Knowing When to Bring Your Pet in for Urgent Care

Like us, pets can become sick or injured at any time. However, since they don’t have the ability to tell us verbally that there is something wrong, often it isn’t always obvious that they require professional help. Instead, they rely on us to pick up any symptoms or unusual behaviors that they can show us. This can take time, particularly if the signs of a problem are very subtle. Animals are also naturally predisposed to trying to mask illness as much as possible so that they don’t appear a week or vulnerable in any way. This can make it even harder to detect that your pet could really benefit from being assessed and treated by a professional. 

If your pet is unwell, as their owner, you also need to make the decision as to how serious their condition is and how quickly they need to be seen. Many veterinary practices offer an out-of-hours service, either at their premises or that of a partner clinic, for those occasions where your pet really does need to see a veterinarian immediately.

Here are some of the key signs that your pet needs to receive urgent veterinary care. 

 

Respiratory Distress

Unsurprisingly, breathing problems are considered to be a veterinary emergency and mean that your pet should be seen by a vet right away. There are lots of different reasons why an animal may experience respiratory distress. Some of the most common include:

• An allergic reaction

• A blocked airway

• Collapsed lung

• Heart problems

• Heartworm disease

• Infections affecting the heart or lungs 
   

If your pet is struggling to breathe, is panting frantically or consistently coughing, choking, or gagging, call your emergency vet immediately. 

 

Persistent Vomiting and/or Diarrhea

All animals vomit or experience diarrhea from time to time. However, if your pet has multiple episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhea in a 24 hour period, it is important that you seek an appointment with your vet right away. Dehydration is a common side effect of chronic sickness or loose bowels and this is just one side effect that your pet could be experiencing. There can be many different reasons why your pet is experiencing these symptoms, including:

• Infection of the digestive system

• Parasite infection 

• Blocked bowel

• Intestinal blockage

• Underlying health issues

• Poisoning
   

Some of these situations can potentially be life-threatening, so don’t delay in seeking the urgent care of your vet.

 

Poisoning

You may be surprised to learn that poisoning is actually a very common reason for pet urgency veterinary care visits. Sadly, there are many substances that can be toxic for animals, and even just a small amount of an ingested poison that could make your pet seriously, life-threateningly sick. Some of the most common everyday substances that can be toxic to animals include chocolate, candy containing xylitol, onions, grapes, raisins, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, human medications, chemicals, and antifreeze. 

It’s impossible to watch our pets 24/7, so it is important to be aware of the signs of poisoning so that you can seek immediate help from your vet. These include:

• Blood in their stools

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Inability to pass urine

• Loss of appetite

• Breathing difficulties

• Rapid, irregular heartbeat

• Confusion

• Seizures

• Loss of consciousness

If you suspect that your pet may have been poisoned, don’t wait to seek professional help.

 

Inability to Pass Urine or Have Bowel Movements

Passing urine and feces are normal bodily functions for our pets, and while every pet is different, most owners will have a fairly good idea of how frequently their animal ‘goes’. Being unable to pass urine or have bowel movements is a sign of a serious, potentially deadly problem. If your pet doesn’t pee or have a bowel movement within 24 hours or appears to be struggling to do either, it’s crucial that they are seen by a vet as soon as possible. 

 

Obvious Injury

From slips and falls to traffic collisions, being crushed, or being attacked by another animal, there are lots of ways in which your pet could potentially become injured. Although not all injuries result in visible trauma, if you have reason to suspect that your pet has had an accident, it is important to arrange to have them checked over by your vet pretty quickly. Sometimes the damage is internal, and your pet could be suffering from issues like internal bruising, bleeding, broken bones, or soft tissue injuries and you don’t even realize it. 

Still not sure whether your pet needs urgent care? It’s always better to be safe, not sorry so don’t delay in seeking immediate advice and support. Contact Liberty Animal Clinic in Hinesville, GA.