ARH Essendon Fields - 24/7 Emergency & Specialist Vets

Fantastic experience: Fantastic staff. Thank you for doing such a tough job with patience, compassion and kindness.

Fantastic experience: Great emergency vets. I’ve sadly had to use twice, the first time was really good communication at a very stressful time, with realistic expectations. The second time, at 4am there was a decent wait (as expected with other emergency cases that had to be prioritised being treated). Good advice given by the vet, and our little dog recovered within a couple of days with no further treatment required. Reasonably priced for emergency care. Definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: Thank you so much for taking care of Nova with her broken leg. She is now running around and hunting again with no issues or complications. She’s back in training school. As usual, the Essendon Fields staff went above and beyond with professionalism, hospitality and caring approach towards animals and owners. I wouldn’t take my pet anywhere else in an emergency. Thank you once again from Kya and Tracey

Fantastic experience: We visited with our puppy Sunday. Kayla and the reception team looked after her with such care. Thank you all very much.

Fantastic experience: Amazing treatment for my dog, professional, friendly and always helpful. Even received photos of my beautiful girl. So thankful.

Fantastic experience: Thank you so much, Lucky is feeling so much better. Shoutout to Dr Brianna and Vanessa!

Negative experience: We took our boy to ARH because he was struggling to wee, and we were genuinely scared that he might have a urinary obstruction. Given the urgency of the situation, we expected a thorough assessment. Unfortunately, no urine test or scan was performed during our visit. A week later, another vet diagnosed him with urine crystals after proper testing, which was very upsetting to learn as earlier investigation could have helped sooner. As an emergency hospital, I had hoped for more comprehensive diagnostics in such a critical situation.

Fantastic experience: Id like the thank all the staff for my highly stressful- but in the end - brief, anti-climatic, wholesome, respectful and empathetic emergency vet visit last night. I have a 12 year old rabbit who I’m deeply connected to and her regular vets weren’t able to see her due to capacity and it was after hours and she needed assistance. Recommended by the Rabbit Doctors for this situation, I called ahead and took her there. Direct map links were sent to my phone with exact coordinates so it was no drama to find and the staff took her back immediately so that she didn’t have to be stressed in a waiting room with mostly dogs. I was soon met by a deeply compassionate vet nurse with a genuine interest in Bean’s well being and shortly by the vet. The vet was also incredibly compassionate toward both bean and I and acknowledging our bond, bridging to me a gap I had experienced in the past with a pet rabbit being seen as an exotic pet due to the nature of certain practises. Bean was also very happy to be there, (as she had come good in that time it seems) and was being all smoochy with the staff. When we left the receptionist mentioned I had spoken to her when I rang originally and extended her greatest joys to hear that she was safe ans going home again. Whilst the vet said to us, well it was a pleasure to meet bean, we hope to not have to see her again in these circumstances but if we did, we would love to see her again. And bean and I feel the same way. Thank you for treating us with so much kindness. I would highly recommend this clinic for any pet that needs care, but in particular, if you found yourself in a situation where you needed to be cared for too.

Fantastic experience: Our dog had a severe anaphylactic reaction, and the team at ARH saved her life with their quick response and quality care. They were super caring and genuinely treated her as if she was their own. It was a scary time but the team were calm and clear about her treatment needs and we were kept informed regularly. This was a very expensive experience, but that makes total sense considering the specialist and emergent care that we received. I would highly recommend ARHand had absolutely no issues whatsoever with their care of our girl.

Fantastic experience: Amazing service. My kitty passed away at home and it was really sudden. A special thank to Angie and Natalie for your incredible kindness, compassion, patience, and empathy. Angie was amazing both over the phone and in person, calmly explaining everything in detail and helping me through each step. Natalie was also there, gently helping to prepare Izzy for our final moments together. For that, I am deeply grateful. Absolutely God’s send at that moment. It was a really hot day too and they happily kept my cat at their facility before the cremation service came to collect my baby with a refundable deposit. It was refunded to me afterwards without any trouble. I sincerely hope that all paw parents who come through their doors experience the same level of care and compassion that I did. Please keep up the wonderful work you do, it truly matters more than words can express. Thank you again.

Negative experience: I rescued a galah from my backyard and took care of it for a few weeks and then took it to the ARH so that they could release him to the wild safely, they euthanized it in less than 3 days time saying that he was under weight and not eating well. Anyone knows that when animals change environment, they need time to adjust, they never even gave him a chance. Fyi, it was not malnourished and there was nothing wrong with it.

Negative experience: Unfortunately my experience with ARH wasn't the best. And this comes 2 weeks after my initial visit for my kitten. When leaving the clinic I approached the counter to make payment for our visit. I was told the amount owing is $175 for the day. I made the payment and left. Today, 2 weeks later I receive an email stating I owe $245. I was confused as I made the payment on the day. I contact ARH and the first lady instantly doesn't want to deal with the matter and cuts me off by saying she will get someone else to handle this. The lady who then gets on the call tells me its for the emergency consult. I told her I seen on the invoice what it is for but why wasn't I notified at the time I came to make they payment. The initial invoice that was sent to me 2 weeks later says $420 was owing and that I paid $175. She then mentions it was a human error and she wasn't there when the conversation was happening so she doesn't know what was said. I told her it doesn't matter what was said. How can you not punch in the correct numbers and surprise me weeks later. Big difference between $420 and $175. The service over the phone was absolutely shocking and they do not know how to manage situations like this. Even though they took accountability for the "human error" side of things the tone in the voice was shocking and claiming I was yelling over the phone was ridiculous. They need to definitely fix up their invoicing system by notifying their customers. Such a terrible system. Lastly, I was told that I agreed to testing my cat which they left us in the room for 3 and half hours because he was positive for a virus. And said I agreed for the testing. They mentioned that they will be running tests on him and they will be back. They did not ask. I told them they have cameras in the room and they can check. That's what the $175 was for. But that was never mentioned at the counter. They didn't even print out an invoice for me or explain the consult fees. Never going back there again.

