How to know if your pet needs urgent treatment depends on recognising the warning signs early. If your pet is struggling to breathe, bleeding heavily, or unable to move, it may be a pet emergency. Sudden changes in behaviour, loss of appetite, or continuous vomiting should also never be ignored. When in doubt, contact your vet straight away to ensure your pet emergency receives the right attention.

Sometimes it can be hard to know whether your pet needs emergency treatment, or if a standard appointment will do.

Here is a list of conditions that warrant a fast dash to the vets, no matter the day or time.

Trouble BREATHING.

Any breathing difficulties warrant a trip to the vets ASAP.

Is your pet working too hard to breathe? Are they breathing too fast or too slow?

Sudden onset of coughing or retching that will not stop is a pet emergency as well. Bear in mind that, especially in cats, the signs of breathing difficulties can be subtle, such as an increased breathing rate or slight flaring of the nostrils. In any case, keep your pet calm and minimise stress as you make your way to the veterinary clinic during this pet emergency.

BLEEDING.

Severe bleeding that does not stop within five minutes or with pressure applied to the wound needs emergency treatment.

Cover the wound with a dressing or clean towel and apply pressure to reduce bleeding while you make your way to the vets. Keep your pet as calm as possible.

TRAUMA.

Pets who have suffered any sort of trauma should be seen by a vet as soon as possible, even if there are no visible injuries.

If your pet has been hit by a car, fallen from a height, been attacked, or suffered a serious injury then take them to the vet clinic straight away. Sometimes internal injuries may not be obvious right away but your vet can
assess your pet and run any tests necessary to make sure they get the treatment they need without delay.

POISONING.

The list of things that can be poisonous to our pets is a long one.

Some of the common toxins that vets treat include chocolate, dried fruit, rodent bait, medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, lilies, and more.

If you know your pet has eaten something toxic then take them to the vet straight away: earlier treatment is always better and may be the difference between a full recovery and permanent organ damage. If possible, take any packaging with you- this can help your vet treat your pet.

When your pet eats something and you’re unsure whether it’s poisonous, contact your veterinary clinic straight away.

NOT URINATING.

If your pet is unable to pass urine this can cause permanent damage to the kidneys, and even death if left
untreated.

Sometimes it is hard to know if your pet has cystitis and is passing very small amounts of urine, or if they have a blockage and are completely unable to urinate. If you are not sure, then it is better to take your pet
to be assessed by a vet. Your vet will be able to tell if your pet’s bladder is blocked and provide treatment.

EYE INJURIES.

True, most eye injuries are not life-threatening, but eyes are irreplaceable and can require specialist treatment, so they are better assessed by a vet as soon as possible.

Eye symptoms that need to be seen urgently include things stuck in the eye, severe eye pain / unable to open the eye, enucleation (eye popped out), or eyelid trauma.

If your pet’s eyes are sticky or watery but they are otherwise OK, then a standard appointment will be OK, but a painful or injured eye warrants an emergency vet visit.

TROUBLE GIVING BIRTH.

Most pets can give birth at home without any veterinary treatment. But if your pet is struggling to give birth then speak to a vet to find out if they need to be seen.

In general, if your pet has been pushing for over 20 minutes and not passed the puppy / kitten then they may need to be seen.

BLOAT.

Swelling of the abdomen should always be assessed as a matter of urgency, especially if your pet is unwell.

Abdominal swelling can be caused by a twisted stomach, internal bleeding, heart disease and more. If your dog has a swollen abdomen and is trying to vomit then they may have a twisted stomach and need to be seen by a vet as an absolute emergency.

SEIZURES.

Seizures can have lots of different causes.

If your pet has never had a seizure before, or if they have a seizure thatdoes not stop on its own within 1-2 minutes, then they should go to the vets ASAP. Your vet can assess your pet, give them medication to stop the seizure, and work out what may have caused the seizure.

Transporting your pet calmly, and minimising noise and lights will help avoid triggering another seizure.

HEATSTROKE.

Signs of heatstroke include excessive panting that does not stop, vomiting or diarrhoea, weakness, confusion, seizures, and collapse.

If you think your pet has heatstroke, then immerse them in water that is as cold as you can make it: Start to cool them down before you travel to the vets. When ready, transport them in a cool car with air conditioning on or windows down.

UNABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT on one or more legs.

A mild to moderate limp is usually not so severe to warrant a trip to the emergency vets, but if your pet cannot stand on one or more legs then they should be seen urgently.

An emergency vet can assess your pet, provide pain relief, and decide whether they need further emergency treatment or if it can wait until morning.

SEVERE VOMITING OR DIARRHOEA.

Many pets are sick from time to time or have about of diarrhoea.

However, if your pet is vomiting repeatedly over a short period of time, or if they have severe or profuse diarrhoea (perhaps with blood) then they should be seen as an emergency. If left untreated severe vomiting or severe diarrhoea can cause dehydration and organ damage.

Worried about your pet?

Here’s what to do:

• Ring your vet – They can advise you whether you need to come into clinic as an emergency, or book a
  routine appointment.
  
• Video Vet – If your practice is closed then you may be able to chat to a vet on a video call to decide whether your pet needs to go to the emergency clinic. Ask your practice for more information.
  
• Emergency Clinic – If your practice is closed there will be an on call vet or emergency clinic who can provide treatment and advice. Speak to your practice to find out what their out of hours provision is.