Quick look at after-hours emergency vets in Huntsville + surrounding towns

Eight dogs socialize at Wolverine Dog Park in Decatur, Alabama — Plan proactively for pet emergencies by keeping a list of after-hours clinics on hand. (Lisa Battles / Hville Blast)

Having a pet emergency is bad enough, and then doesn’t it always seem like it happens after hours, on holidays or weekends? In those cases, finding immediate medical care adds another layer to the situation.

While we hope all of our pets stay safe and healthy, we’ve put together a quick guide to after-hours emergency vets in Huntsville, Madison and Athens, plus an after-hours urgent care clinic in Decatur.

Learn more about your local options and bookmark this page to be prepared in case your fur-child ever needs it.

Local emergency vets index

Map of listed emergency vets

What counts as a pet emergency?

animal services — If your pet shows any signs of distress, it’s best to call your vet or an after-hours clinic to help you assess the situation. (Hville Blast)

A pet emergency is any situation in which your animal needs immediate care for a sudden illness or injury. The most common reasons people seek emergency care include:

Vomiting or diarrhea
Trauma or injury
Eating a foreign object or ingesting a toxin (see below)
Breathing problems
Seizures or sudden neurological changes
Eye injuries
Pain, limping or sudden weakness
Labor complications
Severe allergic reactions
Heatstroke
Bloat (dogs)
Urinary blockages

Meanwhile, you should take any signs of pain or discomfort seriously, including limping, persistent scratching, shallow breathing, yelping or pale gums. The after-hours clinics below all welcome calls to help you assess the urgency of each situation.

Suspect your pet ate something poisonous?

House Plant Collective 20210527 054631 — While philodendrons are beautiful, they’re toxic to dogs and cats. (Jacob Blakenship / Hville Blast)

If you suspect (or know) your pet ate something poisonous, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at 888-426-4435. Hotline operations can help you assess the situation and whether you may handle the emergency at home or seek an emergency vet. (A consultation fee may apply.)

More helpful resources on plants, foods + other things to avoid from the ASPCA:

🪴 Plants that are toxic to dogs, cats + horses
🍇 People foods that shouldn’t be fed to pets
☠️ Poisonous household products

24/7 emergency vets

A white pit bull mix at Decatur Animal Services in Decatur, Alabama. — PSA: If you’re looking for a new companion, check our local animal shelters and rescues first. (Lisa Battles / Hville Blast)

Huntsville Veterinary Specialists & Emergency

Located near Huntsville Hospital in the medical district, Huntsville Veterinary Specialists & Emergency operates an emergency department that is always open and has four ER doctors on staff. Beyond the ER, the team at HVSE also includes a surgeon, a neurosurgeon, an avian/exotic specialist and an internal medicine specialist, all of whom see pets by referral.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: While the ER accepts walk-ins, it’s best to call ahead + give a heads up before you arrive.

Phone: 256-715-8389
Address: 800 Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Blvd, Huntsville, AL 35801
Email: info@hvsevet.com
Website: hvsevet.com

After-hours emergency vet clinics

North Alabama Veterinary ER & Specialty

North Alabama Veterinary ER & Specialty (NAVES) is located in Clift Farm near Publix and provides full-service emergency care for dogs, cats and many exotics (call ahead to ensure the specialist is available for the latter).

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: NAVES is open on nights, weekends and holidays, Monday-Thursday, 2PM-12AM; Friday, 10AM-12AM; then 24 hours on Saturday + Sunday.

Phone: 256-850-0077
Address: 164 John Thomas Dr, Madison, AL 35757
Email: navesinfo@ethosvet.com
Website: northaves.com

this weekend — While cats and dogs are so different, they experience many of the same urgent health issues. (Michael Seale/Hville Blast)

Madison Veterinary Emergency

Madison Veterinary Emergency is about six miles east of the intersection of Interstate 65 and Highway 72 in Athens. The clinic sees dogs and cats only and staffs three veterinarians and several veterinary and administrative assistants.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Madison Veterinary Emergency is open on nights, weekends and holidays, Monday-Thursday, 6PM-7AM daily; then from 6PM Friday through 7AM Monday over weekends.

Phone: 256-434-5290
Address: 27022 US-72, Athens, AL 35613
Email: MVEcares@MadisonVetEmergency.com
Website: madisonvetemergency.com

After-hours urgent care vet clinics

A couple walks their dogs through the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market in downtown Decatur, Alabama, soft opening on April 12, 2025. — Our pets are like family and deserve immediate care during emergencies. (Lisa Battles / Hville Blast)

Summit Veterinary Urgent Care

Located on the Priceville/Decatur line, Summit Veterinary Urgent Care offers later hours than typical vet clinics and sees animals on a walk-in basis, including dogs, cats, small mammals, some birds, and even small goats and sheep.

Summit is different from a typical emergency clinic in that it provides a resource for immediate care in urgent situations, which means the vet will assess and stabilize the animal, regardless, and in some cases, refer you to an animal hospital or specialist for advanced surgical services, hospitalization or continued care.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Summit Veterinary Urgent Care is open from Thursday through Sunday only, from noon to 10PM.

Phone: 256-434-5290
Address: 2941 Point Mallard Pkwy SE, Decatur, AL 35603
Email: info@summitvetcareAL.com
Website: summitvetcareal.com

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