Fantastic experience: ARH Animal Hospital have been amazing with my ginger boy FP. He needed some x-rays to check on some stomach and intestinal issues. Over the week it took for us to get to the bottom of the problems, ARH provided genuine care and love at every point. I called multiple times for advice and updates and each time I was greeted kindly and given any information I asked for. Staff were always caring to me even when I became emotional a couple times. They were extensive with their work and they provided me with options for their findings and supported my decisions, and were helpful when I asked them for options regarding the costs associated with emergency care. The receptionist Amanda was especially amazing, she knew how scared FP was and checked on both of us to make sure he was as comfortable as possible. I highly recommend this vet, and I thank absolutely every person I spoke to over the course of FPs care (vet, vet nurse, and receptionists) - you all do such amazing work and I am so grateful to you and your kindness and expertise.

Negative experience: Rang up due to my dog having a seizure and got told I should call a normal GP in the morning and see who else is open in my area since I asked for their pricing. Lol I told you my dog had been there so you know I’ve spent 6k previously. Money hungry business.

Fantastic experience: Our dog Lily was transferred here following a critical illness on Boxingv Day.. all of the staff were exemplary and they saved our little Lilys life with their prompt assessment and management. We are forever indebted to these kind professionals and couldn't recommend them highly enough...Lily is back home with her family now but if it wasn't for these highly trained committed professionals we'd have been looking at a much different ending. Thankyou is not enough forvwhatvyoubdidcgorcout beautiful Lily. Xx

Fantastic experience: The Animal Referral Hospital were top notch in the treatment of my very sick dog with snakebite. The communication and updates kept me well informed and my expectations realistic. They were very kind and caring and happily my lovely dog survived and is continuing to recover at home!

Fantastic experience: We took my Dachshund to ARH Essendon Fields due to IVDD. In under 48 hours we have our boy back home after surgery. All of the staff we spoke to were lovely, kept us informed on progress, and kept us in high spirits during this time. We can't recommend this Vet enough, they were fantastic.

Fantastic experience: My dog was bitten by an eastern brown snake. Without this animal hospital my dog would’ve died.

Negative experience: I am physically sickened by this practice. My sweet 12 year old pup, Charlie, went downhill fast in the space of a few days, and we went to our regular vet. There, they diagnosed him with renal failure via a blood test and gave us the worst news imaginable- he wouldn't survive it. They gave us our options and said we could go to ARH to see if a drip may help. We took him there and I am so full of anger and regret I'm struggling to talk about it. All they seemed to care about was money. It was a $2000 deposit to get him on a drip, with 2-2.5k for the first 12 hours, then 800-1.5k every twelve hours afterwards. Against my better judgement I left him there, trying desperately to hold onto hope that we may get longer with him. Resuscitation was even brought up for a staggering extra $900 before I left. I understand being clear about pricing, but the way it was done felt so callous. The whole while I was being briefed on pricing I could hear the staff cackling with laughter out the back, while I tried to comfort my dog and come to terms with what he had been diagnosed with. We were given a few brief updates on Charlie, and I was called less than 24 hours after he was admitted, basically saying he was on the drip and his diabetic sugars were all over the place. The vet told us he has a UTI and 'poorly controlled diabetes', something my husband and I are personally affronted by- Charlie was diabetic for 6 years, never a hypo or hyper and always with regular curves at our usual caring vet. To say we didn't manage his condition well was so offensive to us. That afternoon on the call I asked what the total bill was at that stage : $4200... I was speechless, and when I queried it I was told 'well, you signed the consent, thats the upper limit you signed for'. Consent is not carte blanche to charge us whatever you want. At that stage we needed to bring Charlie home. We had tried and honestly that had depleted our resources, in addition to the $400 the day before at our usual vet. They wanted to keep him there 4-5 days, at almost $5000 for one day that was unfathomable to us. When I went to pick him up he was brought to me soaked through in his own urine- he was literally dripping with it. The vet told me she couldn't find a baby wipe. I absolutely shudder to think what his last day was like there, lying in his own mess, in pain and confused. I paid over $4600 to have him cared for there with you, and he was so ill that he ended up unable to walk and he died two days later when we went to Lort Smith, where they treated us so well and with such genuine compassion. Two days after he died I received a text from you telling me all his labs were normal. Thanks for that. Not even a follow up phone call. Do I think this place hastened Charlie's death? No. Do I think this practice exploited us and took poor care of Charlie? Yes. Do I wish I'd listened to my original vets' prognosis and given him a few great snuggly days free from being in a cage, on a drip, away from us. Yes. I will never, ever bring another animal of mine here again.

Negative experience: Really disappointed with the service from essendon. Our cat was due to have an ultrasound on the 8th, And instead they discharged her on the 8th and didn’t tell us they didn’t do the ultrasound. We got one from our local vet and they found a problem and now she needs emergency surgery which could have been done days ago. Staff were very friendly, but i wish they would have done this ultrasound as shes only been getting worse since her discharge.

Fantastic experience: The team at ARH are consistently wonderful with our fur babies (Narla & Kova) and treat them with genuine kindness. You can hear the love and care in their voices when our tail-babies are out the back and they think no one is listening — that alone speaks volumes about the level of compassion they give, even when we’re not in front of them. We’ve never once felt that our pups were anything less than in the very best hands. They're effecient with billing and create claims for us by submitting them straight to our pet insurance company too (Pet insurance Australia). We are extremely grateful. ❤️

Fantastic experience: Incredible service, I have had both of my dogs unfortunately require emergency treatments and both times ARH Essendon have gone above and beyond. I hope you don’t need to visit, but if you do you will be in great hands.

