As a pet owner, it can sometimes be challenging to determine if your pet needs emergency veterinary care or if they can wait for an appointment to be seen. While it is always recommended to err on the side of caution and bring your pet in regardless of the time, there are several conditions that require immediate treatment, as your pet could be at serious risk. These situations include the following:

• Trouble breathing
• Open mouth breathing in a cat
• Difficulty defecating or urinating, especially male cats that are straining to urinate*
• Constant coughing or wheezing
• Coughing up blood
• Constant, non-productive retching (especially if a bloated abdomen is also seen)
• Abnormal gum color
• Inability to walk
• Acting disoriented
• Weakness or collapse
• Loss of motor function
• Seizures
• Crying out in pain
• Wounds or injury to the body
• Significant bleeding
• Bite wounds / Lacerations
• Sudden appearance of bruising without injury or trauma
• Ingesting poison
• No urination for more than 24 hours
• A bloated abdomen
• Diarrhea with loss of appetite, vomiting, or retching
• Bulging eyes or sudden blindness
• Facial swelling or hives
• Any sick exotic pet (bird, hamster, ferret, snake, etc) should be seen immediately

It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive, and you should always seek medical advice from your veterinarian to decide if your pet needs emergency attention. If you are concerned about your pet’s health and safety, you should always bring them to the emergency vet for immediate treatment.

Regardless of your safety measures, accidents can still happen to your pet. However, some common pet emergencies we see regularly at our animal hospital can potentially be avoided with some prevention strategies. These strategies include the following:

• Regular wellness exams: Your pet should visit their veterinarian for routine wellness exams to identify any health issues and catch them before they become emergencies later on.
• Pet-proof your home: It is vital that you familiarize yourself with standard household supplies and plants that are toxic to pets and either secure them or remove them from your home. Understanding what foods are harmful to your pet can also help prevent accidental poisoning.
• Understand your climate and surroundings: Weather extremes, high tick populations, local predators, and rough terrain can all cause potential pet emergencies. Understanding your surroundings and what could cause harm to your pet is essential in preventing an unexpected pet emergency.
• Train your pet: A well-trained pet will respond to your commands in a potentially dangerous situation. If they get off of their leash or you are approaching a dangerous or toxic object, having a well-trained pet could mean the difference between avoiding the hazard and ending up in an emergency situation. Teaching your pet not to eat anything without permission can also help prevent ingestion of toxic substances.

Despite your best efforts, emergencies can still happen, and you should arm yourself with the knowledge necessary to respond to the situation and get your pet the immediate care they need. Knowing your nearest emergency veterinarian hospital and having their contact information readily available can save you valuable time in getting your pet medical attention.

In addition to these prevention strategies, you should ensure that your pet’s identification information is up to date, including microchipping, in case you need to be contacted in an emergency.

While pet emergencies can be scary and overwhelming, it is crucial you stay calm and understand the necessary steps you should take to ensure your pet receives medical intervention as quickly as possible. Having a pet emergency plan in place can make all the difference in keeping everyone level-headed and acting swiftly to assess the situation and take necessary action to keep your pet alive. 

When in doubt, you should always call your vet for advice on what you can do in the immediate aftermath of a pet emergency to help stabilize your pet before transporting it to an animal hospital. However, you can take a few key first-aid steps to ensure you are prepared for a pet emergency and know how to respond. These steps include the following:

• Have a pet first aid kit ready: Some things you should include in your pet emergency kit are absorbent gauze, hydrogen peroxide, disposable gloves, tweezers, scissors, alcohol wipes, ice packs, towels, and contact information for your nearest emergency vet hospital.
• Learn basic pet first aid: Pet CPR, maneuvers for when your pet is choking, and bleeding and injury stabilization are all important first aid measures that you can learn to help your pet in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.
• Have travel equipment readily available: Your pet’s travel carrier, leash, harness, or any other equipment you typically use to transport them should be readily available to get them to the emergency vet as quickly and safely as possible. 

While first-aid does not replace veterinarian care, it can help stabilize your pet until you can get them to an emergency pet hospital. It is important to note that an injured or sick animal might act differently than usual, and you should approach them with caution and care for both their safety and that of your own.