5 Signs Your Pet Needs to Visit an Emergency Clinic

As beloved members of our family, our pets’ health and happiness are of the utmost importance. So, when something feels wrong about their behaviour, it’s important to ensure they have access to the help and care they require. But how can you determine if what they’re experiencing is a genuine pet emergency?

Read the below guide for important signs that you should visit the emergency vet clinic.

Signs That Something’s Wrong

Vomiting and/or Diarrhoea

While this may not require urgent action for us as humans, vomiting and diarrhoea can be a sign of something more concerning in your pet. Vomiting can be an indicator of worrying issues such as poisoning. While vomiting can also be caused by non-lethal factors, such as motion sickness, it is vital to have this abnormal behaviour checked as soon as possible.

Breathing Difficulties

If you notice your pet struggling to breathe, it is important to organise an urgent care appointment. This could be a sign of heart failure, heartworm, kennel cough, or cancer. Some pets, for example, flat-faced dog breeds, often require surgery to assist with their breathing.

Disorientation or Behavioural Changes

An often overlooked sign of pet health issues is a behavioural change. When injured, for example, your pet may become aggressive in order to protect themselves from further harm. This sign is particularly significant if your pet has internal injuries. While the cause cannot be seen, their behaviour is an immediate indication that something needs to be checked.

Trauma from Accident, Fall, Bite and/or Wound

After an accident, our pets are unable to fully communicate with us how serious the damage may be, it is always best to err on the side of caution and check with the emergency vet. If your pet has been in a fight, for example, it is important to have it checked to ensure the wound is not infected or life-threatening. Emergency vet clinics are the perfect place to do so.

Seizures

Seizures almost always require urgent action from a vet. Unlike diarrhoea or behaviour changes, seizures are much more likely to be deadly. It is important to get vital care as soon as possible for your pet. Seizures are most commonly symptomatic of epilepsy but can also be signs of something more concerning, such as brain tumours or kidney failure.

What You Can Do

If your pet is displaying symptoms not listed above or you are still unsure of whether they require an emergency visit, please see our handy symptom guide for further guidance. When using the guides, you can filter by several factors, including pet species, to ensure you are getting the best care for their needs.

If you do require urgent care for your animal, please contact us. We partner with Vets Now, the leading provider of 24-hour vet care. Even during the holidays, they are on hand to assist with out-of-hours emergencies.