It can be difficult to know when your pet is having an emergency, here is an outline of how to judge the situation.
Call Immediately:
Seizures
- How long are the seizures?
- How many has the pet had?
- Have a description – loss of bladder or bowels, full body tremors or localized, etc.
- Has the pet gotten into anything?
Toxic ingestion
- How much did the pet eat?
- When did they eat it?
- How much did they eat?
- Any symptoms so far?
- Bring the container to the veterinarian with you
Wounds/trauma
- How did it happen?
- When did it happen?
- Try not to move the pet too much
- Use a piece of rope as a muzzle – your pet may bite out pain and fear
- Place a bandage if necessary
Collapse
- What was the pet doing when they collapsed?
- What colour are the gums?
- Any history of heart disease or respiratory disease?
Difficulty breathing
- Any coughing?
- Any history of heart disease?
- What colour are the gums?
Paralysis
- Did it happen suddenly or were there any signs of lameness or wobbliness first?
- Any history of trauma?
- Are they able to stand or walk?
Not passing urine/straining to urinate
- When did the pet last pass a full volume of urine?
- Are they passing any urine at all?
- What is their current diet?
- Any history of urinary issues?
- Is any blood seen in the urine?
Distended/bloated abdomen
- When was it first noted?
- Any history of trauma, liver disease or heart disease?
- Any history of collapse?
Facial swelling
- Was your pet bitten/stung by an insect?
- When was the swelling first noted?
- Any difficulty breathing?
- What colour are the gums?
- Any current medications or supplements?
Difficulty giving birth
- There should be a puppy or kitten born within 30 minutes of strong regular contractions, and there should be no more than 2 hours between puppies/kittens
- When was the due date?
- Has an x-ray been taken to see how many puppies/kittens are expected?
- What breed is the father?
- How many previous litters has she had?
Call in 24 Hours:
Blood in urine – but not straining
- Any difficulty passing urine?
- What volume of urine is the pet passing?
- What diet is the pet eating?
- Any current supplements or medications?
- How frequently is the pet urinating/attempting to urinate?
Vomiting
- What does the vomit look like? Any blood?
- Any diarrhea?
- Has the pet gotten into anything recently?
- Does the pet tend to eat toys or other objects?
- Are they able to keep water down?
- Do they want to eat?
Not drinking
- Are they still eating?
- Any weight loss?
- Are they producing urine and feces?
- Have they gotten into anything?
- Any vomiting or diarrhea?
Red, runny eyes, squinting, rubbing eyes
- What does the discharge look like?
- Any sneezing or nasal discharge?
- Any history or trauma?
Lameness – not weight bearing
- Any history of trauma?
- Which leg is it?
- Is it always the same leg?
- Have any ticks ever been found on this pet or any other people or pets in the house?
- Any previous history of lameness?
- Any current medications or supplements?
Coughing?
- What colour are the gums?
- How often is the pet coughing?
- Is the cough keeping them up at night?
- Any travel or boarding history?
- Any history of heart disease?
- What does the cough sound like?
- Is the pet coughing anything up?
Vaginal discharge
- When did it start?
- Is she spayed?
- Any change in her appetite, drinking, urination?
Call Next Business Day:
Red, sore, dirty, smelly ears
- Has the pet had any ear infections in the past?
- Any current medications or supplements?
- What diet is the pet currently eating?
- Is the pet itchy anywhere else (e.g. feet)?
- Has the pet been to the groomer, swimming or snowdiving?
Diarrhea of the pet is still eating and drinking
- How often is the pet passing BM?
- Any blood or mucus in the stools?
- How long have they had diarrhea?
- Have they gotten into anything?
- Is the pet still eating and drinking?
Not eating or eating less
- Are they still drinking?
- Are they refusing treats as well?
- Any weight loss?
- Any change in the amount of urine produced?
- Any vomiting or diarrhea?
- What is the current diet?
- Any change in the diet?
Weight loss
- How long have they been losing weight?
- Are they still eating and drinking?
- Any change in the amount they are drinking or urinating?
- Any vomiting or diarrhea?
- What is the current diet?
Lameness – weight bearing
- Any history of trauma?
- Which leg is it?
- Is it always the same leg?
- Have any ticks ever been found on this pet or any other people or pets in the house?
- Any previous history of lameness?
- Any current medications or supplements?
Bad breath
- What is the current diet?
- What do they chew on?
- Any vomiting or diarrhea?
- Are they still eating or drinking?
- Any difficulty picking up the food, chewing or swallowing it?
- Any blood noted on their chew toys?
- Any change in how much they are drinking or urinating?
Tumour/Swelling
- When did you first notice it?
- Has it changed in size?
- Is the pet scratching it?
- Is it painful to touch?
- Any discharge noted from it?
- Is there more than one?
Not passing feces/Constipation
- Any urine produced?
- Are they still eating and drinking?
- Are they straining?
- Are any stools being passed? What did they look like?
- When was the last bowel movement?
Written by Hillcrest Animal Hospital