Animal Emergencies that Should Receive Immediate Veterinary Consultation/Care

Pet emergencies can occur anytime and without warning. Yet often the pet owner is unsure as to whether or not immediate veterinary care is needed. Although it is always better to err on the side of caution, there are specific situations where prompt veterinary care is essential. Emergency clinics are equipped to handle just about any situation, but some general veterinary practices, like Herschel, are likely to refer emergency cases to full service hospitals for more extensive diagnostics and hospitalization services that emergencies require. The following situations warrant immediate veterinary care (AVMA):

-Severe bleeding and bleeding that does not stop within 5 minutes.
-Severe dog fight wounds.
-Choking, difficultly breathing or non-stop coughing or gagging.
-Bleeding from the nose, mouth, or rectum. Bloody urine or coughing up blood.
-Inability to urinate or defecate and/or obvious pain associated with urination or defecation.
-Injury to the eye.
-Snakebite.
-Difficult or unproductive labor.
-Suspicion or knowledge of ingestion or exposure to poisons.
-Seizures and/or staggering.
-Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move.
-Being hit by a motor vehicle.
-Obvious signs of pain or anxiety. 
-Heat stress and heatstroke.
-Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more.
-Loss of consciousness.
-Severe vomiting and/or diarrhea (more than 2 episodes in a 24-hour period). Vomiting and/or diarrhea combined with other illness or any other problems listed above.

Note: Any concern about your pet's health warrants, at a minimum, a call to your veterinarian.