When to Rush Your Furry Friend to the ER: Identifying Common Pet Emergencies

As a veterinarian with experience treating beloved family pets, I have guided countless frantic owners through stressful medical situations. We have seen a wide range of emergencies including poisoning, trauma from accidents, animal bites, and breathing trouble. As a pet owner, you must act quickly at the first signs of a crisis.

Signs that would require a trip to the ER clinic include the following:

• Vomiting or diarrhoea persisting over 24 hours

• Seizures

• Collapse

• Lethargy or weakness that causes immobility

• Massive blood loss from injury

• Airway obstruction

• Toxin consumption or consumption of unknown substances

If your pet is showing any of the above signs, take your pet to the ER clinic now. Timeliness is key - the quicker you get treatment, the better the outcome.

I advise all my clients to have an emergency plan noting the route to the nearest 24/7 animal ER clinic. Familiarize yourself with common pet emergency symptoms so you can remain calm and make life-saving decisions for the furry members of your family.