Emergency Care: What to Do When Your Exotic Pet is Sick - UK Guide

If your pet is unwell, call your veterinary practice now. When it is closed, follow its recorded emergency instructions. Tell the team the species, symptoms and when they started, and confirm where to go before travelling.

Rabbits and guinea pigs: do not wait

Eating less, stopping eating or passing fewer droppings needs veterinary advice immediately. Do not wait for a 12-hour or 24-hour threshold. PDSA explains reduced appetite in rabbits; the RSPCA gives the same call-now guidance for changes in guinea pig eating and droppings.

Other signs of illness

Breathing difficulty, collapse, seizures, bleeding, serious injury or suspected poisoning require urgent veterinary contact. For other changes, ask the veterinary team how quickly your pet needs to be seen. Appetite and normal behaviour differ between species; a generic waiting period is not a safe substitute for individual advice.

Do not pull a bleeding feather at home. VCA explains why this can worsen bleeding. Do not give medication, salt baths, abdominal massage or temperature changes as treatment without veterinary instructions.

Find care and confirm access

Use our emergency contacts, which distinguish onsite hospitals, mobile services and out-of-hours or referral access. Call before travel to confirm species cover, acceptance and the correct location. Your usual practice's emergency arrangements are the first place to start.

The RCVS Find a Vet directory is a directory, not a telephone emergency service.

While arranging care

Ask the veterinary team how to transport your species safely and follow their instructions. Tell them about current medicines and any possible exposure to toxins. PDSA first-aid advice explains the importance of contacting a vet.

Correction, 23 September 2026: removed waiting thresholds and unsourced home-treatment protocols. Sources checked by the editorial team; this is not a veterinary diagnosis or a claim of veterinary review.