Negative experience: My family has used ARH Essendon Fields multiple times over the years. Yes, they’re expensive — everyone knows that about emergency vets — but historically we’ve always felt that the care and professionalism justified the cost. Unfortunately, our experience last night was very different. At midnight my mum called me distressed because our 14-year-old Maltese cross was panting heavily and had wet the bed. We phoned ARH, explained the symptoms, and were advised to bring her in immediately. Mum arrived quickly and was seen almost straight away, which we appreciated. The vet who assessed her was calm, thorough, and explained clearly that while our dog was in pain and needed diagnostics, she wasn’t in a life-threatening condition. The estimated cost for the first 12 hours of monitoring and testing was $2,800–$3,000. Naturally, that’s a huge financial decision for us, and because I’m the official owner, Mum called me so the vet could walk us through the next steps. I woke my partner so he could help me make an informed decision — because this isn’t a $50 choice, it’s a multi-thousand-dollar one with long-term impact. What happened next is where everything fell apart. When the nurse returned to the room, instead of showing even a shred of empathy or patience, her response to hearing my partner join the call was: “Do you have any other family members I’ll need to explain this to? Because I can’t repeat myself, so best get them on a call now.” In a moment where my family was already distressed, overwhelmed, and trying to make a responsible financial decision, this level of condescension was unnecessary and honestly disgraceful. Emergency vet bills are significant — the least you expect is compassion, not sarcasm. We’re grateful for the vet who treated our dog with care, but the nurse’s attitude completely overshadowed the experience. At a clinic that deals with scared families, suffering animals, and huge financial decisions, empathy isn’t optional — it’s part of the job.

Fantastic experience: We were very satisfied with the service and care we received at the ARH at a recent visit. The team are outstanding, caring, patient, and understanding - highly recommend ARH for vetinary care for their animal.

Fantastic experience: The minimum help I received from Daniel was absolutely priceless. She managaed to provide some advice and referrals options for my pet bird, despite the fact that they don't receive sick pet birds. I can't thank her enough for the reassurance and support she provided.

Fantastic experience: Amazing team and with great staff that clearly care. Special thanks to the nurse that helped look after our Koji and kept not just him, but myself reassured with her kindness, patience and empathy. Appreciate all that you do!

Positive experience: We had a glucose monitor attached to my dogs back after realising the sensor was faulty we were made to pay for a new one even though the one fitted was less than a day old ARH have reviewed this and have since refunded my money for the faulty sensor Thanks Laura for the follow up

Fantastic experience: I wasn't aware that we had an emergency service let alone specialist vets at Essendon Fields, however, when we were in urgent need for vet care on a public holiday our normal vet provided ARH as the closest facility that would be able to provide care for our boy. The team at ARH Essendon Fields are all extremly knowledgeable, and having the specialist vets in the same building truly saved our boys life. We cant thank the team at ARH enough for the care and love they showed. I will always refer people I know here over anywhere else.

Fantastic experience: Thank you for taking care of Magnus, even though he didn’t make it, the care and compassion from everyone was amazing and appreciated.

Negative experience: I called at midnight, 25th November asking for assistance and to see if I could bring my dog's in who was profusely panting for several hours. The nurse who answered the call was dismissive and very unhelpful. She said there would be a 7 hour wait and suggested I go elsewhere. I asked for advice over the phone for how I could calm my dog down in the meantime while I find another emergency clinic, she hung up ! As you would be expected, Im not only panicking about the welfare of my dog but now angry and frustrated that help could not be offered, not even advice on how to locate another emergency centre. Very disappointing experience.

Fantastic experience: The vets and nurses at ARH were amazing. My dog was diagnosed with cancer, and Dr Thurid was so kind and empathetic. She helped me through the most difficult decisions, and I am forever grateful for that. The hospital does get busy, and the wait times can be up to 6 hours for non-urgent cases, but this is no different from any other emergency room. The care my dog and I received at ARH was the only positive thing during a very sad time.

Fantastic experience: Understandably this is a place where emotions will be high and outcomes vary. That is the nature of emergency care. I can say despite the sad circumstances of my visit that the staff here very much do care about the people and pets that come through their doors. They are very earnest and direct, with empathy that is especially admirable and appreciated given they are working with difficult cases and in stressful conditions daily. The reception, nursing staff and vet were all very kind and accommodating as we made the difficult decision to say goodbye to my treasured boy. We felt respected and heard. Thank you so much.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful staff. Found a pup that no other vet clinic offered to help contact the owner only them.

Fantastic experience: The staff were friendly and helpful to me and very attentive to my dog and made me feel at ease in a very stressful situation.

Fantastic experience: We took our dog to the Emergency centre as advised by them, because we thought he could have swallowed 2 pieces of snail bate. It turned out he had not, but the vets there were fantastic and very helpful working quickly just in case. All was good. Best place to go.

Fantastic experience: Lola my dachshund was unwell with a sore back in the morning, worse in the evening and I took her to ARH and they diagnosed IVDD and within 24 hours she was in surgery being looked after very well by a caring team

Fantastic experience: They saved my cat’s life — exceptional care and compassion. Our Ragdoll, Finley, became suddenly and severely ill — vomiting, lethargic, and unresponsive. We rushed him to the Animal Referral Hospital (Essendon), where the team immediately took action. The vets diagnosed a serious gastrointestinal and immune issue with very low white blood cells and platelets. Finley was admitted to intensive care for fluids, antibiotics, and pain relief. The staff were calm, kind, and kept us updated throughout. Thanks to their quick response and expert treatment, Finley pulled through what could have been fatal. He’s now home, recovering well, and back to his gentle self. Huge thanks to Dr Phillip Guirguis, Dr Harris Boubis, and the entire ARH Essendon team — you truly saved his life. We’ll always be grateful. — Matthew Scamporlino

Fantastic experience: Friendly caring staff Easy to get to here, easy to park Pup had to get a TLPO - level of support we are getting for after care questions is fantastic.. this will be my new emergency vet - better here than the other one we had used. :)

Fantastic experience: Very caring specialist team of vets/surgeons and specialized equipment who prioritize the health and wellbeing of your pet.

