If you are searching for an emergency vet in Bucharest because your dog or cat has suddenly become ill or injured, call Joyvet immediately.
Joyvet provides urgent veterinary assessments for dogs and cats in Sector 3, Bucharest, with English-speaking support, diagnostic testing and case-based treatment. Our standard opening hours are 09:00–21:00, Monday to Sunday.
Need veterinary help now?
Call: +40731803803
WhatsApp: +40731803803
Address: 68 Dumitru Papazoglu Street, Sector 3, Bucharest
Email: joyvetbucuresti@gmail.com
Standard opening hours: Monday–Sunday, 09:00–21:00
Languages: Romanian and English support available
Patients: Dogs and cats
Please call before travelling. A short phone conversation helps us understand how serious the situation may be, confirm current availability and prepare for your pet’s arrival.
Joyvet’s published contact details, opening hours and English-speaking support are confirmed across its current service and contact pages.
Important: Joyvet is not a 24-hour walk-in veterinary hospital. We provide emergency and urgent veterinary care during our available operating hours. If your pet develops life-threatening signs outside these hours, do not wait for the clinic to reopen. Contact the nearest 24-hour veterinary emergency hospital.
Are you looking for a 24-hour vet in Bucharest?
Joyvet is open seven days a week, but it is not a non-stop or 24/7 emergency hospital.
We can assess and treat many urgent cases during our operating hours. However, pets that require continuous overnight intensive care, uninterrupted oxygen support or another service that is unavailable at that moment may need referral or transfer to a 24-hour veterinary hospital.
Calling before you leave is especially important when:
- your pet is in a critical condition;
- you are contacting us close to closing time;
- emergency surgery may be required;
- your pet may need overnight intensive monitoring;
- you need veterinary transport;
- you are travelling from another part of Bucharest or Ilfov.
Is my pet having a veterinary emergency?
A veterinary emergency is a sudden illness, injury or deterioration that may threaten your pet’s life, breathing, circulation, neurological function, ability to urinate, vision or general stability.
You do not need to identify the diagnosis yourself. Concentrate on what you can see and tell the veterinary team exactly what is happening.
Go to an emergency vet immediately if your pet has:
- difficult, rapid, noisy or open-mouth breathing;
- blue, grey, purple or extremely pale gums;
- collapsed, fainted or become unresponsive;
- severe bleeding that does not stop with direct pressure;
- been hit by a car, fallen from a height or suffered major trauma;
- repeated or prolonged seizures;
- failed to recover normally after a seizure;
- suddenly become unable to stand or walk;
- severe weakness, paralysis or marked disorientation;
- severe pain, continuous crying or an inability to settle;
- a swollen or painful abdomen;
- repeated attempts to vomit without producing anything;
- swallowed a possible toxin, medication or dangerous object;
- signs of heatstroke;
- a serious eye injury or sudden loss of vision;
- difficulty giving birth;
- repeated vomiting or diarrhoea together with blood, weakness, pain, collapse or an inability to keep water down.
Difficulty breathing, collapse, persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, seizures, serious bleeding, trauma and abdominal swelling are recognised warning signs that require prompt veterinary assessment. Poisoning, severe pain, eye injuries and suspected fractures are also among the situations requiring immediate care.
My cat is trying to urinate but nothing comes out. Is this an emergency?
Yes. An inability to urinate is a medical emergency, particularly in male cats.
A blocked cat may:
- enter the litter tray repeatedly;
- strain without producing urine;
- pass only a few drops;
- cry or appear painful;
- lick the genital area;
- hide, vomit or become lethargic;
- develop a firm or painful abdomen.
Do not assume that the cat is constipated. A urethral obstruction can cause dangerous electrolyte changes and rapid deterioration. Cornell University describes feline urethral obstruction as an absolute emergency requiring immediate veterinary treatment.
Emergency care or an urgent same-day appointment?
