If your pet suddenly starts having problems breathing in the middle of the night, who should you call?
A handful of veterinary clinics and hospitals around Hong Kong offer 24-hour emergency service for those scary moments.
At Peace Avenue Veterinarian Clinic in Mong Kok, about 10 to 15 animals are treated every night.
'Most nights are busy, but generally the waiting time is short,' says veterinarian Anthony Hollis. 'We sometimes need to prioritise cases, but people expect and understand this.'
The most common problem, Hollis says, is vomiting and diarrhoea. He points out that gastroenteritis is mostly caused by an infection (virus or bacteria) or occasionally diet-induced, such as changes to a high-fat or meat-based diet, or eating table scraps or garbage.
'A lot of the time these cases can be simply treated and return home with their owners,' he says.