Fantastic experience: Thank God for ARH Essendon Fields. This Sunday night just past my dog Loki (German Shepherd) started retching repeatedly which is very unusual for him. I felt his stomach and it was as "hard as rock"... my daughters and I were very worried. I feared Bloat (Or GDV) and drove him straight to ARH. I don't think there was even 2 minutes between me entering ARH with Loki and my daughters in tow and the nurses taking Loki in to see a VET. As soon as the nurses heard me describe Loki's symptoms and they saw Loki's demeanour they were straight on to taking care of him with urgency. While Loki was in there with the Vets the nurses let me know that they'd taken a scan, released some gas from Loki's stomach and had him on pain medication intravenously. The vet came out and took us to a consultation room where she confirmed that Loki had bloat and had GDV (twisted stomach) and that he would require surgery. She spoke wth us with the greatest of empathy and care and explained everything to us about the surgery and it's implications. We love our Loki and surgery was the only option for us to make sure our boy lived with us lovingly for many years to come ... we were distraught and scared because no surgery comes without its risks. Loki was prepped for surgery and we were taken in to see him just before his surgery and give him our love and kisses. Loki went into surgery and we went home (10 minutes away in Strathmore) and waited for the Vet to call ... nervously pacing and shedding a tear every so often. We love Loki so much. After a couple of hours the Vet called us and advised the surgery was successful and that there was no damage to his stomach and spleen (or indeed any other organs). The stomach and spleen can get damaged if bloat is left undiagnosed for too long which then affects likelihood of recovery and quality of life after surgery. The Vet advised that we had recognised Loki's symptoms early and got him to the ARH emergency really quickly. Loki came home Monday night and is now recovering well. We can't thank ARH, the veterinary doctors and the nurses enough for what they did for Loki and us and how well they took care of Loki and kept us informed. They made us feel like Loki was the most valuable dog on earth and that we were the most valuable people. Thank you to everyone at ARH Essendon Fields. We will always be forever grateful for you saving Loki's life. The most important things to remember for owners of larger dogs is that time is a huge factor when it comes to Bloat and GDV (it can get fatal for your dog very quickly). If your dog shows any signs of discomfort (and is dry retching) and changes in behaviour and has a hard stomach then do not waste any time watching to see if your dog settles ... head straight to Vet emergency. Best case is that if your dog does have GDV then your dog gets the care they need quickly ... the worst case is you may have wasted a couple of hours of your life waiting for some comfort from the vet that nothing major is wrong and everything is alright but you re-affirm that your feeling that you love your dog and that they are a very important part of your life and your family. Special call outs to Nanwyn and Rachel who were the Vets that took care of Loki and us. I can't have asked for better care for Loki, with great communication and support for my daughters and I. You both hold a special place in our hearts for taking care of Loki. Thanks just doesn't seem enough but ... Thanks again ARH.

Fantastic experience: This has been our second experience where our vet has referred one of our greyhounds to the ARH. It's expensive but no stone is left unturned when determining the cause of our dogs' illnesses. The cost is explained beforehand so there are no surprises, and the standard of care has been outstanding.

Negative experience: What a great waste of money. I took my cat here for an emergency because he couldn’t jump and was clearly in pain. I told both the nurses and the vet twice that I felt a wound, as there was a large bump on his back. Instead, they shaved the wrong area and completely missed the animal bite. They then suggested radiographs to check his spine and even mentioned we might need to discuss “quality of life” if it was a spinal issue. The estimate given was $1500–2500. I understand they need to rule out worst-case scenarios, but paying $500 only to later find out it was just an abscess shows a clear lack of experience.

Fantastic experience: Very professional and caring. Service is not cheap but costs are very clear up front. Would not take my pets anywhere else for emergency care

Fantastic experience: I’ve had to bring my pets to ARH Essendon on multiple occasions, for emergencies on both ends of the spectrum - i.e a dog that was bitten by a snake, and a cat that wasn’t going to the bathroom - so I feel qualified to say these veterinarians are incredible no matter what your emergency is. I’ve always been provided with such great care and been communicated to calmly and concisely - even under distress. Wonderful communication over the phone and throughout my pet’s care. Reliable, kind and so helpful. Thank you for everything you do!

Fantastic experience: Amazing care was shown for our dog, Gigi. Staff were calm, friendly and so knowledgable - they took the time to explain Gigi's injury, treated her thoroughly and also spoke about what we needed to do going forward. I am in awe of these incredible vets and nurses who look after our beautiful pets each day. THANK YOU, we are so very grateful for you!

Negative experience: We just wanted to provide some feedback regarding putting our dear bunny to sleep, we were not given enough time to say our final goodbyes before the vet put him to rest, we were given less then a minute before the injection was done, next time please provide families with more time with there beloved pet.

Fantastic experience: The staff at ARH Essendon are absolutely amazing. The care and compassion shown to our dog Ned and to our family during our most horrific experience has made the whole process bearable. The extra special touches you provide have touched our hearts and will never be forgotten- thank you.

Fantastic experience: My cat, Pancake, experienced heart failure and from the moment I entered the clinic (despite a waiting room full of other furry patients) the team at ARH recognised the urgency and they sprung into action and prioritised his medical treatment. It was all happening so fast and alot of information to take in, but the Vet patiently repeated and explained to ensure I understood the process. Overall, the team explained the procedure, diagnosis and action plan for ongoing treatment for his heart disease. Thank you Team ARH for your prompt action. My family were happy to see Pancake return home and Pancake was happy to be home for plenty of extra well needed cuddles!

Fantastic experience: Thank you to all of the staff at ARH Essendon Fields for looking after Ollie, or better known around the place as “Mr Sultana”. Very happy with the quality of care and professional manner of all staff.

Fantastic experience: We knew something was seriously wrong with Grizz when we rushed him to hospital. They looked after him and saved him from a potentially fatal situation. The after-care was great with constant phone calls with updates.

Fantastic experience: I just wanted to say how grateful myself and my partner were of the care and ultimate love to our boy coco. The whole team kept us in the loop for the whole time. Highly recommended if you need of a emergency.

Fantastic experience: Thank you for helping Chica She had a stick stuck in her mouth and was a little distressed staff were very quick to respond and remove it you guys are awesome

Fantastic experience: Fortunately, this review is not for an emergency but for a follow up visit for my cat who has minor eye issues. Dr. Matt from Animal Eye Care in Malvern (who are amazing btw) does periodical visits in various suburbs for those who cannot travel to Malvern. One of these clinics are ARH Essendon Fields, Dr. Matt does appointments in one of their consult rooms, but not affiliated with ARH. This Animal Hospital is a 24/7 emergency hospital, located within the Essendon Airport vicinity. The ladies at the desk were polite and efficient. I hope I never have to rush my cats here but knowing where it is, is a relief and looks like a clean, well managed animal hospital.

