Clear guidance, honest explanations, and support when you need it

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At Armagh Vet Station, your pet’s wellbeing is always our priority. As a small, independent practice, we’re committed to providing high-quality care during our opening hours, while also ensuring that safe and reliable veterinary care is available when we are closed.

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When we are closed

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Because we are a very small team, it isn’t possible for us to provide full 24-hour, on-site cover without external support. Instead, we work with a trusted local out-of-hours provider to ensure your pet can still access veterinary care overnight, at weekends, and on bank holidays.

This allows us to maintain:

• safe working hours for our team

• continuity and quality of care

• access to emergency treatment when it is genuinely needed

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Non-urgent concerns while we’re closed

Please use PetsApp

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Many concerns that arise overnight or at weekends do not require emergency treatment, but understandably still cause worry.

For non-urgent questions or advice, we ask clients to use PetsApp, which is monitored by our team during working hours.

Examples include:

• mild changes in appetite or behaviour

• medication queries

• post-procedure questions

• ongoing issues that are stable

Using PetsApp helps us:

• review your message with full access to your pet’s clinical history

• give consistent, contextualised advice

• reduce unnecessary emergency visits, stress, and cost

If something sounds more urgent, we will always advise you accordingly.

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What counts as an emergency?

 

You should seek immediate veterinary attention if your pet:

• has collapsed or is struggling to breathe

• is in severe pain or distress

• has uncontrolled bleeding

• has had a seizure or multiple seizures

• has been involved in trauma (e.g. road traffic accident)

• is rapidly deteriorating

If you are ever unsure, it is always safer to err on the side of caution.

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How to access emergency care

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If your pet needs urgent attention outside our opening hours, please:

📞 Call our usual number: 028 37 997333

You will hear clear instructions directing you to:

• our duty vet (when available), or

• our out-of-hours provider

Please do not attend without calling first, as this ensures the quickest and safest care for your pet.

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Our out-of-hours provider

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For emergencies, we work with:
Parklands Veterinary Clinic

This partnership allows:

• reliable 24/7 emergency access

• reasonable travel times

Your pet will be examined and treated as needed, and where appropriate, care can be transferred back to Armagh Vet Station once we reopen and your pet is stable enough to travel.

Please note:

• all out-of-hours fees are set and invoiced directly by Parklands

• costs are typically higher than daytime care due to staffing and facilities

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Overnight care at Armagh Vet Station

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In some cases, your pet may stay with us overnight.

When this happens:

• the daytime vet will hand over full clinical details to the duty vet

• monitoring frequency will be tailored to your pet’s condition

• there is no vet or nurse permanently on site overnight

If your pet’s condition changes significantly, the on-call vet or nurse will contact you.

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In rarer situations — for example, if a pet requires continuous overnight monitoring or if no duty vet is available — we may recommend transfer to our out-of-hours provider. This will always be discussed with you at the time, and care will be handed over thoroughly.

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Our approach to out-of-hours care

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We aim to:

• use emergency services appropriately and responsibly

• avoid unnecessary stress, travel, and cost for pets and owners

• ensure continuity, safety, and transparency at all times

If you’re ever unsure what to do, please contact us — we’re always happy to help guide you.