A Tauranga veterinarian wants people to know they can always get help for their pet in an emergency.

Tauranga Veterinary Services owner David McDonnell says all vet practices should have someone on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

'Every veterinary practice is obligated to provide an after-hours service. It's in the New Zealand Veterinary Council's code of conduct for all clinics to have a contact number for a duty vet.”

In the recent case of Charlie, the dog savaged by a husky in Papamoa, Charlie's owners lived in Auckland, and made the decision to return to seek specialist treatment for the serious injuries there.

Bayfair Vets practice manager Jill McFarlane says Charlie was given emergency treatment, including pain relief and antibiotics, before the owners took the dog home to Auckland.

'The dog was seen by us in an emergency situation, and was then referred to a specialist in Auckland as that was where the owners lived.

'Every vet in Tauranga has emergency after-hours provisions. They would not be able to practice otherwise.”

Owners who find themselves in a situation where their pet needs urgent medical care at night or on the weekend should search for their local vet's contact details online, or find on the door of the clinic.

The duty vet can then assess the animal. In most cases, there will be facilities and expertise within this region to help – but as with humans, sometimes there will be a specialist in a larger centre such as Auckland who may be better placed to treat the patient.

'If there is something beyond your skills as a vet, part of the code of conduct is to seek help or a referral to someone with the necessary skills,” says David.

'Speaking for the profession as a whole, we're very dedicated, and provide a good level of service and after-hours care in this region. And if someone isn't, the public can contact the New Zealand Veterinary Council and report their concerns. Their job is to protect the public interest.”