In this guide
If you need a 24-hour vet in Mariano Roque Alonso, save two contacts today: a clinic with a night service close to you, and a regular vet for vaccines and check-ups. In an emergency, call before you leave and ask whether a vet is on site right now, not just whether the door is open. If you can, choose an emergency clinic on your side of Route PY03, the old Transchaco highway.
Is it an emergency? What to do in the first minutes
Go straight to an emergency vet if your pet:
- struggles to breathe or has pale or bluish gums;
- has a seizure, collapses or can't stand;
- ate poison, human medication or something toxic;
- is bleeding heavily, was hit by a car or fell from a height;
- has a swollen, hard belly, or strains to urinate and can't.
While one person drives, another calls the clinic with the species, rough weight and what happened, so they're ready. If it's poisoning, bring the packaging or a photo of the label. Don't give home remedies unless the vet tells you to.
What does "24 hours" really mean?
Not every clinic advertising 24 hours works the same way. Ask by WhatsApp or phone before you need them:
- Is a vet on site all night, or do they call one in?
- Can they hospitalise with IV fluids and monitoring?
- Do they have lab tests, X-rays or ultrasound at night, or will they refer you?
- Do they do emergency surgery in the early hours?
- How do you pay? Whether they want a deposit to admit your pet, and whether they take cards, transfer or QR as well as cash.
The answers tell you whether a clinic suits a simple late-night consult or a serious emergency.
The Transchaco and your nearest emergency vet
Route PY03 is Mariano Roque Alonso's main road; the city borders Asunción to the south, Limpio to the north and Luque to the east (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Heavy rain or a crash can gridlock it towards Asunción (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). So:
- Choose an emergency clinic on your side of the road, even if a better-reviewed one is further away.
- If you live near the boundary with Limpio, Luque or Asunción, the quickest emergency vet may be in the next city; add it to your list.
- Save the location on your phone map and drive the route on a normal day to know how long it takes at night and at rush hour.
Vaccines and low-cost care in Greater Asunción
- Free rabies shots: the National Rabies Centre vaccinates dogs and cats free of charge at Ruta Mcal. Estigarribia km 10.5, on the UNA university campus in San Lorenzo, Monday to Friday 7:00–22:00 and weekends and holidays 7:00–19:00 (Ministry of Health, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). The first dose is from three months old, with boosters at 30 days and six months, then once a year.
- Low-cost care: the UNA Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, on the same campus, treats pets of families facing financial difficulty, with limited places and by appointment (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). It isn't a night emergency service; use it for planned visits.
How to choose your regular vet
For vaccines, deworming, neutering and check-ups, continuity matters most. Paraguay's animal welfare law 4840 also makes owners responsible for their pet's health and up-to-date vaccines (BACN (opens in a new tab)).
- Vaccine booklet and reminders: pick a clinic that records everything in the booklet and reminds you when the next shot is due.
- Species: if you have a cat, rabbit, bird or exotic pet, ask whether they treat them regularly.
- Appointments: check whether they book appointments or see walk-ins, and when waits are shortest.
- Clear prices: ask the cost of a consultation, vaccines and neutering before you go.
- Grooming and pet shop: if the clinic also does baths, ask whether the waiting area is separate, especially for a puppy without all its shots.
What to bring to the appointment
- The vaccine booklet and any previous test results.
- A short list of symptoms: since when, what it ate, any vomiting or diarrhoea.
- A secure lead or closed carrier.
- Any medication it's taking, in its box.
FAQ
How do I find a 24-hour vet in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Look for a clinic with a night service on your side of the Transchaco and call ahead to confirm a vet is on duty. If you live near the boundary, add one in Limpio, Luque or Asunción.
When should I take my pet to an emergency vet?
If it struggles to breathe, has a seizure, ate something toxic, is bleeding heavily, was hit by a car or can't urinate. Call on the way and bring the packaging if it's poisoning.
Where can I get a free rabies vaccine near Mariano Roque Alonso?
At the National Rabies Centre on the UNA campus in San Lorenzo (Ruta Mcal. Estigarribia km 10.5), every day; on weekends and holidays it closes at 19:00.
What should I ask a clinic that says it's open 24 hours?
Whether a vet is on site all night, whether they can hospitalise, whether they have lab or ultrasound at night, and how hospitalisation is paid.