Fantastic experience: I’ve had two Mini Dachshunds had IVDD and these Vets and staff are fantastic! I would recommend them to everyone with an emergency! Thank you

Negative experience: Extremely expensive charging more for pet care than human care. We were due a refund after having to pay up front for our pet admission but the refund wasn’t able on discharge had to wait almost 7 days for it to appear in our bank account…. Would not recommend based on above

Negative experience: Came here for an emergency because my cat had a UTI and was struggling in pain. My partner and I spent our last 3 thousand dollars for these guys to send us home the next day and him be even worse than he was. Absolutely unbelievable and unacceptable, never coming here again, if you need help go somewhere else. Not to forget to mention but they also charged us 2 thousand and five hundred dollars over the total price because the first payment ‘wasn’t processed’, although they are refunding that, it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

Negative experience: I’ve now taken my dog to this clinic twice in a very short time and paid over $500 total, yet still received very poor care. Both visits involved minimal examination and no effective treatment or clear plan to help my dog get better. It’s incredibly frustrating and disappointing to pay so much and be told to just go home without answers or support. I expected much more professionalism and attention given the fees charged. If you care about your pet’s health and want proper care, I recommend looking elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: Can not recommend the entire team at ARH enough. They were so great to work with, and Dr Tania was amazing. I do not recommend your dog needing TPLO surgery, but if they do - These are the people you want to be looking after your pet!

Fantastic experience: Our dog, Bear, was very unwell so we took him in to ARH (our second time). Everyone is so professional and caring. Asked lots of questions and listened patiently to all the answers to get to the bottom of the problem (and it was a bottom problem - he swallowed a large gum nut). Kept up to date on progress, had photo sent during overnight stay (settled our nerves), outstanding handover, super patient on a couple of follow up calls. Cannot recommend more highly. Thank you, Brianna, Dana, Gwen, Keeley, Amanda et al. Bear is back to 100%.

Fantastic experience: Very caring. Rushed my kitten straight onto oxygen when he couldn't breathe properly. Quickly diagnosed him with fip and were able to guide us onto special American medication that saved his life. Thanking so much. All staff caring, knowledgeable and professional.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful care for my old English sheepdog who we thought ate a hearing aid, fortunately the ex rays showed he didn’t. Lovely people and very efficient in an emergency. Thanks guys

Negative experience: I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the recent experience my dog and I had at your clinic. During our visit, we encountered several distressing issues that have left me feeling extremely unsettled. Firstly, the customer service we received was unacceptable. Not only did the staff hang up on us mid-sentence, but they also provided us with an incorrect diagnosis, which led to further confusion and anxiety. The lack of care and empathy shown towards my dog, who was clearly in pain, was disheartening. To make matters worse, our information was lost, compounding the already stressful situation. Losing crucial details about my dog's health and history only added to the distress we were experiencing. I must emphasize the emotional and physical toll this experience has had on my beloved pet. Seeing my dog struggle with pain while facing such negligence and incompetence was heartbreaking. It is vital for veterinary professionals to understand the gravity of their actions and the impact they have on both animals and their owners. Moving forward, I urge you to address these issues promptly and take necessary steps to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. Implementing training programs for your staff, enhancing customer service protocols, and optimizing your overall procedures are crucial steps to ensure the well-being of all animals under your care. I sincerely hope that by bringing these concerns to your attention, we can work together to improve the quality of care provided at your clinic. Our pets deserve the best possible treatment, and it is essential that they receive the attention and compassion they need during times of distress. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response and actions to rectify the situation. Sincerely, Annadisco Queen

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend ARH. It's comforting to enable a 24/7 service for for any pets that require their service during the night or if a regular vet is unavailable. 10 out of 10 given for the service of the Team as well as the assistance of the Vet that gave a full explanation of care and after care for our furbub

Negative experience: Absolutely heartbroken and disgusted. I found an injured possum on the road. He was alive, alert, eating, and could walk; just leaning a little. I took him into my home and cared for him. After calling wildlife services, I was instructed to take him to this clinic for assessment. An hour after I dropped him off, they coldly told me “We had to euthanise him because the chances were low.” No proper update, no discussion, nothing. I even offered to take him back immediately and bring him to another vet or wildlife carer; but they refused and said “You’re not allowed.” They chose to end his life without giving him a real chance. He was showing signs of hope, and he deserved better. The staff were shockingly rude and dismissive. It felt like they were more interested in getting rid of the animal than actually helping. There was zero compassion. This clinic should not be trusted with wildlife. I’m devastated and furious. That possum deserved a chance to live. This place does NOT care about wildlife. Do not trust them with vulnerable animals, they clearly prefer to take the easy way out rather than try to help. Absolutely devastated.

Fantastic experience: My 5 year old dachshund required immediate IVDD surgery. I was very anxious about this and everyone at the ARH were so incredibly caring. The vet was informative and clearly stated the possible options, as well as requirements needed to support his recovery. I also really appreciate the regular check ins on how my dog was feeling post op. I would highly recommend ARH to anyone in need of pet surgery.

Negative experience: My dog was attacked by another dog and we had to rush him to the nearest 24 hour emergency vet. The staff and vet on the 15/06/2025 night shift were amazing. However, they insisted of keeping him overnight at the hospital. Fine we paid to let him stay overnight. They took a deposit of $3500. He was warded at 7pm with wounds on his belly due to being bitten. At 12:06am they called to inform that they have done nothing except an X-ray (the Xray came back clear with no visible internal injuries) and stapled him up, and will access him in the morning. When morning came, my husband called them at 5:30am and they told my husband that they will access him at 9-11am (my deposit was for a 12hour slot) which means they have done nothing except given him that Xray and stapled him up. So at 8:15 am I went to the hospital to request for him to be discharged since he has no internal injuries. I was met with the rudest most awful service staff with an orange hair and she was just so horrible to us. She can’t just be kind and respectful. I hope that the hospital can really work on such rude staff and have them learn basic human decency when talking to pet owners who have their poor fur baby in the hospital. Above that, she tried to prolong the timing as if to incur an additional stay hence extra charge. I would strongly not advice pet owners to bring their fur babies to this hospital unless it’s the only one available

Fantastic experience: “Spoke to a lovely lady on the phone about my cat Momo’s infected site. She was prompt, detailed, and incredibly friendly. Excellent service and great communication really appreciated the detailed information !”

