The nearest ERs, urgent care and vets.
The closest ERs, urgent care that's open on weekends, the dog rules on the beach, and where to take the dog at 2am.
Hospitals & ERs
Ocean Isle Beach has no hospital or ER. These are the nearest, closest first.
Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center
24/7 emergency care (page text: 'state-of-the art 24/7 emergency care') · 910-721-1000
240 Hospital Dr. NE, Bolivia, NC 28422. Main hospital phone. For a life-threatening emergency call 911.
Grand Strand Health - Little River ER
Open 24 Hours (24/7 emergency room) · 843-491-7235
1586 Hwy 17, Little River, SC 29566. Freestanding ER; transfers to Grand Strand Medical Center if more intense care is needed. Located in South Carolina.
McLeod Health Seacoast
Hours not posted online; call · 843-390-8100
4000 Highway 9 East, Little River, SC 29566. Hospital with a 24-bed Emergency Department (per McLeod). Located in South Carolina.
Grand Strand Medical Center
24/7 ER (Grand Strand Health lists its ERs as 24/7) · 843-692-1000
Grand Strand Health lists a Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center (Novant Health)
24/7 trauma care · 910-667-7000
2131 S. 17th St., Wilmington, NC 28401. NC-designated Level II Trauma Center. Street address taken from an image filename on the Novant page (2131-s-17th-st-wilmington-nc)
Dosher Memorial Hospital
Hours not posted online; call · 910-457-3800
924 N. Howe Street, Southport, NC 28461. Emergency Services page exists but did not state hours in the text read.
Urgent care
Hours first, because that's what people look up. Call before you drive; walk-in hours change with the season.
Novant Health Oceanside Family Medicine & Convenient Care - Shallotte (ExpressCare walk-in)
Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Sunday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM · 910-754-4441
5145 Sellers Road, Shallotte, NC 28470. ExpressCare serves walk-ins for minor illnesses and injuries; ages 4 months and older. Primary care here is by appointment.
Dog rules on the beach
These are the Town of Ocean Isle Beach's rules; the Town is the final word and the signs at the access win on the day.
When dogs are allowed
Dogs on a leash, contained or fenced at all times. No dogs on the beach strand 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day. No dogs at any time in public access or parking areas. Island-wide pooper-scooper ordinance.
The leash rule
Leashed, contained or fenced at all times; leashed in Town Center Park.
If you don't
General minimum $25 fine for ordinance violations
Veterinarians
VCA Seaside Animal Hospital
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm; Sat closed; Sun closed (site marks these as possibly temporary hours) · 910-579-5550
9256 Beach Drive (Highway 179), Calabash, NC 28467. A doggy daycare/grooming facility in the same lot is open Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm for drop off.
Dog rules: Town of Ocean Isle Beach ordinance pages linked above. Hours come from each hospital's or clinic's own website, checked Oct 11, 2026. Hospital emergency departments are open around the clock; clinic and vet hours come from each one's own page. Listings are not endorsements.