ins are welcome.
- We are the Waikato’s vet emergency hospital.
Vet Profiles
Dr Trudi
BSc, BVSc, MANZCVS (Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care), FANZCVS (Emergency Medicine and Critical Care)
Dr Trudi McAlees is a New Zealand veterinarian and Massey graduate who after starting her career in a mainly dairy practice, headed off to the UK for the obligatory period of locum work and travel. After a short period in small animal practice in Auckland, Trudi then moved to Melbourne to pursue a 2-year position in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at the University of Melbourne teaching hospital but stayed for 10 years before returning to private practice. She is currently working with the Waikato Afterhours Veterinary Hospital and from February will be at The Referral Centre in Hamilton.
Trudi is committed to post-graduate education. She is passionate about improving the ability of practitioners to deal with emergencies, and hopes to decrease the anxiety that can accompany these cases when they present. Trudi has a particular interest in analgesia, ventilation and multi-trauma cases. She presents the Sydney University Distance Education course in Emergency Medicine.
Trudi has memberships of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Anaesthesia and Critical Care, and in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care and was the first person to achieve Fellowship in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in 2008.
Dr Toni
BVSc (dist.), MVM, MANZCVS (ECC)
Toni has 18 year of small animal veterinary experience and has been with the Waikato Veterinary After Hours since 2016. She has practiced emergency medicine and surgery in Christchurch and abroad in the United Kingdom.
Toni has recently completed her Master of Veterinary Medicine. The knowledge and skills gained from these additional studies has been invaluable in the afterhours setting. Toni is always striving to provide the holistic gold-standard care your pet deserves, and takes a very thorough approach to her clinical cases. She is currently studying towards her Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Membership examination in Emergency and Critical Care.
Dr. Rayne
D.V.M.
Rayne grew up on a small farm in Washington state in the U.S.A., where he developed a love for animals and an interest in science. He attended the University of Puget Sound where he majored in biology and organic chemistry, then obtained a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Cornell University.
In 2018, he moved to Hastings, New Zealand to practice as a mixed animal veterinary surgeon. He currently works as an emergency after-hours veterinarian at WAVH. He is passionate about preventative and evidence-based medicine to ensure healthy and long lives for pets. He also has an interest in emergency surgery and internal medicine.
When not in the office, Rayne is an avid musician, hiker, gardener, and the proud pet parent to an adorable Hunataway named Ellie and Five chickens: Calliope, Saffron, Indigo, Violet, and Stevie.
Nurse Profiles
Erika
Registered Veterinary Nurse BVN (Diploma in Veterinary Nursing 2009, Bachelors in Veterinary Nursing, 2021), BSc
Erika is a senior nurse and the clinic manager at WAVH and has worked here since we opened in 2012. Prior to this she was involved with the SPCA. She has wide experience with all kinds of emergency scenarios and her knowledge and efficiency are legendary.
Erika loves the unpredictability of the cases we see and watching our critical patients get better when implementing a well-designed treatment plan. Erika has a special interest in applying her critical care knowledge and anaesthetic monitoring skills to our patients and enjoys sharing this with the junior nurses and veterinary nursing students that rotate through our clinic.
Akiko
BVN
Akiko started working full time at WAVH since April 2021.
She is a current nurse manager at WAVH. She likes hands on nursing at the same time she strives to look after the WAVH awesome nursing team.
She enjoys a high pace environment, loves learning and getting involved with emergency critical nursing care.
Her other passion is to go on the volunteer trips. The last few years, she has been part of South Pacific Animal Welfare group to help animals on the South Pacific islands.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her kids (cat and dog), looking after the small lifestyle block, and renovating the house with her husband.
Melanie
DVN (Diploma Veterinary Nursing – 2016)
Melanie has been working at WAVH since finishing her studies in 2016. Being able to help animals when they need us most is so rewarding. Her special work interests are intensive care of our critical patients and watching them recover. She loves seeing their improvements and knowing that she has made a positive difference to that animal.
Every night is different. We never know what will come through the door at any given time. That’s the nature of emergency and Mel is glad she gets to be here for that animal and their owner that needs our help.
Billie
DipVN (Diploma Veterinary Nursing – 2020)
Billie has been interested in a career in veterinary medicine from a very young age. She spent her free time in high-school volunteering for the SPCA, assisting with equine therapy and working in a pet shop. Since graduating with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2020, she started working at both general practice, and the Waikato Afterhours Veterinary Hospital. She quickly discovered that emergency nursing is what she loves doing the most. She really enjoys the fast paced work environment, and how rewarding it is to be able to help animals (and their owners) in need.
No two days are the same so there is always a chance to learn new things and improve her skills as a nurse. Her favourite part about emergency nursing is being able to assist in creating appropriate treatment plans for our patients and seeing them recover. She has two cats: Cook and Bast, who love spending their time chasing shoelaces and napping in the sun.
Zoe
RVN (Diploma in Veterinary Nursing 2020)
Zoe started working at WAVH in January 2021 after completing her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing through Wintec here in Hamilton. Zoe has a passion for caring for emergency and critical care patients and putting gold standard nursing care into practice. Zoe loves being there for owners and their beloved pets in their time of need, especially during their trips to the WAVH which can often be a stressful time.
Her favourite part of emergency nursing is seeing the tail wags or smooches the patients give to their owners when they are reunited at discharge and hearing how much their pets have improved since they were admitted. Zoe is constantly advocating for your loved ones and striving to provide the best patient care possible. She loves using her knowledge daily with the many complex cases that walk through our doors and sharing it with the other nurses and students in our clinic.
