Pet Emergency Week 2026
September 28 - October 4
About Pet Emergency Week 2026
Pet Emergency Week takes place from Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October 2026. It is the first-ever nationwide awareness week from Vets Now, the UK’s leading emergency vets, launched in the charity’s 25th anniversary year to help pet owners recognise an emergency, act quickly, and prevent avoidable incidents before they happen.
What is Pet Emergency Week?
New research from Vets Now reveals a worrying gap between what pet owners say they would do in an emergency and what actually happens. In a survey of 2,000 UK pet owners, three-quarters (75%) said they would call a vet immediately if their pet suffered a medical emergency. In reality, almost a third (32%) admit they have searched online for advice before contacting a veterinary professional during an actual emergency, and more than a quarter (27%) have waited to see if symptoms passed before seeking help.
Pet emergencies are far from rare. Vets Now treats over 200,000 pets every year, with cases ranging from seizures, heatstroke and poisonings to serious injuries caused by everyday household items. One such case was Peaches, a Cavapoo from Ipswich, who needed emergency treatment after a hot water bottle exploded, leaving both her and her owner with severe burns.
Are pet owners prepared?
The research also uncovered gaps in preparedness. Nearly one in five owners (16%) do not know where their nearest emergency or out-of-hours vet is located, only 29% have their vet’s contact details saved, and just 12% keep a pet first aid kit.
Awareness of life-threatening symptoms drops sharply beyond the most obvious signs. Around seven in ten owners correctly identified seizures, collapse and breathing difficulties as emergencies, but only 53% recognised a bloated stomach as potentially serious, and just 40% knew that straining to go to the toilet without producing anything could need urgent treatment. One in nine owners (11%) admitted giving a pet human medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, and a similar proportion had offered human food or drink in an attempt to help.
Hannah Beard, one of the UK’s leading emergency vet nurses, who works at Vets Now’s hospital in Manchester, said: “When a pet suddenly becomes seriously ill or injured, every minute can matter. While it’s encouraging that most owners say they would contact a vet immediately, our research shows that many still delay seeking professional advice by searching online, turning to social media or waiting to see if symptoms improve. The internet can be a useful source of information, but it should never replace prompt veterinary advice in a genuine emergency. Delays can sometimes make treatment more difficult and, in some cases, can put a pet’s life at risk. After 25 years spent caring for pets in emergencies, we know that increasing awareness and preparedness can make a real difference. That’s why we’re launching Pet Emergency Week, helping owners understand what to do when minutes matter.”
When Minutes Matter: free online masterclass
As part of Pet Emergency Week, Vets Now is hosting When Minutes Matter, a free online pet emergency masterclass run by emergency vets and nurses. It focuses on practical, real-world guidance: how to recognise common emergencies such as seizures, heatstroke, toxic ingestions, wounds and choking; what to do immediately; and when and how to get to a clinic quickly. CPR is covered as a short segment, with clear guidance on its role and limitations, reinforcing that getting a pet to a veterinary surgery as quickly as possible remains the priority.
Find advice, emergency guidance and register for the free masterclass at vets-now.com/25-years-saving-pets.
How to get involved
Vets Now is urging every owner to take three simple steps before an emergency happens:
- Save your nearest emergency vet’s number, and keep your own vet’s number saved too.
- Check where your closest out-of-hours clinic is.
- Keep basic pet first aid supplies at home.
Share the campaign with fellow pet owners, sign up for the masterclass, and use the week to make sure you know what to do if your pet needs help fast.
When is Pet Emergency Week?
Pet Emergency Week 2026 runs from Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October 2026. For more information visit www.vets-now.com.
Photo by Jonatan Bustos on Unsplash.
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