Many pet owners have trouble determining whether their pet has a mild illness or is showing signs of a medical emergency. Certain signs and symptoms make it clear that your pet is experiencing an emergency and needs immediate care. Here are some of the ways you can tell that you need to go to an emergency veterinary hospital:
Signs of Physical Trauma
If your pet has uncontrollable bleeding or signs of obvious physical trauma, like a wound, infection, fracture, or other injury, you should bring him to an emergency veterinary hospital. Without wound care, your pet may develop an infection that can spread throughout his entire body. Your pet may need x-rays, pain medication, stitches, or other emergency care.
Loss of Consciousness and/or Seizures
Signs of cognitive decline are a warning sign of a serious illness, injury, or other emergency medical conditions. Watch out for difficulty walking, lameness, staggering, loss of balance, and excessive fatigue. If your pet has a seizure or loses consciousness, he needs emergency care. Also look out for difficulty breathing, restlessness or anxiety, and excessive panting and/or drooling.
Signs of Poisoning
Many things are poisonous to pets and can cause serious symptoms, including seizures, loss of consciousness, and death. Watch out for these warning signs of poisoning: fatigue; excessive thirst; drooling; coughing up pink, frothy, or foamy liquid; blood in urine or stool; vomiting or diarrhea that lasts longer than 24 hours; refusal to eat or drink; difficulty breathing; or anxiety and restlessness.
Inability to Eat, Drink, or Walk
If your pet can’t walk or refuses to play, eat, and drink water, he may be feeling unwell or experiencing a medical emergency. Refusal to eat or drink is a serious symptom of illness, and if your pet refuses water or food for 24 hours or more, he needs emergency care.
If you have any doubt as to the severity of your pet’s condition, you should err on the side of caution and bring him or her into the nearest emergency veterinary hospital for evaluation and treatment.
