When your cat or dog is sick and in pain, it’s important to be able to determine if it’s a minor illness, or a veterinary emergency. Making a quick decision can make a huge difference in terms of your pet’s ability to fully recover. Here are some of the ways you’ll know if you need to take a trip to an emergency veterinary hospital:
Severe Bleeding
If your pet has an injury that won’t stop bleeding, seek emergency care right away. Additionally, if your pet is bleeding from the nose, mouth, rectum, or has blood in his urine or stool, you should visit an emergency veterinary hospital.
Signs of Extreme Pain or Anxiety
Signs of pain and anxiety require emergency care, as they can be symptoms of serious illness or injury. If your pet is manic, pacing, panting and/or drooling excessively, drinking water obsessively, and/or whining, barking, or yowling without stopping, he may be experiencing extreme anxiety or might be in pain. Look for signs of lameness, inability to walk or use one or more limbs, fractures, signs of anger or defensiveness when you approach or try to touch your pet, and any other signs that indicate your pet is in pain.
Cognitive Issues
Cognitive issues are a serious warning sign that something is wrong. Watch out for seizures, balance and coordination issues, trouble standing or walking, difficulty breathing, and/or loss of consciousness. These could be signs of a brain injury, serious illness or virus, poisoning, organ failure, heat stroke, or another serious medical condition.
Gastrointestinal Issues
If your pet has diarrhea and/or vomiting for more than 24 hours, they need emergency care. Inability to urinate or defecate, or signs of pain when urinating or defecating, are also signs of a veterinary emergency. Pay attention to whether your pet has refused to drink water for 24 hours or more.
If your pet shows any of the signs and symptoms above, visit an emergency veterinary hospital near you as soon as possible for treatment.
