Every responsible pet owner hopes the day will never come, but our beloved animal companions can get hurt or fall ill unexpectedly. When your furry friend develops a scary symptom outside of normal veterinary hours, it can be difficult to know what to do. How can you tell if it's a true emergency or if it's safe to wait for your primary vet to open?
This guide is designed to help you distinguish between situations that require an immediate trip to a 24-hour veterinary hospital and those that may be less urgent.
Go Immediately: Signs Your Pet Needs an Emergency Vet
1. Difficulty Breathing
This is always a critical emergency. Labored breathing can be a sign of heart failure, asthma, pneumonia, or fluid around the lungs, requiring immediate intervention from our critical care team.
- Signs to Look For:
- Gasping for air or open-mouth breathing (especially in cats)
- Excessive, non-stop panting
- Coughing up pink, frothy liquid
- A blue, grey, or pale tongue or gums
- Loud, harsh noises when breathing
- What to Do: Keep your pet as calm as possible and transport them to the vet immediately.
2. Severe Bleeding or Obvious Trauma
If your pet has been in a fight, hit by a car, or has fallen from a height, they need to be seen, even if they seem fine. Internal injuries are common and may require advanced diagnostics or veterinary surgery.
- Signs to Look For:
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop after 5 minutes of applied pressure
- Blood spurting from a wound
- Any obvious broken bones
- Limping, inability to move, or dragging limbs
- Pale gums
- What to Do: Apply firm, direct pressure to any bleeding wound with a clean cloth. Handle your pet gently and transport them for emergency care.
3. Ingestion of a Toxin or Poison
Many common household items are toxic to pets. Our internal medicine specialists have the expertise to manage complex poison cases.
- Signs to Look For:
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Drooling excessively
- Seizures or muscle tremors
- Hyperactivity or extreme lethargy
- What to Do: Immediately call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. They can advise if an emergency visit is necessary. Bring the packaging of whatever your pet ingested with you.
4. Seizures or Neurological Issues
A seizure can be a single, frightening event or occur in clusters. Any sudden change in your pet’s mental state or coordination is an emergency.
- Signs to Look For:
- Uncontrollable shaking, collapsing, and convulsing
- Loss of consciousness
- Disorientation, dizziness, or walking in circles
- Sudden blindness
- Pressing their head against a wall
- What to Do: During a seizure, move furniture away from your pet. Do not put your hands near their mouth. Time the seizure if you can and head to the vet once it has stopped.
5. Inability to Urinate or Defecate
Straining to urinate with little or no success is a life-threatening emergency, especially for male cats. This indicates a urinary obstruction that requires immediate medical intervention.
- Signs to Look For:
- Repeatedly visiting the litter box or squatting with no result
- Crying out in pain while trying to urinate
- Visible straining or abdominal discomfort
- Vomiting or lethargy due to pain
- What to Do: This condition cannot be treated at home. Seek immediate emergency veterinary care.
6. Distended or Bloated Abdomen
A swollen, hard belly can be a sign of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV or "bloat"), which is fatal without immediate emergency surgery.
- Signs to Look For:
- A visibly swollen or tight abdomen
- Pacing, restlessness, and signs of pain
- Unproductive retching (trying to vomit but nothing comes up)
- Drooling and pale gums
- What to Do: This is one of the most urgent emergencies in veterinary medicine. Go to an ER immediately.
7. Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea
While a single episode isn't usually an emergency, repeated episodes can lead to severe dehydration and may indicate a serious underlying problem that our internal medicine team can diagnose.
- When It’s an Emergency:
- Multiple episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in a few hours
- Vomiting blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds
- Black, tarry stool (diarrhea with digested blood)
- Weakness, fever, or collapse
8. Obvious Signs of Severe Pain
Pets often hide their pain, so when it’s obvious, the cause is likely serious and requires immediate evaluation.
- Signs to Look For:
- Crying, whining, or whimpering, especially when touched
- Hiding or acting aggressively
- Shaking or trembling
- Arched back or prayer position (front end down, back end up)
9. Severe Eye Injuries
Eyes are delicate. Any significant trauma or sudden change requires immediate attention to save your pet’s vision.
- Signs to Look For:
- Squinting or holding an eye completely shut
- Excessive tearing or colored discharge
- The eye appears cloudy, red, or is bulging
- Pawing at the eye
10. Collapse or Extreme Lethargy
If your pet is unable to stand or is unresponsive, it is a critical sign of shock or severe illness requiring immediate critical care.
When It May Be Safe to Wait for Your Regular Vet
Some conditions, while concerning, may not require a middle-of-the-night ER visit and can often wait for an appointment with your family veterinarian.
- A single episode of vomiting or diarrhea, if your pet is otherwise acting normally.
- Mild coughing or sneezing, as long as your pet is breathing comfortably.
- Limping, provided the pet can still put some weight on the leg and there is no obvious broken bone or extreme pain.
- Itchy skin or ears.
- Not eating for less than 24 hours, as long as your pet is not a very young puppy/kitten or has a condition like diabetes.
However, always trust your instincts. You know your pet best. If you are worried or their condition appears to be getting worse, it is always better to be safe and call a veterinarian.
Preparing for Your Emergency Vet Visit
Once you've determined your pet needs emergency care, being prepared can make the process smoother.
Checklist: What to Do and Bring:
- Call Ahead: If possible, call the emergency hospital to let them know you are coming. This allows them to prepare for your arrival.
- Stay Calm and Safe: Do your best to remain calm. Injured or scared pets may bite, so be cautious. You can wrap a small pet in a towel or blanket to transport them.
- Bring Medical Records: If you have them, bring any relevant medical history and a list of your pet's current medications.
- Bring the Toxin/Object: If your pet ingested something, bring the packaging or a sample of the substance with you.
- Expect a Triage Process: Like a human ER, a veterinary hospital will assess patients based on the severity of their condition. The most critical patients will be seen first.
- Be Prepared for Costs: Emergency veterinary care is often more expensive than a standard vet visit. Payment is typically required at the time of service. Consider pet insurance to help manage these unexpected costs.
Your Trusted 24-Hour Vet in Tulsa
When your pet has a potential health issue, your judgment is crucial. When in doubt, always trust your gut and contact a professional. Our team of dedicated veterinary specialists is here to help. For more helpful tips, you can also visit our pet health blog.
If you are looking for 24-hour vet services in Oklahoma for your four-legged friend, contact Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists today!
