What is a Pet Emergency?

Ranging from concerning to life-threatening, pet emergencies all have one thing in common: The situation can’t wait.

Emergencies are determined by two factors: the time sensitivity and the severity of your pet’s condition.

Time sensitivity

In an emergency, hours, minutes, and even seconds can change the outcome, so you likely have to get to a hospital right away rather than waiting to consult with your primary veterinarian.

An emergency can happen during times when your primary veterinarian’s office may be closed, such as:

• Nights
• Weekends
• Holidays

Many emergency pet hospitals are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year so you always have access to life-saving care.

Severity

Pet emergencies are often distinguished from non-emergency situations by looking at the severity of the symptoms. If your pet’s symptoms are severe, persistent or escalating quickly, treat the situation as an emergency.

For some symptoms, the severity can range between non-emergency and emergency levels of concern. Let’s use vomiting as an example:

• Non-emergency vomiting: If your pet vomits once, you’re confident they haven’t gotten into anything hazardous, and they otherwise seem fine, this type of vomiting likely isn’t an emergency.
• Emergency-level vomiting: If your pet has vomited multiple times, thrown up blood, or ingested a toxic substance, this may be an emergency.

It’s also important to consider the severity of your pet’s situation. Traumatic events like car accidents or animal attacks often warrant a trip to the emergency vet for an exam.

How do I recognize a medical emergency?

When you know what constitutes a pet emergency, you can take action with confidence and quickly get your pet the care they need. While there are many types of emergencies, here is a list of the types of emergencies we see at BluePearl hospitals:

Bleeding

Bleeding in pets can be as simple as a small cut or as complex as a life-threatening injury affecting internal organs. If your pet’s bleeding fits any of these three qualities, seek prompt care.

1. The bleeding is a result of trauma. Traumatic events, including car accidents, falls and animal attacks, should be treated as emergencies. Even if the bleeding doesn’t appear severe or urgent on the surface, there may be internal complications that need veterinary care.
2. Simple first aid doesn’t stop the bleeding. Uncontrolled bleeding is dangerous and can indicate a deeper problem. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after applying pressure or gauze to the wound, it needs prompt medical attention.
3. You’re concerned about infection. Look for signs of infection, like redness, pus, odor or pain. An emergency vet can also prevent or treat a serious infection by properly caring for wounds like animal bites.

Difficulty breathing

Breathing problems are serious emergencies. Difficulty breathing in a pet may look or sound like:

• Labored breathing
• Rapid or shallow breath
• Choking
• Coughing
• Excessive panting or open-mouthed breathing

Difficulty breathing may be caused by a number of problems –  including allergies, obstructed airway, respiratory infections and heart disease –  which is why it’s important to get your pet assessed by a veterinarian quickly.

Trauma or major wounds

Traumatic events like accidents and animal attacks can lead to major injuries like:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Head injuries
• Damage to internal organs

Injuries following traumatic events aren’t always obvious. Though your pet may appear fine on the outside, there may be internal damage that you can’t see. If your pet experiences trauma, it’s a good idea to take them to an emergency vet to have their injuries examined and rule out any complications.

Foreign body ingestion

Foreign body ingestion simply means your pet ate something non-digestible. We’ve seen all sorts of swallowed objects in our ERs with the most common including:

• Socks and clothing items
• Toys and squeakers
• Bones
• Tennis balls
• Ropes and string

Left untreated, a foreign body can cause major damage to your pet’s internal organs, which is why it’s a time-sensitive emergency.

Foreign body cases typically rely on diagnostic imaging to identify how the object is affecting the body, as well as endoscopic or traditional surgery for removal if needed.

Poison or toxic substance ingestion

There are many poisons and toxic substances that can cause significant harm to your pet if ingested, including several household dangers. Some of the most common poisons or toxic substances that land pets in the emergency hospital for consuming include:

• Rat poison
• Chocolate
• Grapes or raisins
• Xylitol (an artificial sweetener in many sugar-free gums or candies)
• Alcohol
• Human medications
• Lilies (toxic to cats)

Your pet’s prognosis and treatment will depend on the particular substance and how much of it they consumed, so be ready to share this information with your emergency vet if possible.

GDV

GDV – or gastric dilatation and volvulus – is a condition in which your pet’s stomach becomes twisted. It’s typically identified by a swollen or distended abdomen, which may be accompanied by:

• Attempted vomiting resulting in pale froth
• Rapid heart rate or breathing
• Signs of pain (like refusal to lie down and general discomfort)

To avoid serious complications, GDV requires immediate medical care, which typically involves a surgical procedure to correct the twist.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is a result of your pet’s body temperature increasing due to environmental heat. It’s a common emergency because many pets – especially certain breeds of dogs like English bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs – can easily overheat in warm weather.

Signs of heatstroke include:

• Reddened or abnormal gum color
• Disorientation
• Elevated breathing rates

Heatstroke develops and escalates quickly and can have fatal consequences if not treated right away.

Vomiting or diarrhea

Vomiting and diarrhea are two common symptoms of gastrointestinal problems, and their severity determines whether or not you should take your pet to the ER.

