Pet emergency over Thanksgiving on the Emerald Coast: which vets are open
If your dog or cat gets sick or hurt over Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, the Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Niceville, 203 Government Ave., (850) 729-3335, is the one emergency vet on the Emerald Coast we confirmed open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as of Oct. 31, 2026. The Emergency Veterinary Clinic Destin, 247 Main St., (850) 424-4777, works after hours and says it is open on major holidays.
Holiday weeks bring more visitors and more open doors. Save the numbers below before you need them, and call ahead before you drive: a clinic can tell you whether to come in and how long the wait is.
Which emergency vets are open on Thanksgiving?
| Clinic | Address | Phone | Hours, per the clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Niceville | 203 Government Ave., Niceville | (850) 729-3335 | Open 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Emergency Veterinary Clinic Destin | 247 Main St., Destin | (850) 424-4777 | Monday to Thursday 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.; Friday 6 p.m. to Monday 8 a.m.; open on major holidays |
| Urgent Care Vet PC | 4121 W. Hwy. 98, Panama City | (850) 896-9286 | Walk-ins 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., six days a week; no walk-ins on Wednesdays |
Sources: each clinic’s own website, checked Oct. 31, 2026.
Urgent Care Vet PC says hospitalized pets are cared for around the clock, but walk-ins are only in the evening. Call before you go on Thanksgiving Day.
Which vet is closest to where I’m staying?
- Destin and Okaloosa Island: Emergency Veterinary Clinic Destin after hours; Niceville around the clock.
- Fort Walton Beach and Niceville: Niceville first, then Destin.
- 30A, Santa Rosa Beach and Miramar Beach: Destin after hours, or Niceville.
- Panama City Beach: Urgent Care Vet PC in the evening.
- Navarre: Niceville.
We have not confirmed a walk-in emergency vet open 24 hours in Walton or Bay County. If you are staying on 30A or in Panama City Beach, call your regular vet’s after-hours line too: it can tell you where to go.
What if my pet gets lost during a holiday visit?
A pet in an unfamiliar house is most likely to slip out when guests come and go. If it happens, Bay County Animal Services recommends these steps on its lost and found page:
- Call the county animal services office and file a lost report. Check again every day: a pet can take a day or two to reach a shelter.
- Call the nearest vet offices, where people often take found pets.
- Ask neighbors and the front desk or rental manager where you are staying.
- Make sure your pet’s microchip registration has your current cell phone number, and put the chip number on every report.
Santa Rosa County uses Petco Love Lost, a free photo-matching tool, for lost and found pets, according to its Animal Services page.
Who do I call in each county?
| County | Office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa | Animal control, run by PAWS under county contract | (850) 244-0196 |
| Walton | Sheriff’s Office Animal Services; after hours (850) 892-8111 | (850) 892-8682 |
| Santa Rosa | Animal Services, 4451 Pine Forest Road, Milton | (850) 983-4680 |
| Bay | Animal Services, 6401 Bayline Drive, Panama City; closed Sundays | (850) 767-3333 |
Sources: Okaloosa County, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa County and Bay County.
Walton County holds strays for three days, according to the Sheriff’s Office, so call the shelter at (850) 892-8758 as soon as you can.
What should I pack before a Thanksgiving trip with my pet?
- The rabies certificate. Florida requires a rabies vaccine for dogs and cats 4 months and older under s. 828.30, Florida Statutes.
- A collar with an ID tag and your cell number.
- A microchip registered to your current phone.
- Your pet’s medicines and your regular vet’s phone number.
- A recent photo of your pet, in case you need to file a lost report.
In an emergency involving a person, call 911 first.
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Questions and answers
- Is there a 24-hour emergency vet on the Emerald Coast?
- Yes. The Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Niceville, 203 Government Ave., (850) 729-3335, says it is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
- Is the Destin emergency vet open on Thanksgiving?
- Emergency Veterinary Clinic Destin, 247 Main St., (850) 424-4777, says it is open on major holidays, plus weeknights from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and from Friday 6 p.m. to Monday 8 a.m.
- Where is the closest emergency vet to Panama City Beach?
- Urgent Care Vet PC, 4121 W. Hwy. 98, Panama City, takes walk-ins from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. six days a week, except Wednesdays. Call (850) 896-9286 before you go.
- What should I do if my dog gets lost on the Emerald Coast?
- Call the county animal services office, file a lost report and check again daily. Call nearby vets, tell your rental manager and make sure your microchip has your current phone number.