Pets can behave in strange ways sometimes, so it’s not always easy to determine if their behavior requires urgent medical care or not. As a pet owner, it’s important to be able to recognize when your dog or cat is experiencing an emergency by knowing the symptoms to look for. This will allow you to be better prepared to provide treatment or bring them to an emergency vet who can provide treatment. Although some indicators are obvious (seizures, fracture, etc.), there are many that aren’t.
Bayshore Veterinary Hospital in Holmdel, NJ has provided a list of symptoms that are commonly linked to emergency situations. Heatstroke, an allergic reaction, heartworm disease, and poisoning are just a few of the conditions that result in the symptoms below. If your pet ever experiences any of these symptoms, contact an emergency veterinarian immediately to determine the next course of action. Some conditions can be treated by you from home, but others require professional veterinary care, so always call a veterinarian first.
Common Pet Emergency Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Seizures
- Severe cough
- Blackout or collapse
- Bloody diarrhea
- Uncontrolled vomiting
- Swollen abdomen
- Straining to pass urine
- Bloody urine
- Bloody discharge from nose, ears or mouth
- Pale gums (sign of blood loss/anemia)
- Open wound or other injury (fracture, break, etc.) from bite or trauma
- Sudden loss of vision
- Pain (expressed by trembling, crying out, or inability to stand or walk)
- Lethargy/weakness
- Loss of appetite (especially dangerous in puppy or kitten)
- Broken or dislocated bone/limb
What to Do If Your Pet Has an Emergency
If your pet ever experiences a medical emergency, give us a call at (732) 671-3110. Bayshore Veterinary Hospital offers emergency care services Monday through Friday, 9am to 7pm Saturday, 9am to 2pm; and Sunday, 10am to 2pm. If your pet experiences an emergency after these hours, and you’re in the Holmdel, NJ area, please visit our Emergency Vet page for the emergency veterinarians we recommend. If you ever plan to travel far from the Holmdel area, always familiarize yourself with the closest emergency veterinarians, in case a trip to the vet is necessary for treatment.