Vomiting and diarrhea may be an emergency if:

• Your pet has had several episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours
• There is blood in your pet’s vomit or diarrhea
• Your pet has other symptoms like lethargy, pain or pale gums
• You think your pet ate a toxic or otherwise harmful substance
• The vomiting and diarrhea episodes are severe

Seizures

Seizures in pets are a common neurological condition that result in involuntary movements and behavior like:

• Loss of consciousness
• Involuntary rigidity followed by paddling
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Altered perceptions of their surroundings (hallucinations)
• Uncontrollable shaking

Not all seizures require emergency care, especially if your pet has been diagnosed with epilepsy (a condition involving several episodes of seizures) and you already have instructions from your veterinarian.

If your pet experiences any of the following, however, seek immediate veterinary help:

• Multiple seizures with incomplete recovery in between
• Multiple seizures with short periods of normalcy in between
• Trouble breathing after a seizure
• Suspected toxic substance ingestion before a seizure

Inability to walk

Loss of mobility and the inability to stand up or walk are cause for concern in pets. This may be caused by:

• Arthritis or painful joints
• Injury or trauma
• Disk disease
• Internal complications

If your pet can’t walk, safely transport them to the emergency vet for diagnosis and treatment.

Loss of consciousness

If your pet faints or becomes unconscious, they need prompt medical intervention. Pets may lose consciousness due to either a neurologic (relating to the brain) or cardiac (relating to the heart) cause.

Urinary difficulties

Urinary issues like straining, inability to urinate or blood in the urine are medical emergencies. These problems can be signs of a blockage (particularly in male cats), which can be life-threatening.

What if I’m still not sure if my pet’s situation is an emergency?

If you’re on the fence about whether or not your pet’s situation is an emergency or not, it’s best to play it safe. Call the emergency vet, explain the situation and ask for their guidance on next steps.

You know your pet better than anyone, so if your intuition tells you that your pet needs medical intervention right away, call the emergency vet. Once at the animal hospital, the emergency team will conduct triage to determine the next steps in your pet's treatment.

What situations are typically NOT medical emergencies?

Thankfully, there are many medical concerns that do not require immediate care. Here is a list of problems that can typically wait until you can contact your primary veterinarian:

• Skin conditions, itching and sneezing
• Irritated ears or eyes
• Minor wounds and controlled bleeding
• Minor infections (like ear infections)
• Visible masses or abscesses
• Limping (without suspected trauma)
• Broken or overgrown nails
• Ticks, fleas, worms and mites
• Non-emergency vomiting or diarrhea

Non-emergency conditions can be treated at your primary veterinarian’s office or an urgent care clinic.

What are the different types of veterinary care?

Veterinary medicine is advancing and expanding every day, resulting in greater access to specific types of care. It’s important to understand the different types of medicine available so you can seek the appropriate care in any situation – including emergencies.

Primary care

Your primary veterinarian is your main point of contact for your pet’s overall wellness, lifelong care, and preventive medicine. Primary veterinarians generally provide:

• Wellness examinations
• Vaccines
• Parasite prevention and testing
• Spaying and neutering
• Surgeries like lump removal
• Dental cleanings and extractions
• Diagnostic care
• Management of ongoing concerns and chronic illnesses

Visits to your primary veterinarian are usually by appointment only, although some clinics may offer walk-in hours.

If your pet goes to the emergency hospital, your primary veterinarian should receive a medical report from the emergency veterinarian. Once your pet is stable, you may be directed to follow up at your primary vet’s office for further or ongoing care.

Emergency care

Emergency hospitals are usually open 24/7 or during hours in which your primary vet’s office is closed. Led by veterinarians who are specifically trained in emergency medicine, ERs are typically equipped with life-saving features like critical care units, surgical suites, advanced diagnostic imaging and more.

Because emergencies often happen quickly and unexpectedly, most veterinary ERs accept walk-ins – though it’s a good idea to call ahead to say you’re coming.

Urgent care

Urgent care clinics treat pets who are sick or injured but not facing a life-threatening or extremely critical situation, especially during times when your primary veterinarian isn’t available and you still want your pet to see a vet sooner than later.

Most urgent care locations take walk-ins and do not require appointments, but it’s best to call ahead if possible.

If your pet’s condition escalates to a critical level of concern during their urgent care appointment, they may be transferred or referred to an emergency hospital.

Specialty medicine

Similar to human health care, specialty veterinarians – many of whom are board-certified in their areas of expertise – focus on specific areas of medicine. A few veterinary specialties include:

• Anesthesiology
• Cardiology
• Critical care
• Dermatology
• Diagnostic imaging
• Internal medicine
• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Surgery

Veterinary specialists are available by referral from your primary veterinarian, and they can help diagnose and treat complex or chronic illnesses.

Specialists often work in hospitals with 24/7 emergency departments. So if your pet comes in as an emergency patient and needs care for a chronic or complex illness, they may be transferred to a specialty team under the same roof.

My pet is experiencing an emergency – what should I do?