Fantastic experience: Compassionate and very caring team, tried really hard to help and define the issue my cat suffered from, found a solution and with their continued care and supervision and compatible medication, my cat has gone on to recover with very good health and lives a very contented and longer life, which has been a blessing not only for my cat, but also for all of us who love him so much. Thank you team, you are such beautiful people, I am so very glad to have found you all.

Fantastic experience: My 1.5yo Staffy was bitten on the face the other night, and despite being human aggressive, they did not treat him, or me, without anything other than kindness and respect. I completely respect and advise on caution (always calling ahead so the professionals can prepare themselves) as I understand the safety of staff and the public is paramount, however regardless of this, we’ve previously been treated like monsters because of his anxiety and aggression before, so witnessing the kindness, respect and professionalism toward him while trying to make the ordeal less stressful on all was truly refreshing. He stayed the night, and did not walk out appearing terrified or like he’d been mistreated, and not only were his wounds repaired as needed, one (or more) of the staff were amazing enough to trim his nails under sedation as per my request, even though I was told it isn’t a service usually provided. While I was waiting for him to wake up from the following morning, one of the staff took photos of my phone to reassure me he was okay. I can’t fault this place on anything. They are amazing and so appreciated by me.

Negative experience: Terrible experience and a cash grab. Serious pet owners should avoid at all costs. Arrived at 8pm at night with my dog that had diarrhoea and was vomiting. Was told that they will have to do a blood test. After the blood test was completed we were told that our dog could have an auto immune disease and would have to stay overnight. We were quoted over $2000. When I asked for an explanation the vet couldn’t give me a straight answer let alone maintain eye contact. I told them I would like a copy of the blood work so I could take him to my regular vet. They insisted that give him an injection and keep him overnight. Upon refusing the vet got her back up and got extremely defensive claiming that the injecting wouldn’t do anything to the dog. Who mentioned anything about the injection getting the dog sick and why lead with that. We took our dog home and the following morning took our dog to our regular vet. Taco was prescribed ani inflammatory medication and electrolytes and is doing fine now. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET HERE THEY WILL TRY TO PRAY ON YOUR FEARS AND TAKE YOUR MONEY CERTAINLY DO NOT LEAVE THEM OVERNIGHT. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WILL GIVE YOUR DOG. A REAL VET WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS ON THE SPOT.

Fantastic experience: Excellence in every aspect of veterinary care, this team has highly skilled and knowledgeable veterinary specialists, kind and super efficient admin staff, and fantastic nursing staff. From the moment we arrived, we felt cared for, comforted and heard. Everything was fully explained about our dog’s condition and surgery, and the processing of pet insurance claims was made easy with GAP payments that saved us a lot of additional stress. My family is so thankful for this amazing and amazingly skilled group of professionals who took wonderful care of our much loved mini dachshund, Henry. Highly recommended.

Negative experience: Absolutely do not go here. They are extremely rude and show no care for the animals — the ONLY thing they care about is MONEY. They charge you for every little thing. I took my cat there during an emergency, and she had to stay at the clinic overnight. When I got her back, her voice was very bad, as if there was a problem with her lungs. When I asked why her voice was like that, the vet told me it was due to the medication. That same night, my cat had multiple seizures again, so I had to go back. There was a different vet this time, and I explained everything, saying her breathing and voice weren’t the same as before and that she had stayed in their clinic. All that vet did was blame me. He insisted it must have happened at home and claimed it couldn’t possibly be caused by the clinic or the medication. Then, they tried to charge me another service fee for a problem they likely caused themselves. Before all of this, they had done a blood test on my cat and told me they would call me with the results. They never called. When I asked about it, they kept brushing it off. There are much better clinics and veterinarians than these people. Do NOT go here — they are incredibly irresponsible and only care about taking your money.

Fantastic experience: The staff were amazing! All the nurses and vets as well as reception were so knowledgeable. Even before I got there I had the gist of what was happening because of the clear over the phone advice and despite the wait times (which were expected as it is an emergency location) both of my cats were kept calm and comfortable which impressed me a lot because one of them is particularly anxious normally.

Fantastic experience: In March of this year, we lost our Doberman Rocky who was 12 years old to wobblers and spinal issues. Prior to his passing, he was in the care of ARH, and it is with my whole heart that I have never felt so well cared for. Our vet/surgeon Jenna was incredible, as were all the other staff members we engaged with while seeking advice and treatment for Rocky. Unfortunately we were not able to keep him with us and the best thing we could do for him was let him pass peacefully. The hospital thoughtfully send a card to me after his passing. I couldnt recommend this place and thier surgeons enough. Thank you AVH

Fantastic experience: Thank you to all the staff for looking after my little girl Pheebe! The regular updates were much appreciated, as was the willingness of the surgical team to fast-track her surgery before she got worse. The whole experience was made easier thanks to this amazing team!

Fantastic experience: The staff here are excellent they took such good care of my dog and really helped put our minds at rest when we rushed him in for help. I highly recommend this animal hospital to take care of your pets.

Fantastic experience: I can’t thank the team at AHR Essendon enough for the incredible care they provided during a very stressful time. My cat suffered a severe tail injury and we rushed in late at night, terrified and unsure what to expect. From the moment we arrived, the staff were calm, compassionate, and completely focused on helping our precious kitty. They assessed Pepper immediately, explained everything clearly, and treated both her and me with such kindness and professionalism. The team was incredibly skilled, gentle, and honest about the treatment plan, giving me complete confidence in their care. I am so grateful to have had such capable and genuinely caring hands looking after Pepper. Highly, highly recommend this clinic to anyone needing emergency care. They are absolute lifesavers

Fantastic experience: The veterinary team was exceptional. Despite a two-hour journey, I was able to get there promptly, and Frankie was immediately attended to with great care. We received a thorough explanation of her diagnosis—IVDD—and were kept well-informed throughout the process. She underwent surgery and was treated with the highest level of care and compassion. I am truly impressed by the hospital’s professionalism and deeply grateful for the kindness and empathy shown to both Frankie and myself.

