Types of Emergencies

If your pet is experiencing any of the following problems, immediate consultation and/or care by an emergency veterinarian should be sought:

  • Severe bleeding (especially from the nose, mouth or rectum) or bleeding that doesn't stop within 5 minutes
  • Choking, difficulty breathing, non-stop coughing and gagging or coughing up blood
  • Bloody urine
  • Inability to urinate or pass stool, or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool
  • Eye injuries
  • You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, human medication, rodent poison, etc)
  • Seizures and/or staggering
  • Fractured bones, sever lameness or inability to move leg(s)
  • Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
  • Heat stress or heatstroke
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea - more than two episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these combined with obvious illness or any of the other problems listed here
  • Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
  • Unconsciousness

ANY concern about your pet's health warrants, at minimum, a call to your family veterinarian.