We always have on-call vets available to provide your pet with urgent/emergency care outside of our clinics' normal business hours – even in the middle of the night or on days like Christmas Day.
But how do you tell when your pet needs emergency attention?
Urgent/emergency situations
Some definite ‘see the vet now’ indicators or circumstances include...
Trauma
Seizures
Fainting or collapse
Severe or uncontrolled diarrhoea (especially if it looks bloody)
Vomiting, if you see one or more of the following:
If more than 3-5 times in as many hours.
If it's becoming more frequent or has been happening for more than two days.
If there is blood or foreign material in the vomit.
If you know (or even suspect) they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t have.
If they seem depressed or lethargic as well.
If their abdomen seems tense or bloated and they’re retching without vomiting.
Their breathing seems unusual.
They’ve stopped eating or drinking.
Your pet has a history of serious illness.
Your pet is an older intact female dog with a history of vomiting, anorexia (lack of appetite), lethargy and a vaginal discharge.
Suspected poisoning, such as:
Ingestion of toxic foods (grapes, raisins, and chocolate are especially poisonous to dogs), human medication, antifreeze, rodent/possum poison or snail bait. If you think your pet has eaten something dangerous, please call us immediately. It is important that we see your pet as soon as possible after ingestion, even if it is in the middle of the night.
Cats, in particular, can be fatally sensitive to insecticides such as flea-control medications that are safe for dogs, petroleum-based products or certain medications.
Cat straining to pass urine:
Cats can suffer from lower urinary tract disorders. If your cat seems to be uncomfortable, is crying or distressed, is straining and passing only a few drops or no urine, this is an emergency situation. They require immediate vet attention for a life-saving procedure to unblock the urinary tract and release pressure on the bladder.
Situations that are more serious than they might seem
Things that might not seem serious, but are an urgent/emergency situation include...
Eye injuries.
Allergic reactions, e.g. swelling around the face or hives.
Any breathing difficulty.
Extreme lethargy.
More than two or three episodes of diarrhoea or vomiting within an hour or so could also indicate a serious problem.
Other signs of pain that may not be as life-threatening, but still might warrant immediate veterinary attention to discover what is wrong include...
Excessive panting.
Loss of appetite.
Sudden aggression.
Hiding or crying.
If you see any of these signs, call the vet immediately. If you are unsure if your pet requires urgent care, or if it can wait until normal business hours, please call us. We are happy to work with you to determine if your pet requires an emergency visit after hours.
If your pet has been injured in an accident – call the vet NOW
Animals can sometimes seem fine after accidents, such as being hit by a car, exposed to extreme heat or cold, or being cut or bitten. But remember, animals are often better at hiding illness and injury than humans and can be in shock or have other serious injuries without showing any obvious signs.
If the accident seemed serious, even if your pet looks fine, you need to take them to a vet immediately to check for internal injuries that can result in death if left untreated.
If your cat has been in a fight – this may not be an emergency
Cat fights are a fact of life. If the fight has just occurred and your cat seems fine, you are probably safe to wait and see your vet the following day.
Sometimes an alarmed cat owner is confronted with a burst, pussy abscess that developed from a fight. While these can look like a major wound, as long as your pet is well in itself, this is not an emergency. Make your cat as comfortable as possible and book an appointment at the clinic the next day.
However, if your cat is extremely distressed or has received an obvious eye injury (to the inside lid or globe of the eye), this is a true emergency an an urgent vet visit is warranted.
Never administer human pain relief medication to your pets
If your pet seems to be in pain, do not give them human pain relief medication. Cats are very sensitive to many drugs used as pain relief in humans, medicines such as aspirin and paracetamol can be fatal to cats. Ibuprofen is very toxic to both cats and dogs – DO NOT give it to them!
While it may be possible to wait until normal clinic hours or until your regular vet is available, put yourself in your pet’s place and don’t let them suffer.
Call the emergency vet for advice on appropriate animal medication.
If you’re in doubt about the seriousness of a problem, please give us a call. Remember that it’s better to make a trip you needn’t have made than to miss the one you should have made.
This advice was originally published by Totally Vets. As a trusted partner of VetSouth, we're proud to share Totally Vets expertise with our community.