Some conditions are immediately life-threatening. Others may not appear critical at first but should still be assessed on the same day.
| Seek emergency care immediately | Call for an urgent same-day assessment |
| Difficulty breathing | Repeated vomiting in an otherwise responsive pet |
| Collapse or unconsciousness | Diarrhoea without collapse or severe weakness |
| Severe or uncontrolled bleeding | Reduced appetite accompanied by a change in behaviour |
| Ongoing or repeated seizures | A new limp or suspected painful injury |
| Major trauma | A bite wound or small laceration |
| Inability to urinate | A red, painful or partially closed eye |
| Suspected poisoning | Persistent coughing without respiratory distress |
| Bloated abdomen and unproductive retching | Sudden itching or facial swelling without breathing difficulty |
| Heatstroke | A pet that seems unusually quiet or “not right” |
These examples are not a substitute for an examination. A condition can move from urgent to critical quickly. When you are uncertain, call and describe the symptoms.
What should I do before travelling to the emergency vet?
1. Call the clinic
For a potentially life-threatening emergency, calling is faster than completing an online booking form or sending a long message.
Tell us:
- whether you need to communicate in English;
- whether your pet is a dog or cat;
- your pet’s age and approximate weight;
- the main symptom;
- when the problem started;
- whether your pet is conscious and breathing;
- whether there has been trauma;
- whether a toxin or foreign object may have been swallowed;
- any known medical conditions or current medication;
- how long it will take you to reach the clinic.
2. Keep your pet as calm and still as possible
Pain, fear and breathing problems can worsen with unnecessary movement.
Transport cats in a secure carrier. Use a lead or harness for dogs whenever this can be done safely. An injured animal may bite even when normally gentle, so keep your face and hands away from the mouth.
For a pet with suspected spinal or major traumatic injuries, minimise bending and twisting. A firm board, carrier base or folded blanket can be used to support the body during transport.
3. Bring useful medical information
When available, bring:
- your pet’s health booklet or EU pet passport;
- previous blood test and imaging results;
- a list or photograph of current medications;
- information about allergies or previous anaesthetic reactions;
- the packaging of any suspected toxin or medication;
- a sample or photograph of vomit, stool or urine when relevant;
- a short video of an episode such as a seizure or abnormal breathing.
Do not delay emergency transport simply to collect documents or take photographs.
Basic first aid before reaching the vet
First aid should support safe transport, not replace veterinary treatment.
Heavy bleeding
Apply firm, continuous pressure with clean gauze, a towel or another clean cloth. Do not repeatedly lift the material to check the wound, as this can disrupt clot formation.
If blood soaks through, add another layer on top rather than removing the first one.
Seizures
Move furniture and dangerous objects away from your pet. Reduce noise and light when possible.
Do not put your fingers, a spoon or any other object into the animal’s mouth. Pets do not swallow their tongue during a seizure, but they can bite involuntarily.
Time the seizure and call the clinic. A prolonged seizure, repeated seizures or failure to recover normally requires immediate care.
Suspected poisoning
Remove your pet from the source and collect the product packaging, label or a photograph of the substance.
Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian specifically tells you to do so. Vomiting can be dangerous after ingestion of corrosive products, petroleum products, sharp objects or in animals with neurological or breathing problems.
Do not give milk, cooking oil, salt, charcoal, human medication or home remedies unless instructed by a veterinarian.
The AVMA advises pet owners to contact a veterinarian or poison service before attempting to induce vomiting.
Difficulty breathing
Keep your pet calm and minimise handling. Remove anything tight around the neck, but do not force the mouth open or place your hand deep inside the throat.
Transport the animal immediately in a position in which breathing appears easiest.
Eye injury
Prevent your pet from rubbing the eye. Do not use human eye drops, leftover antibiotics or corticosteroid drops unless a veterinarian has prescribed them specifically for the current problem.
Heatstroke
Move your pet away from the heat and contact a veterinarian immediately. Heatstroke may cause excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, incoordination, collapse or seizures and can progress quickly.
What should you not do during a pet emergency?
