Weeknight and 24 hr weekend emergency service
Our Professional Vet Team
The Bay After Hours Veterinary Hospital (Bahvet) is your surrogate veterinary clinic until your primary care clinic opens. Our emergency veterinary team consists of highly experienced emergency vets that together bring a diverse skill set to the practice, and are proficient in the care of emergency patients.
We have the support of a registered Emergency and Critical Care specialist in a consultant role.
Dedicated and highly-trained nurses and technicians closely support our veterinarians, to ensure that our team can provide the best specialised care for your pet when your primary vet is closed.
Emergencies & Urgent Care
We have experienced veterinarian and staff that are equipped to handle any urgent care your pet needs. Usually, an emergency team consists of at least one veterinarian and nurses working together to save a pet’s life. To allow our team to take decisive action, they have diagnostic equipment, including digital radiography, ultrasound and blood analysers, to enable rapid diagnosis. Emergencies can be things such a rat poisoning, hit by a car, seizures, bleeding, chocolate ingestion, etc.
If you feel that your pet needs emergency treatment do not hesitate to call or come in immediately. If possible, it is best to call before coming in so that a team member can advise you on your particular emergency and be prepared when you arrive.
For Vets
We know that entrusting your patients to another doctor is a serious responsibility. At Bay After Hours Veterinary Hospital, your referred patients will receive the best care from us. You can count on us to be your partners in health care. At our hospital, we have a full range of services to meet the needs presented by even your most challenging cases. If you need more information contact us, we are more than happy to discuss this with you.
We provide urgent, emergency care for your clients, by acting as an extension of your practice by providing after-hours care.
- No appointments are required for veterinary emergency visits.
- Walk-ins welcome.
- We are the Waikato’s vet emergency hospital.
Our Professional Vet Team
The Bay After Hours Veterinary Hospital (BAHVET) is your surrogate veterinary clinic until your primary care clinic opens. Our emergency veterinary team consists of highly experienced emergency vets that together bring a diverse skill set to the practice, and are proficient in the care of emergency patients.
We have the support of a registered Emergency and Critical Care specialist in a consultant role.
Dedicated and highly-trained nurses and technicians closely support our veterinarians, to ensure that our team can provide the best specialised care for your pet when your primary vet is closed.
Emergencies & Urgent Care
We have experienced veterinarian and staff that are equipped to handle any urgent care your pet needs. Usually, an emergency team consists of at least one veterinarian and nurses working together to save a pet's life. To allow our team to take decisive action, they have diagnostic equipment, including digital radiography, ultrasound and blood analysers,which would enable for near-instant diagnostic results. Emergencies can be things such a rat poisoning, hit by a car, seizures, bleeding, chocolate ingestion, etc. If you feel that your pet needs emergency treatment do not hesitate to call or come in immediately. If possible, it is best to call before coming in so that a team member can advise you on your particular emergency and be prepared when you arrive.
For Vets
We know that entrusting your patients to another doctor is a serious responsibility. At Bay After Hours Veterinary Hospital, your referred patients will receive the best care from us. You can count on us to be your partners in health care. At our hospital, we have a full range of services to meet the needs presented by even your most challenging cases. If you need more information contact us, we are more than happy to discuss this with you.
We provide urgent, emergency care for your clients, by acting as an extension of your practice by providing after-hours care.
- No appointments are required for veterinary emergency visits.
- Walk-ins are welcome.
- We are the Bay of Plenty’s veterinary emergency hospital.
Vet Profiles
Dr Martin Earles
BVSc, MANZCVS (Medicine and Surgery of Unusual Pets)
Dr Martin Earles is a Tauranga raised veterinarian and Massey University graduate. He started in small animal practice in Auckland, before moving back to Tauranga where he has worked since 2000.
Martin has developed a special interest in avian and exotic pet medicine and surgery since 2010. In 2019 passed exams to become a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the subject of Medicine and Surgery of Unusual Pets.
He will be working at the Bay After Hours Veterinary Hospital and also be available on Tuesdays and Fridays at The Referral Centre for exotic and avian consultations and surgery.
Nurse Profiles
Erika Smith
RVN (Registered Veterinary Nurse- Diploma 2009) BSc, Cert. AWI (Animal welfare Investigations), Cert. Adult Education.
Erika is a senior nurse and the nurse manager at WAVH and has worked here since we opened in 2012. Prior to this she was involved with the SPCA and welfare cases. She has wide experience with all kinds of emergency scenarios and her knowledge and efficiency are legendary.
Erika loves the unpredictability of the cases we see and watching our critical patients get better when implementing a well designed treatment plan. Erika has a special interest in applying her critical care knowledge and anaesthetic monitoring skills to our patients and enjoys sharing this with the nursing students that rotate through our clinic.
Melanie James
DVN (Diploma Veterinary Nursing – 2016)
Melanie has been working at WAVH since finishing her studies in 2016. Being able to help animals when they need us most is so rewarding. Her special work interests are intensive care of our critical patients and watching them recover. She loves seeing their improvements and knowing that she has made a positive difference to that animal.
Every night is different. We never know what will come through the door at any given time. That’s the nature of emergency and Mel is glad she gets to be here for that animal and their owner that needs our help.
Adrianne Cossey
DVN (Diploma Veterinary Nursing – 2007)
Adrianne comes from a strong background in nursing for the SPCA in Auckland and started work with WAVH in 2018.
She has a special interest in rabbit health, husbandry and environmental enrichment and loves taking care of our critical rabbit patients.
