What is a veterinary (pet) emergency?
- Hannah McCormick
- Mar 16, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Definition of a Veterinary Emergency
A veterinary emergency is any sudden medical situation where delayed treatment could seriously harm your pet’s health or threaten their life. Recognizing these emergencies is crucial for timely intervention.
Common Signs of a Veterinary Emergency
The following symptoms indicate that your pet may be experiencing a veterinary emergency:
Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
Difficulty Breathing | Labored breathing, gasping, or open-mouthed breathing. |
Choking | Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing and gagging. |
Uncontrolled Bleeding | Bleeding that does not stop with pressure or is due to trauma. Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, or blood in urine. |
Severe bleeding | Bleeding that doesn't stop within five minutes. |
Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea | 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. Multiple episodes of vomiting or uncontrollable diarrhea, especially with blood or after ingesting toxins. |
Major Injuries | Broken bones, deep lacerations, or trauma from accidents Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s). |
Dehydration | Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more (not eating is not such a big deal as not drinking). |
Seizures | Sudden, uncontrolled convulsions or staggering. |
Swollen Abdomen | A hard or painful belly, particularly in large-breed dogs. |
Loss of Consciousness | Unresponsiveness or fainting. |
Inability to Walk | Difficulty moving or standing. |
Urinary/Bowel Issues | Straining to urinate, blood in urine, or inability to urinate. Inability to urinate or pass feces (stool), or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool. |
Eyes | Injuries to your pet's eye(s). Red, yellow, swollen, bleeding, goopy or painful eyes almost always need immediate attention. If your pet is holding one eye shut or pawing at it, that may be an emergency too. Don't wait. Have someone look at it. Almost any eye injury is serious because things can go from zero-sixty in a hurry an eye. Call right away, and tell us that it's an eye injury and we'll get back to you if we can. Or call your regular vet if they're open. |
Poisoning | You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous (such as antifreeze, Xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.) Xylitol is a sweetener used in peanut butter and other foods; it is quite toxic to dogs. It is not toxic for cats, but still better never to let them have any. |
Severe pain | Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety |
Overheating | Heat stress or heatstroke. Symptoms of heatstroke in pets include high body temperature (over 104°F), excessive panting, drooling, confusion, disorientation, and potential collapse. Immediate veterinary care is crucial if these symptoms are observed. |
When to Seek Emergency Care
If you observe any of these signs, it is essential to seek immediate veterinary care. Emergency veterinary hospitals are equipped to handle urgent situations and are available 24/7, ensuring your pet receives the necessary treatment without delay.
Please note that Mirthwood Medicine IS NOT an emergency veterinary facility. We do not have surgical equipment, cannot take X-rays (essential if you pet is holding up a leg), oxygen or many appropriate medicines for trauma or poisoning. You either need to get your pet to your regular vet, or contact a genuine emergency vet practice. You are welcomed to call us for advice, however. We will answer your questions and recommend emergency treatment(s) as best we can, but we are just not equipped to treat most traumatic emergencies...
Emergency Vet facilities in Northern NY
Phone: (802) 863-2387 or info@bevsvt.com
----------------------------------------------------
152 Sparrowbush Rd, Latham, NY 12110
Phone: (518) 783-3198
----------------------------------------------------
Cornerstone Veterinary Hospital (Pet Urgent Care)
Phone: (518) 383-6254
Common Pet Emergencies and How to Handle Them
Choking: If your pet is choking, try to remove the obstruction carefully. If unsuccessful, immediately transport your pet to an emergency vet.
Heatstroke: On hot days, pets, especially those with flat faces or heavy coats, are at risk for heatstroke. Move them to a cooler area, offer water, and contact an emergency vet.
Poisoning: Call a poison control hotline or an emergency vet for advice. If the substance is harmful, don't wait—immediate treatment is critical. Many toxic home products have and emergency number where you can talk to someone at the company (a doctor or a veterinarian) who can recommend antidote or treatment, even for animals.
Be sure you have the product information in front of you and give them your best guess about how much of the product was consumed and the weight of your pet.
Trauma or Injury: For serious wounds, keep the area clean, apply pressure to stop bleeding if possible, and get your pet to the vet as quickly as possible.
Comments