- Do not give human painkillers or other human medication.
- Do not induce vomiting without veterinary instructions.
- Do not force food or water into a weak, vomiting or poorly responsive animal.
- Do not place your hand inside the mouth of a seizing pet.
- Do not pull out a deeply embedded object.
- Do not tightly muzzle an animal that is vomiting, struggling to breathe or has facial trauma.
- Do not wait for every possible symptom to appear.
- Do not delay transport while searching online for a home treatment.
- Do not assume that a pet which is quiet or not crying is free from pain.
Emergency veterinary care often begins with a telephone call, during which the veterinary team can provide case-specific first-aid and transport instructions and prepare for the animal’s arrival.
What happens when you arrive at Joyvet?
1. Veterinary triage
The veterinary team first evaluates the severity of your pet’s condition. Breathing, circulation, consciousness, pain, temperature and other critical findings may need to be assessed before a complete medical history is taken.
Patients may be prioritised according to medical severity rather than arrival order.
2. Initial stabilisation
When necessary, the first objective is to stabilise vital functions and reduce immediate suffering. The complete diagnostic plan may follow after the pet is stable enough for further examination.
3. Focused medical history and examination
You will be asked what happened, when the symptoms began, whether the condition is worsening and whether your pet has relevant previous illnesses or medication.
4. Diagnostic testing
Depending on the findings and current availability, the veterinarian may recommend:
- complete blood count and biochemistry;
- glucose or other rapid tests;
- digital X-rays;
- focused AFAST, TFAST or POCUS ultrasound;
- a complete abdominal ultrasound;
- urine testing;
- additional imaging or laboratory testing;
- endoscopy when a swallowed or inhaled foreign body is suspected and the procedure is medically appropriate.
Joyvet currently has in-clinic laboratory testing, digital X-ray, focused and complete ultrasound, endoscopy, surgery, hospitalisation and patient monitoring.
You can read more about the X-rays, ultrasound and blood tests used to investigate illness or injury.
5. Treatment and monitoring
Treatment is selected according to the diagnosis and the severity of the condition. It may involve medication, fluid therapy, pain management, wound care, emergency procedures, surgery or hospitalisation.
6. Referral or transfer when necessary
Some patients require continuous overnight intensive care, a particular specialist or equipment that may not be available at that moment.
In these situations, the veterinarian will explain why referral or transfer to an appropriate veterinary hospital is recommended.
English-speaking emergency vet in Bucharest
A pet emergency is difficult enough without a language barrier.
Joyvet provides English-speaking veterinary support for international residents, expats, tourists, embassy personnel and people travelling through Bucharest with their pets.
When calling, say:
“I need an English-speaking vet. My dog or cat has an emergency.”
Try to describe the main problem in one sentence first, for example:
- “My dog is struggling to breathe.”
- “My cat is trying to urinate but nothing comes out.”
- “My dog may have eaten rat poison.”
- “My cat has fallen from a balcony.”
- “My dog is having repeated seizures.”
- “My pet has been hit by a car.”
- “My cat has been vomiting and is very weak.”
After the urgent information is understood, the veterinary team can ask more detailed questions.
Learn more about our English-speaking veterinary clinic in Bucharest.
Looking for a vet open now in Bucharest?
Joyvet’s standard opening hours are:
Monday-Sunday: 09:00–21:00
This includes Saturday and Sunday, making Joyvet an option for owners searching for a weekend vet in Bucharest or a Sunday vet in Bucharest.
Please call before travelling because:
- current emergency capacity may vary;
- a critical patient may require special preparation;
- public holiday hours can differ;
- some procedures require a particular veterinary team;
- an animal needing overnight intensive care may require a 24-hour hospital.
If your pet has life-threatening symptoms outside our operating hours, contact the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital rather than waiting until morning.
How much does an emergency vet visit cost in Bucharest?
The total cost depends on your pet’s condition and the tests or treatment required.