Louie
RVN (Diploma in Veterinary Nursing 2021)
Louie started out as a junior nurse while studying their diploma at Wintec, and quickly moved up into a more senior position. They enjoy the challenge of the fast paced environment and the variety of cases seen here. Their passion lies in working with critical patients and providing the emergency care they need to recover and get back home.
In their spare time they like to read, op shop and spend time with their cat, Kahlo, in the sun.
Alice
DVN
Alice started working at WAVH in late 2022 after quickly discovering during student shifts that emergency and critical care was the place to be. No two work days are the same in a busy clinic, quickly jumping between tasks has helped Alice build a solid foundation of nursing skills in only a short time.
Alice really enjoys working with critical patients, nervous animals, cooperative care training, and helping to support animals back to health. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing all the much-loved animals go back home to their families.
Working after hours gives her lots of opportunities to go on daytime adventures with her two dogs Remus and Sage.
Devon
RVN
Devon joined the WAVH team as a veterinary nurse in January 2023. Prior to this she worked in a small animal general practice. She is passionate about advancing her knowledge and veterinary nursing skills, and using these skills to care for the variety of patients seen at WAVH
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment
My pet is insured. Do I still need to pay for treatment?
Yes. Due to the fact that we cannot contact your pet insurance company after hours, you will need to provide them with your claim and they will reimburse you. We will provide you with complete medical notes and a copy of the invoice for your claim. If you would like a digital copy of your pets medical notes, please ensure we have your correct email address when you leave.
What if I don't have accessible funds at the time of consult?
We currently offer Petfunders, Q Card and Oxipay finance options. Unfortunately, veterinary care is not a free service, but it is essential to us that your animals' welfare requirements are met. If you are applying for finance at the clinic, please bring your identification with you and be prepared for an extra half an hours wait to process any applications.
Do you require a deposit before treatment?
Yes. It is not always possible to give you an exact quote for your pets treatment so we will give you an estimate range.
A deposit of the low end of the estimate range is required before treatment/surgery commences. Any outstanding balance owing is due upon discharge.
General Questions
Do I need a referral to come to the WAVH?
No referral or appointment is necessary but please call us and advise us you are on your way if you can. We want to be prepared for your visit and we can also advise you of any wait time.
Can I request my animal be transferred for overnight monitoring?
Yes. You can ask your primary veterinarian to transfer your pet to us for overnight monitoring. Talk to your vet about the monitoring packages we offer and what they would recommend for the care of your pet.
Are you open 24hrs?
On weekdays we open at 6pm and close at 8am. We are open 24 hours on weekends and public holidays.
Will WAVH update my primary vet of our visit?
Yes. We email a digital copy of medical histories, hospital charts, anaesthetic charts and blood results to your primary veterinarian. Depending on our case load, these are usually with your primary clinic by the following morning. Please ensure you advise us which clinic you will be going to for any further treatments or follow ups.
Who will provide ongoing treatment?
Your primary veterinarian will provide follow up care and treatment . They know you and your pet well so it is important they advise you of the options available for any ongoing care.
Will the vet update me during the night regarding my pet's treatment?
If you would like us to call you we can organise this. We can get quite busy stabilising and treating our inpatients so if you are concerned you haven’t heard from us, please feel free to call. No news is good news!
Does WAVH do home visits or call outs ?
No. Unfortunately, we only have one veterinarian on site at a time and it is unsafe for our inpatients for them to leave.
How do I get a referral from a vet?
A referral is not essential but we can admit your pet directly from your primary clinic for ongoing monitoring and care after consultation with the veterinarian managing your case.
Can I visit my pet during the night?
If you would like to arrange a visit with your pet that is fine with us. Just be aware that there are other critically ill patients in our hospital and sometimes diagnostic procedures make it unsafe for you to be in our ICU. We are also happy to speak to you on the phone if you would like to call for updates.
What will happen when I arrive with my pet?
When you arrive at our clinic, you will be asked to complete a client details form. The nurse greeting you will enter your details onto the system and triage your pet. We run just like a human accident and emergency clinic so the nurse will assess the urgency of your pet compared with other incoming and hospitalised patients. The nurse will do a basic exam of your pet and take a history , potentially admitting your pet to our ICU for immediate first aid. The duty veterinarian will assess your pet and come and speak with you about their findings and work with you to come up with a treatment plan that best works for you and your pet.
Who will transfer my pet to WAVH if we are at our primary clinic?
You will need to transfer your pet to us. Upon arrival, the nurse will do an assessment and you will meet the vet who will be in charge of your pets care overnight. The vet will discuss with you what treatment will be provided and confirm a contact number if we need to get in touch with you. If your pet stays the night with us you will need to pick them up before 8am on weekdays and either transfer them back to your primary clinic or take them home if they are well enough.
Does WAVH provide cremation services?
Yes. We have a relationship with Pet Farewells and they collect and return pets to us several times a week.
What if my pet needs to see a specialist urgently?
Veterinary specialists are usually only available during normal day working hours. Your primary vet will work with you to refer to a specialist if required as soon as your pet is transferred back to them in the morning.
Waikato After Hours Veterinary Hospital
576 Anglesea St, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Our Locations
Waikato After Hours Veterinary Hospital
576 Anglesea Street
Hamilton
Phone: 07 839 5656
Fax: 07 839 5658
Email: vet@wavh.co.nz
Bay After Hours Veterinary Hospital
1450 Cameron Road,
Greerton, Tauranga
Phone: 07 220 9775
Email: vet@bahvet.co.nz
Hours of Operation
Mon-Thurs: 6pm-8am
Weekends:
YES! We are open ALL weekend.
Friday:
Public Holidays: 24 hours