When to Take your Pet to the Veterinary Emergency Room

It’s a nightmare scenario that many of us know all too well: your pet is injured or sick with a mysterious condition and you have to pack up for the veterinary Emergency Room. Not only is having to take a trip to the vet ER scary, but it can be costly, too, if you do not have any kind of pet health insurance.

Scarier than cost, of course, is trying to figure out if whether or not you need to take your pet to the ER. There are many serious-sounding and scary-looking ailments and conditions that seem dangerous but could be resolved with a scheduled veterinary visit or with home treatment. Likewise, there are seemingly benign conditions that could develop into something more serious (and costly) without ER intervention.

This blog post may help you discern what to do if you’re unsure of whether to make an ER visit for your pet. Some scenarios usually require an ER visit while others may not.

Abdominal Pain and Difficulty Giving Birth

General abdominal pain doesn’t always require an ER visit but should be treated very seriously. Pets that seem more lethargic than normal, are arching their backs, or vomiting require veterinary intervention, but unless the symptoms are serious or extreme, they don’t need an ER visit.

Animal birth, however, is another ballgame. While most animal births are fine at home, if there is any difficulty, you’ll need to rush them to the ER immediately.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions are another judgment call, but for the most part, you’ll want to be on the safe side. At minimum, if you notice your pet suffering from signs of possible allergic reaction (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, excessive scratching or chewing on feet or other body parts, swollen face or eyes, etc.) call a vet immediately. The severity of allergic reactions can be difficult to gauge right away, so an ER trip is prudent to prevent your pet from going into shock.

Severe Bites and Burns

You’ll be able to tell how badly injured your pet is immediately by carefully examining them. You might have to muzzle your dog if it’s been bitten. Excessive bleeding, pain, and structural damage should send you to the veterinary Emergency Room.

Cardiac Emergencies

Take your pet to the ER if it collapses, seems excessively weak, develops bluish or gray gums, has an excessively slow or fast heart rate, or shows signs of respiratory distress. Any of these signs could be a life-threatening event. If your pet loses consciousness or stops breathing, you’ll need to perform CPR before you arrive at the ER.

Hypothermia and Frostbite

Dogs at play won’t tell you when they’re too cold. If any mammal is shivering, showing signs of lethargy and weakness, or an inability to use their limbs, they could have damaged tissue or other consequences of being too cold. Try to warm their body temperature slowly with blankets, warm water bottles, etc., and take them to the ER if they aren’t showing signs of recovery.

Heat Stroke and Dehydration

If you see signs of dehydration (excessive panting, lethargy, inability to stand, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) and they don’t get better in a cool space and after drinking water, take your pet to the ER immediately. Heat stroke can affect the internal organs if not properly treated.

Neurological Emergencies

It’s incredibly difficult to treat neurological conditions, so if you notice your pet can’t use its limbs, is unable to stand, has seizures, and exhibits other abnormal behavior, an ER trip should be your next move.

Respiratory Emergencies

Similar to heart emergencies, if your pet collapses, has bluish or gray gum color, or has labored, rapid or shallow breathing, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Others

Here are a few other examples of when you should take your pet to the veterinary Emergency Room if the symptoms are severe:

• Serious Cuts/lacerations
• Toxins and poisons
• Seizures
• Urinary Emergencies—blood in the urine, inability to urinate, etc.
• Excessive or prolonged vomiting or retching

Remember, never hesitate to call your vet or emergency veterinary care provider to make sure you are doing what is best for your pet. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to risk the health and life of your pet.

 

At Royal Vista Vets, we offer 24-hour emergency services. Call us at 970-825-5975 if you believe you may have a pet emergency.

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