Fantastic experience: Called up about a nose bleed with the intent of coming in however had a very helpful chat over the phone where we were able to stop the bleeding and get some helpful tips. The lady over the phone (I didn’t quite catch her name) was more than happy to help and came across extremely caring. Helped ease our nerves and also possibly saved me an unnecessary vet visit & bill! Thank you!

Fantastic experience: AHR took amazing care of my cat and were extremely communicative with me and my wife throughout his recovery. Over the course of 48 hours we called them a number of times for advice and always received patient and understanding care. Our cat is now completely fine and we are so grateful to the whole team. Special shout out to Charlie, the vet who spared no detail on ensuring our boy was okay. Also thank you to reception, you have all been so kind and cheerful in an otherwise stressful time.

Fantastic experience: Had very good care. My 14 year old bengal was having difficulty breathing and I took him in at 3am. They were fast, professional, and handled the difficult diagnosis with care.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely the best place to take our dog in an after hours emergency. Thank you SO much to Dr Cat Huang who cared both for Freya and us and spent as much time as it needed to explain everything to us. Freya is recovering well at home now and we will never forget the kindness and expertise of the team at ARH Essendon Fields.

Fantastic experience: Had to bring our 17yo dog in after she had had a very bad turn in her health in the middle of the night. It is the only time we had been to this clinic. We knew that it would be her last night with us and the staff were amazing and patient. They showed a lot of care and compassion towards our little baby and us in her final moments.

Fantastic experience: Our dog needed emergency treatment after-hours and even though the wait was awhile before we were seen we understand this is a clinic which needs to prioritise those needing care. The surgical procedure was carefully explained and communication after the surgery was all we hope it to be. Happy to recommend Essendon Fields Veterinary Clinic.

Fantastic experience: Once again ARH Essendon Fields Veterinary Specialists are our heroes! Our little Indie ate her toy, but they got it back!! They have helped us at least two other times with our last dog and they were wonderful. Thankful for all of you. ❤️

Fantastic experience: I had to take my dear little cat Fifi in today for fluids for acute renal failure. The staff were wonderful and caring I saw Dr. Cherling who explained everything to me. Fifi was very unwell and after a while Dr Cherling rang me and gave me the options for her. I decided to not go ahead with the options because she has been through enough and I didn't want her to suffer any more. So I decided to have her peacefully put to sleep and now I know she is at peace. I am so sad for having to have to do it, bit I am thinking of her. I would definitely recommend this wonderful place to anyone with an unwell pet. Thank you so much. Lorraine and Fifi

Fantastic experience: A big and humble Thank you to all who work at ARH . . I fellt sympathy and empathy on the phone and in the clinic . Was given a long time to say good buy to my little 18 year old cat. You guys are just amazing! .. Think I was meant to get an email with details of where this cemetery is.. but my brainfog was up there .. if it arrives I'll upgrade to 5

Fantastic experience: I wanted to share our absolutely amazing experience with ARH Essendon. From the moment we walked in the door, everybody we spoke to was so kind, everybody with a smile on their face. My little tabby kitten, Nala, was quite unwell, and we had no idea what was causing it, or how her care would turn out. We had our other ginger cat with us to act as a blood donor, Barry, who was very vocal and opinionated, our whole trip down! We were feeling very stressed and out of sorts. We had our initial consultation with the amazing Vet Nurse, Katarina, and her wonderful student. They were so kind, charismatic and professional, and it really lifted our spirits. Dr Rob was so thorough with his assessment, he was incredibly kind, and he was so honest and upfront about everything, from the results of assessments, to the cost of different treatments. The wonderful Dr Helsa also delivered care to Nala, she was always so happy, honest, and really put our minds at ease. As much as it was a very long 2 days of being at ARH Essendon, everybody worked so quickly, and we had our beautiful Nala back home at the end of day 2, with a diagnosis and a clear treatment plan. Our other cat, Barry, was not too impressed being told what to do, but I’m sure he is feeling pretty proud of himself, for playing a part in helping Nala get better. Thank you again so much for all your kindness, professionalism and care. I will always return knowing we will be in safe hands. Thankyou, Jessica, Nala and Barry.

Negative experience: After waiting 4.5 hrs a 10 min consult they charged me $391 for pain relief and consult . The vet wasn’t helpful. They should be upfront with what they charge. There is no pricing nothing anywhere. My cats leg may be broken but she doesn’t know so then for a xray they wanted $800 and only because I asked . They love to take your money and not provide no services.

Fantastic experience: No one loves an emergency, especially as someone who has chosen to not get pet insurance (have bestforpet) however I felt like given our scenario at the time, seeking professional help at near midnight was the best solution for our dog - and this clinic was a delight to work with. No one was there when I got there so wait time was near nothing, and I felt really good about the explanation afterwards in the rooms with the doctor as to what happened with my dog and what I should expect/do from there. 10/10 service.

Fantastic experience: Yesterday my partner and I rushed our 1 y/o cat Shark to ARH Essendon due to a dislocated shoulder. The vets took the utmost care when attending to him and despite him popping it back in himself they ran as many checks as possible and took extensive notes on his condition. The entire experience was incredibly smooth, they were able to have us attend with only 10 minutes notice and all the staff were very knowledgeable. They prescribed him a mild sedative to ensure he gets the rest he needs and were able to send me all of the notes they took during the appointment. I fully trust ARH Essendon and believe they have your pets best interests at heart. I’m so grateful to all of the staff, especially Scarlett Wong who attended to Shark and Andrea at front desk who was able to talk to me over the phone about Sharks condition before we arrived. I wish I could rate them more than 5 stars. Thank you so much ARH ❤️❤️

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend ARH for an emergency or if you need specialist veterinary care. Very understanding and caring of our fur baby's needs. Communication and service was fantastic. Payment process was easy and seamless as they claimed directly with our pet insurance.

