If you suspect any change in your pets health it is usually best to bring your pet in for an office visit. Early detection may save a life, shorten recovery time and reduce costs. Because our pets can’t talk to us, it can be difficult to determine if some situations are truly emergencies. Trust your instincts and “if in doubt, check it out” with a WellPet office visit. The following is a list of common signs that may require urgent care:
- Bites (insect, snake, other animal, etc.)
- Burns
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Bloody diarrhea
- Crying out
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent coughing
- Eye injury or squinting
- Excessive head shaking and scratching
- Trauma, such as being hit by a car
- Straining to urinate or defecate
- Sudden limping
- Sudden loss of appetite
- Suspected heatstroke
- Swollen or painful abdomen (especially in large breed dogs)
- Lacerations
- Seizures, fainting, or collapse
- Unusual behavior, such as aggressiveness or lethargy
- Unexplained trembling
- Difficulty delivering puppies or kittens
- Repeated vomiting
- Ingestion of a foreign object
- Weakness in limbs/Inability to walk
Here are questions to ask:
MY PET…
Activity Level
- is inactive and/or depressed
- walks with stiffness, pain, or difficulty
- limps
Lung/Heart
- breathes with difficulty or has a cough
Ear, Nose & Throat
- has discharge from the nose or eyes
- has odor from the ears or excessive ear wax
- has teeth with plaque or discoloration, reddened gums, or bad breath
Eating, Drinking & Elimination
- has soft, bloody, or watery bowel movements
- drinks more than normal amounts of water
- urinates greater volumes or urinates more times per day than usual
- eats less than normal
- has been gaining excessive weight
- has been losing excessive weight
Skin & Coat
- has lumps (anywhere)
- has fleas, ticks, or mites
- has a dull or scaly coat
- has sores on skin or oily skin
- scratches excessively