The aspects of emergency work that she enjoys the most are that no two nights are the same and it’s a continual learning environment . You also get the chance to meet so many brave, beautiful animals.
Chelsea Rutene
DVN (Diploma Veterinary Nursing – 2017)
Chelsea has always loved animals and has a varied assortment of pets with a special interest in reptiles. She has been working at WAVH since she graduated with her diploma. With her attention to detail and ability to thrive under pressure, she is a natural at Emergency work and critical care monitoring. She likes the challenge of the unknown and the unpredictability of her job and has a great empathy and understanding of animal behaviour making her a great dog handler. Chelsea is also our number one organiser and likes to keep our clinic tidy with military precision.
Nicole Russell
LVN (Listed Veterinary Nurse - Cert Veterinary Nursing 2014)
Nicole has been Veterinary nursing for six years with five years experience in general practice before joining the team at WAVH in 2019.
Her main interest lies in caring for our critical hospital inpatients, seeing the improvements as the treatment plan is carried out and helping them on their way to recovery.
She enjoys the fast paced environment and variety of interesting and at times challenging cases we see as an after hours emergency clinic.
Gemma Welten
CertVN Certificate in Veterinary Nursing
Gemma has worked in general practice for 3 years before joining the team at WAVH at the end of 2020.
Her special interests are nursing the critically ill patients and watching them make their way to a full recovery. She also loves the challenge and unpredictability that comes with every shift and not knowing what could come in each night.
She loves that she still learns so much during every shift and can continuously further her knowledge with the support of the rest of the team
Gemma is originally from the Bay of Plenty and jumped at the opportunity to work at BAVH and continue her adventure in emergency vet nursing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment
My pet is insured. Do I still need to pay for treatment?
Yes. Due to the fact that we cannot contact your pet insurance company after hours, you will need to provide them with your claim and they will reimburse you. We will provide you with complete medical notes and a copy of the invoice for your claim. If you would like a digital copy of your pets medical notes, please ensure we have your correct email address when you leave.
What if I don't have accessible funds at the time of consult?
We currently offer Petfunders, Q Card and Afterpay finance options. Unfortunately, veterinary care is not a free service, but it is essential to us that your animals' welfare requirements are met. If you are applying for finance at the clinic, please bring your identification with you and be prepared for an extra half an hours wait to process any applications.
Do you require a deposit before treatment?
Yes. It is not always possible to give you an exact quote for your pets treatment so we will give you an estimate range.
A deposit of the low end of the estimate range is required before treatment/surgery commences. Any outstanding balance owing is due upon discharge.
General Questions
Do I need a referral to come to the BAHVET?
No referral or appointment is necessary but please call us and advise us you are on your way if you can. We want to be prepared for your visit and we can also advise you of any wait time.
Can I request my animal be transferred for overnight monitoring?
Yes. You can ask your primary veterinarian to transfer your pet to us for overnight monitoring. Talk to your vet about the monitoring packages we offer and what they would recommend for the care of your pet.
Are you open 24hrs?
On weekdays we open at 6pm and close at 8am. We are open 24 hours on weekends and public holidays.
Will BAHVET update my primary vet of our visit?
Yes. We email a digital copy of medical histories, hospital charts, anaesthetic charts and blood results to your primary veterinarian. Depending on our case load, these are usually with your primary clinic by the following morning. Please ensure you advise us which clinic you will be going to for any further treatments or follow ups.
Who will provide ongoing treatment?
Your primary veterinarian will provide follow up care and treatment . They know you and your pet well so it is important they advise you of the options available for any ongoing care.
Will the vet update me during the night regarding my pet's treatment?
If you would like us to call you we can organise this. We can get quite busy stabilising and treating our inpatients so if you are concerned you haven’t heard from us, please feel free to call. No news is good news!
Does BAHVET do home visits or call outs ?
No. Unfortunately, we only have one veterinarian on site at a time and it is unsafe for our inpatients for them to leave.
How do I get a referral from a vet?
A referral is not essential but we can admit your pet directly from your primary clinic for ongoing monitoring and care after consultation with the veterinarian managing your case.
Can I visit my pet during the night?
If you would like to arrange a visit with your pet that is fine with us. Just be aware that there are other critically ill patients in our hospital and sometimes diagnostic procedures make it unsafe for you to be in our ICU. We are also happy to speak to you on the phone if you would like to call for updates.
What will happen when I arrive with my pet?
When you arrive at our clinic, you will be asked to complete a client details form. The nurse greeting you will enter your details onto the system and triage your pet. We run just like a human accident and emergency clinic so the nurse will assess the urgency of your pet compared with other incoming and hospitalised patients. The nurse will do a basic exam of your pet and take a history , potentially admitting your pet to our ICU for immediate first aid. The duty veterinarian will assess your pet and come and speak with you about their findings and work with you to come up with a treatment plan that best works for you and your pet.
Who will transfer my pet to BAHVET if we are at our primary clinic?
You will need to transfer your pet to us. Upon arrival, the nurse will do an assessment and you will meet the vet who will be in charge of your pets care overnight. The vet will discuss with you what treatment will be provided and confirm a contact number if we need to get in touch with you. If your pet stays the night with us you will need to pick them up before 8am on weekdays and either transfer them back to your primary clinic or take them home if they are well enough.
Does BAHVET provide cremation services?
Yes. We have a relationship with Pet Farewells and they collect and return pets to us several times a week.
What if my pet needs to see a specialist urgently?
Veterinary specialists are usually only available during normal day working hours. Your primary vet will work with you to refer to a specialist if required as soon as your pet is transferred back to them in the morning.