Negative experience: Recently lost my dog at ARH. Took 2 visits within 24 hours to get a diagnosis and by that time it was too late. Only on the second visit I received care and concern for my dog. The reason for my 1 star: My partner and I came into the hospital at midnight to say a final goodbye to our dog at which point there was no one in the waiting room. The reception staff were laughing away and chatting whilst we balled our eyes out in the lobby. After 15 minutes I hear one of them whisper to the other that they forgot to tell the vets we were waiting in the lobby to say goodbye. Really poor form... so disrespectful and completely unprofessional. Will never return to this hospital.

Fantastic experience: Cannot recommend this practice enough after our very stressful ordeal yesterday! After our treating vet did not take our concerns seriously that our French bulldog was in labour Friday night even just to assess her on Saturday we were brushed off. Saturday afternoon she was leaking dark green discharge which is extremely dangerous if no puppies have been birthed. Our treating vet advised us she can birth naturally as they cannot preform a c section until Sunday. Thankful we did NOT take their advice and we rushed our girl to ARH. Upon arrival she was taken straight through and assessed, bought back out to us and then taken into a room to be told there is a puppy stuck and they’re all in distress!! The nurses started prepping for emergency c section! In this time she had pushed out the stuck puppy so distressing! The team were absolutely faultless in how they acted. Our girl was put under with the remaining 6 delivered safely along with our girls care receiving the best treatment and care for recovery! All 7 pups and mum are healthy and thriving and Mumma is doing amazing. Thank you to ARH for acting fast to ensure the health and safe arrival of not only mum but all babies. We are so very greatful especially in dealing with 2 very distressed dog parents. The girls at the front were amazing along with the treating vet! Thank you all for taking care of our Lucy

Negative experience: Absolutely not coming back to this 24hr vet. $245 for a consult which was basically 15 mins for the dr to poke my poor dogs back paw with a biospy needle and fail on all occasians oh and make him bleed more then before we came in. $55 for a bandage like it's a bandage which probably costs you to order like $5 a roll. Waited 3 hours with no water bowls anywhere for my dog to drink and also provided no medication in the mean time just wack on a bandage and see you later. The dr we had was not nice at all and differently will not be recommending or bring my animals here again. The only reason for 2 stars is because they provided pet parents with tea or coffee.

Negative experience: It’s only now that I’m healed enough to put a review here. But get ready because it’s not great. I would never return here with my new little dog. I’d be too afraid because of what happened with my last Dog on September 2, 2024. On September 1 I rushed my little Moodle to this establishment and was kept waiting for 4 1/2 hours after they’ve taken her vitals when we first walked in , she progressively got worse and worse. I didn’t press the staff at the front desk who were at times laughing and chatting when I needed them to clean up the blood that my dog was vomiting (and also it was coming out of her back end.) I had to watch my little otherwise healthy 4 1/2 year-old dog suffer. For 4 1/2 hours. I look back on this time and it replays my mind like a bad movie. I can’t get it out of my head. People told me to get another dog which I did and she’s beautiful, but she’ll never replace Stevie on what I have to endure that day watching Stevie suffer . They said she was fine and they keep her overnight and she died the next day of sepsis. I have no idea what was wrong with my little girl, but I really feel that we didn’t get the attention that we needed at that horrific time. I’m sorry to have to put this review up here and I haven’t wanted to do it because I don’t like writing negative reviews . I know we’re all human and we’re just trying to do our best. But I really think if they had attended to her, she might still be alive and 4 1/2 hours of watching that horror and then telling me that she was fine just doesn’t sit right for me. I’m sorry to all the staff who did do their best I’m sorry to anyone who came on the shift afterwards and had to deal with the aftermath from the day before I’m not sorry to the Desk staff who weren’t very helpful in cleaning up all the blood that was a constant every five or six minutes for 4 1/2 hours . You didn’t make our time there any easier. And I’m not sorry to the management who I don’t think really told me the truth about what happened to my Stevie that day . I’m sorry to do anyone else who has to read this . But I will look elsewhere if anything ever happens to my dog now . They are too precious to be kept waiting for 4 1/2 hours when they’re so sick.

Fantastic experience: Our beautiful Kelpie had multiple seizures starting at 1am this morning. She’s a rescue doggo and for the six months we have had her we managed to have zero seizures until last night. So it was utterly distressing to say the least. We live near Ballarat so no emergency vet near us. We rang ARH after the first seizure to confirm what we should do and they were so wonderful and helpful with two more follow up phone calls from very emotional people. Paige and the other lovely nurse whose name I cannot recall were fabulous thank you. We ended up taking her down and arrived around 5am. They took her in straight away. Assessed her and suggested keeping her 24 hours for monitoring. I was concerned with her trauma history that overnight might actually stress her more so they suggested 12 hours which felt good for us. We hung around the area and popped in again and got to see her and spend some time patting her before we left her for another few hours of monitoring. Every single staff member was kind and gentle and caring. You do need to pay half expected fee upfront but that was fine and fully informed and discussed and given the emergency situation the fee seemed reasonable given the alternative for us. On discharge the lovely vet whose name I cannot recall I’m sorry in my delirious lack of sleep state spent time explaining everything they had done and said to just give them a call if any concerns whatsoever and what to look out for etc. Thank you all night shift and day shift staff today you really made a difference for us today at an incredibly distressing time and we are so very grateful.

Fantastic experience: The treatment explanations and presentation of options were very good. There was no pressure. Things weren't rushed even though the waiting room was full. The staff were very competent and personable. Treatment cost was not low but our dog fully recovered (he ate a turkey bone and it lodged in his body). We got value for our money. Reception was caring and attentive. We are happy clients.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely would recommend this place for Veterinary care, had to leave my girl overnight for observation after suspected brown snake bite all involved were so caring and put me completely at ease leaving her there every thing was explained to me patiently so I understand exactly what would be happening, really great place if you need veterinary care for your pet

Negative experience: Honestly one of the worst money hungry vets I have come across. Our dog went in on Wednesday with an eye popped out. We were advised surgery would be required in which we did. 6 hours after collecting her I was called them with a few concerns regarding her well-being and was told I'd have to pay another $175 to even have her looked at. No duty of care, we were made to feel guilty about asking the question about putting her to sleep and after the surgery was done they happily took our $2500 with no care or concern. Would not take any animal to this clinic. It's all about money and purely a business.