Joyvet’s currently published consultation prices are:
- 150 RON for a general consultation from Monday to Friday, 09:00-21:00;
- 200 RON for a daytime consultation during weekends or public holidays.
The consultation fee does not include medication, injections, blood tests, imaging, treatment, hospitalisation or procedures.
An emergency involving trauma, poisoning, urinary obstruction, surgery or intensive monitoring cannot be priced accurately from symptoms alone. After the initial examination, the veterinarian will explain the recommended diagnostic and treatment plan.
Joyvet’s published English price page confirms these consultation fees and explains that treatment, diagnostic tests and procedures are charged separately.
Veterinary ambulance and pet transport in Bucharest
Joyvet can also provide information about veterinary transport or mobile veterinary services, subject to availability.
When calling, mention if:
- your pet cannot stand or walk;
- moving the animal causes severe pain;
- you have a large dog that you cannot lift safely;
- you do not have suitable transport;
- the animal is highly distressed or difficult to handle.
Because Bucharest traffic can delay mobile services, travelling directly to the clinic may sometimes be faster when your pet can be transported safely. Call first so that the safest practical option can be discussed.
Joyvet’s current Romanian emergency page confirms that transport or home veterinary assistance may be available but also warns that availability and Bucharest traffic can affect response time.
Frequently asked questions about emergency vets in Bucharest
Is Joyvet a 24-hour emergency vet?
No. Joyvet is open seven days a week during its standard operating hours of 09:00–21:00, but it is not a 24-hour walk-in veterinary hospital.
Call before travelling. Outside these hours, a pet with life-threatening symptoms should be taken to an available 24-hour veterinary hospital.
Do I need an appointment for an emergency?
Call us immediately rather than waiting for a routine online appointment.
Same-day urgent assessments may be possible according to the severity of the case, current capacity and available medical team. Calling first allows us to confirm whether we can safely receive your pet.
Do the veterinarians at Joyvet speak English?
English-speaking support is available. Mention that you prefer English when calling or sending your first WhatsApp message.
Is Joyvet open on Saturdays and Sundays?
Yes. Standard opening hours are 09:00–21:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Call to confirm availability, particularly on public holidays.
Can Joyvet see both dog and cat emergencies?
Yes. Joyvet provides veterinary care for dogs and cats. For another animal species, call before travelling so that the team can confirm whether an appropriate veterinarian is available.
My cat is repeatedly entering the litter tray but cannot urinate. Can it wait?
No. The inability to urinate may indicate a urethral obstruction and requires immediate veterinary care, particularly in male cats.
My pet ate something toxic but still looks normal. Should I wait for symptoms?
No. Some toxins do not cause immediate visible signs. Call a veterinarian as soon as you suspect exposure and bring the product packaging. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed.
Can you perform blood tests, X-rays and ultrasound during the same visit?
Joyvet has laboratory testing, digital X-ray and ultrasound capabilities. The tests performed depend on your pet’s condition, medical indication and current availability.
What should I bring to an emergency consultation?
Bring your pet’s health booklet or passport, previous medical records, current medication information and any packaging related to a possible toxin. However, do not delay urgent transport to collect documents.
What happens if my pet needs overnight intensive care?
The veterinarian will explain whether your pet can be monitored safely at Joyvet or whether referral or transfer to a 24-hour veterinary hospital is the safer option.
Does Joyvet provide veterinary transport?
Transport or mobile veterinary assistance may be available depending on location, traffic, case severity and team availability. Call to discuss the situation before waiting for an ambulance.
Contact an emergency vet in Bucharest
If your dog or cat has suddenly become ill, suffered an injury or is showing signs of severe distress, call Joyvet immediately.
Call: +40731803803
WhatsApp: +40731803803
Address: 68 Dumitru Papazoglu Street, Sector 3, Bucharest
Email: joyvetbucuresti@gmail.com
Standard opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 09:00–21:00
Call before travelling so that we can assess the situation and confirm the safest next step for your pet.
Last medically reviewed: August 2026