When Your Pet Needs Hospital Care
When your pet is unwell or in for a procedure, they’ll receive expert care from our team of veterinarians and veterinary nurses. Our reception team will confirm your details and provide an estimate of costs.
If your pet is insured with a provider that offers GapOnly, please let us know in advance. Where possible, we can process a GapOnly pre-approval—whether for an emergency or a scheduled procedure—to give you peace of mind about any out-of-pocket costs.
Veterinary Care and Treatment Planning
Your veterinarian will create a tailored treatment plan, which may include intravenous fluids, laboratory tests, medications, non-surgical procedures, anesthesia, X-rays, ultrasound, or intensive care such as oxygen therapy. At Pittwater Animal Hospital (PAH), we are also equipped to perform complex surgeries in-house. Throughout their stay, our nursing team continuously monitors your pet and communicates any condition changes to the veterinary team. An electronic record tracks your pet’s treatment and progress.
For specialized diagnostic input, we can arrange a VetsNorth specialist consultation on-site at PAH. VetsNorth can provide advanced ultrasounds and case reviews, offering expert recommendations to our veterinarians. Please note that VetsNorth communicates only with our team rather than directly with clients, ensuring seamless care recommendations.
Adjustments to Treatment and Costs
If your pet’s condition changes, we’ll adjust the treatment plan and strive to contact you to discuss any updates and their impact on costs. Although medical and surgical cases can be unpredictable, we prioritize keeping you informed about treatment plans, fees, and expectations.
Overnight Care Options
Our hospital is not staffed overnight. For very stable patients—such as quiet dogs recovering from minor procedures or cats with tick paralysis who are no longer at risk—staying at PAH overnight may be safe. In these cases, your pet will rest in a secure, clean hospital cage, but no staff will be on-site after hours. This option is only recommended when your veterinarian is confident that close monitoring is not required.
Cats, in particular, often find car travel and unfamiliar environments stressful. If your cat is very stable, we may advise they remain at PAH overnight in a calm, familiar environment. We often use this option for recovering tick cats once the danger period has passed.
However, for most pets, we recommend transfer to NEVS (Northside Emergency Veterinary Service) in Terrey Hills for supervised overnight care.
NEVS Overnight Care: Two Levels of Support
NEVS offers two types of overnight care depending on your pet’s condition:
1. Capped-Fee Nurse-Monitored Overnight Care (for stable patients)
This is an excellent option for pets who are medically stable but still require supervision or basic care, such as intravenous fluids, medications, or ongoing observation. It is designed to give owners peace of mind that their pet is not alone overnight—without the cost of full emergency hospitalisation.
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Your PAH vet provides a written treatment plan, including medications and monitoring instructions.
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NEVS nurses follow this plan overnight. A veterinarian is not routinely involved.
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NEVS will call you in the morning with a report and to organise payment.
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You will only be contacted overnight if there is a concern or change in your pet’s condition.
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If a vet needs to become involved—such as to create a pain plan, reassess medication, or address an unexpected issue—you will be contacted, and care will transition to standard overnight hospitalisation (see below).
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Capped fee includes:
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Nurse-monitored care
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NEVS overnight accommodation
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Free pet ambulance pickup from PAH and return the next morning (if arranged before 4pm)
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This is often a better choice than taking your pet home, where deterioration may go unnoticed until it becomes an emergency.
The capped-fee service is available Monday to Thursday nights.
2. Standard Emergency Overnight Care (for unstable, painful, or critical patients)
If your pet is not stable—due to pain, dehydration, respiratory issues, or any risk of deterioration—they will require full emergency veterinary care.
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NEVS’s experienced emergency vets and nurses are on-site all night.
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Your pet is assessed by a NEVS veterinarian, who will contact you to discuss the treatment plan and costs.
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This level of care is not included in the capped-fee service, as it involves veterinary input, diagnostics, and more intensive monitoring.
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In critical cases, a NEVS ambulance with veterinary support may be used to transfer your pet.
NEVS can manage a wide range of emergency situations, including trauma, seizures, breathing difficulty, and collapse. Their facility also houses The Pet Specialists, allowing for advanced referrals and round-the-clock care.
FAQ: Capped-Fee Overnight Care at NEVS
Is my pet suitable for capped-fee overnight care?
This service is appropriate only for medically stable animals. Your PAH veterinarian will assess your pet’s condition and determine if nurse-only monitoring is sufficient for the night.
What is included in the capped fee?
The capped fee includes overnight nurse monitoring, administration of treatments such as intravenous fluids or injectable medications (as prescribed by your PAH vet), cage rest, ambulance transport from PAH to NEVS (if arranged before 4pm), return transport the following morning, and a follow-up phone report from NEVS.
Will I be called during the night?
No, unless there is a concern or your pet’s condition changes. In that case, a NEVS veterinarian will call you to explain the situation and discuss any changes in care and associated costs.
What if my pet becomes unwell overnight?
If your pet deteriorates overnight, a NEVS veterinarian will reassess them and begin appropriate treatment. This will transition your pet into standard emergency care, and NEVS will clearly explain any updates to the treatment plan and fees.
What nights is the capped-fee service available?
Capped-fee care is available Monday to Thursday nights. From Monday to Thursday, NEVS will return your pet to PAH mid-morning the following day.
Is the capped-fee service covered by insurance?
It may be, depending on your insurance policy. NEVS can process GapOnly claims for eligible insurers. Please note that NEVS billing is separate to PAH.
Morning Transfer Back to PAH
If your pet stabilizes overnight and can return to PAH, NEVS provides a free pet ambulance service mid-morning, Monday to Friday only, along with an updated medication plan. Your pet will be reassessed, and we’ll discuss ongoing care. For quicker updates, please message via the website or contact reception on 9913 7979.
Specialist and Critical Care Options at Terrey Hills
NEVS shares its facility with The Pet Specialists, allowing for advanced care options. If a specialist referral or extended critical care is necessary, NEVS veterinarians may recommend your pet stay on-site at Terrey Hills. If you’re unsure about next steps, NEVS can contact PAH veterinarians to guide decisions. Additionally, depending on your pet’s condition and needs, we may recommend other specialist veterinarians in Sydney.
Cost Considerations
Veterinary care is resource-intensive, involving skilled professionals, medications, and specialized equipment. While cost estimation can be complex, our team strives to keep you informed. Payment is required throughout treatment and finalized at discharge.
For insured pets, let us know if your policy includes GapOnly. With pre-approval, we may be able to claim on your behalf at the time of treatment or discharge. PAH and NEVS bill separately, and each clinic will submit its own GapOnly claim where applicable.
