A veterinary emergency can happen without warning. At night, at weekends, or on public holidays, an animal may need immediate care at any time. In Luxembourg, an on‑call system ensures continuity of care, but these situations are often stressful and costly. Opening hours, useful contacts, warning signs, and ways to anticipate expenses: here is what you need to know to react effectively.
Since October 2022, the veterinary on‑call service in Luxembourg has been based on a geographical rotation system. This approach aims to ensure rapid emergency treatment while distributing on‑call duties more fairly among practitioners.
On weekdays, from 4 pm until midnight, at least two veterinary surgeons per sector provide emergency cover. This organisation makes it possible to obtain an appointment quickly, even outside normal opening hours.
Between midnight and 8 am, emergency care is provided by two specialised clinics located in Bereldange and Bettembourg, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are equipped to handle serious emergencies, including hospitalisation, surgery, and intensive monitoring.
At weekends and on public holidays, the system is reinforced to provide full‑day coverage, with on‑call veterinary surgeons until midnight, followed by the same overnight service as during the week.
Outside your usual vet’s opening hours, several options are available to avoid losing precious time:
The Veterinary College
The website collegeveterinaire.lu indicates in real time which veterinary surgeon or clinic is on call, depending on your area and the time.
At‑home emergency services
When transport could worsen your animal’s condition or is not possible, a veterinary surgeon can come directly to your home. SOSVET can be reached on (+352) 27 510 112, 24/7. After a telephone assessment, the vet travels to you and, if necessary, organises a transfer to a suitable facility.
Post Infotel
A practical way to quickly obtain the contact details of the on‑call service by telephone.
It is not always easy to tell the difference between a true emergency and a problem that can wait. However, certain signs require immediate attention, as your pet’s life may be at risk within minutes or hours:
A dog that vomits repeatedly in the evening and refuses to drink can become dehydrated very quickly. A cat that falls from a balcony on a Sunday evening may appear fine while suffering from internal injuries. When in doubt, seeking immediate veterinary advice is always preferable.
An out-of-hours consultation is generally more expensive than a standard appointment, as it takes place at night, at weekends, or on public holidays. However, the real cost often comes afterwards: diagnostic tests, hospitalisation, or even surgery.
Veterinary hospitalisation quickly accumulates several cost items: daily or nightly fees, fluid therapy, medication, monitoring, blood tests, and imaging. As soon as an animal requires a drip or close monitoring, the level of care changes and the bill increases significantly.
The type of treatment also has a major impact on the final amount. Simple post‑operative monitoring remains relatively moderate, but hospitalisation followed by surgery, with repeated injections and continuous supervision, can reach several hundred euros per day. In intensive care, these amounts can rise even further.
Two animals suffering from the same condition can generate very different costs. Size matters: a large dog will require more medication and anaesthetic products than a cat. Age and overall health can also complicate treatment.
Finally, the severity of the condition and when it occurs strongly influence the budget. A minor injury may sometimes be treated simply, whereas a fracture, ulcer, or ligament rupture often requires diagnostic tests, hospitalisation, and surgery. If this happens at night or over the weekend, emergency fees are added on top.
Veterinary care costs have increased significantly in recent years due to inflation, advances in medical equipment, and the development of specialisations. In Luxembourg, the quality of care is high, but so are the prices. Hospitalisation involving surgery or advanced diagnostic tests can quickly exceed several hundred euros and, in complex cases, exceed €1,000.
A simple domestic accident can therefore turn into a major expense, on top of the emotional stress for the household.
Protecting your budget with Foyer’s happy pet insurance
Taking out pet insurance is a powerful way to protect yourself against unexpected veterinary expenses. In an emergency, costs can accumulate rapidly: out-of-hours consultation, tests, hospitalisation, surgery, or medical transport. The happy pet solution from Foyer helps you plan for these expenses and make medical decisions with greater peace of mind.
With happy pet, hospitalisation following surgery, necessary examinations, transport by veterinary ambulance, and even pet care when the owner is hospitalised can be covered up to €3,500 per year, with no excess and reimbursement of up to 100% depending on the level of cover chosen.
This protection helps absorb high bills after an accident or illness requiring surgery, without financial pressure taking priority over the quality of care. The insurance acts as a safety net, allowing you to focus fully on your pet’s health and wellbeing, even in the most stressful situations.
