Pet emergencies can happen any time, anywhere, and as a pet owner, you need to be prepared for anything. Learning a little pet first aid and knowing how to recognize an emergency could save your pet’s life. That is why you should have your vet’s number on your phone’s contact list, and carry pet first aid kit with you when you travel. Let’s go over some of the most common pet emergencies, and how to respond to each situation.
Common Dog Emergencies and When to Seek Urgent Care
First, the key to acting promptly is knowing the signs of common pet emergencies to watch for. If your dog is showing any of these signs, get them to your veterinarian or an emergency clinic as soon as possible: difficulty breathing, constant bleeding, even after applying pressure to the area, seizures lasting more than two minutes, bloated belly with restlessness or heavy breathing/panting, and pale or blue gums.
Poisoning
Dogs will eat just about anything, but many types of food, plants, and household products can be extremely toxic and even deadly. Contact your vet or an animal poison control center immediately. You should not induce vomiting unless your vet tells you to. If you can, bring the product or wrapper of the product your dog ingested with you to the vet.
Choking
Before doing anything else, open your dog’s mouth to see if you can view the object. If you can see it, carefully use tweezers or fingers to remove the object. If you can’t see the object, you may need to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
For smaller dog breeds: Hold them in a downward position, and using the palm of your hand, give a few strong smacks between the shoulder blades.
For larger dog breeds: Leaning over them, place your hands together behind the ribs on the dog’s abdomen and give a few inward trusts.
Cuts or Large Wounds
First, take a clean towel or gauze and apply pressure to the area to try to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding continues, secure the towel or gauze with a wrap or tape and get them to the vet as soon as possible. It is also important to bring your dog to an emergency vet if it is bitten or attacked by another dog or animal because some animals, like squirrels or raccoons, may carry rabies.
Common Cat Emergencies
Cats do not show pain the same way that dogs do—they’re much better at hiding it. However, changes in behavior like hiding more than usual, wanting to be left alone, neglecting grooming habits, or becoming more aggressive could indicate that your cat is in pain.
Injuries or Trauma
Cats often sustain injuries from falling or fighting. If you think your cat has a broken bone, get them to the vet right away. If you notice bleeding, gently put pressure on the wound using a clean cloth or gauze to see if the bleeding will stop. If it doesn’t, wrap the area with clean gauze and get them to the vet.
Poisoning or Ingesting Toxic Substances
Houseplants and cut flowers like lilies are the most common culprits when it comes to cats ingesting toxic substances. Cats won’t eat strange things for fun, like dogs do, but they do like to play with poisonous flowers and insects. If you suspect your cat has eaten something they shouldn’t have, contact your veterinarian to let them know what happened and that you are on your way over.
Respiratory Distress
If you notice your cat wheezing, coughing, having difficulty breathing, or that their gums are pale or bluish, get them to a vet as quickly as possible. Respiratory problems are very serious, and can turn deadly without warning.
What to Do in a Pet Emergency
In a pet emergency, the first thing you should do is remember to remain as calm as possible . The calmer you are, the calmer your pet will be. Then, you will want to follow these steps:
- Call your vet or the local 24-hour emergency vet to ask about at-home care and tell them you and your pet are on your way to the clinic.
- Be prepared to follow the vet’s instructions to safely get your pet to the clinic.
- Keep your pet isolated in a secure location to ensure they don’t run away.
- Gather the equipment you might need for the trip, like your cell phone, wallet, and anything else you might need.
- Make sure the route to the vet clinic is programmed into the GPS on your phone before you leave.
- Always use care when placing your pet in your vehicle. Injured pets may bite or scratch. Use a towel or muzzle that you can remove easily, or put them in a carrier for easier transport.
- While on the road, try to stay as calm as possible. If someone else is driving, love on your pet and keep them comfortable. If you are driving, keep your eyes on the road so you will get to the vet clinic safely.
- When you arrive, carefully take your pet out of your vehicle to get them inside. If you have a larger dog, you can always call ahead to ask for help getting your pet inside.
Emergency Pet Care in Harker Heights, TX
Common pet emergencies can happen at any time, day or night. Knowing the signs of an emergency is the first step in providing the best care for your pet in an urgent situation. Remember to always stay calm and call a veterinarian right away. Besides giving them a heads-up that you are on your way, they can give you suggestions on how to move forward.
If you ever have a pet emergency in Harker Heights, the team at Aztec Pet Hospital is here for you.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (01/21/2025) Photo by Andrew S on Unsplash