What Constitutes a Veterinary Emergency?

While most dogs let their human companions know they’re not feeling well, cats frequently tend to hide their pain or illness. And when a pet owner notices their furry companion seems a bit “under the weather," refusing to eat and not eager to play, they get concerned.

Therefore, since it is both impractical and costly to take your pet to the veterinarian every time you think something is wrong, it’s essential to know how to recognize the difference between a pet that is just bored or finicky and a pet that is in need of prompt veterinary intervention or a visit to the animal hospital.

With this said, there are several easy-to-recognize signs of a veterinary emergency which should never be ignored that indicate that a pet may be seriously ill, requiring immediate emergency attention.  What follows are a few examples of those conditions that require emergency veterinary attention in both dogs and cats.

Conditions Requiring Emergency Veterinary Attention in Dogs

• Attempting to vomit but not being able to. This condition can be symptomatic of a life-threatening condition known as “Bloat”. This serious and potentially lethal condition is caused when something goes wrong with digestion.
• Antifreeze ingestion.
• Difficulty breathing or catching breath.
• Inability to stand or use hind legs.
• Straining to urinate or defecate.
• Displaying neurological problems such as drooling profusely, staggering, or experiencing a seizure, projectile vomiting, extreme sluggishness, or for breeding females, difficulty delivering their puppies.

Conditions Requiring Emergency Veterinary Attention in Cats

• Repeated trips to the litter box, straining to urinate. Neutered males are more prone to blockage than females, but in either case the condition is a definite emergency since it is a potential cause of death.  
• Acetaminophen or antifreeze ingestion.
• Open-mouthed panting, projectile vomiting and diarrhea leading to extreme dehydration.
• Loss of appetite for more than 24 hours.
• Inability to use or dragging hind legs.
• Difficulty breathing or catching breath.
• Extreme lethargy and sluggishness.
• Strange behavior such as excessive hiding under a bed or in a closet.
• Pain during eating.
• Foul breath/drooling
• Constipation, or, for breeding females, difficulty delivering their kittens.

For more extensive information concerning veterinary emergencies visit The Pet Guardian.

When our pets become ill or injured we all wish they could talk to us to let us know what’s wrong. Since that is impossible, how do they communicate to you they are sick? Tell us in a comment.