Pet Emergencies: What Can and Can’t Wait

Dogs & Cats

Cats and dogs can have a variety of symptoms that may or may not need immediate evaluation and treatment by a veterinarian. It is helpful to know which cases need to be seen right away vs. which ones can wait until the next day or until an appointment can be made with their primary care veterinarian.

Please note:

This list is not exhaustive, nor can any one pet be definitively diagnosed based on one-line descriptions as provided below.
Before making any determination to keep your pet home or to bring them to the ER, please call a veterinarian for advice (or Poison Control when appropriate).
It is always better to err on the side of caution. If you are at all concerned that your pet needs to be seen despite the possible minor or benign symptoms that are being described, never hesitate to just bring your pet to be seen at an emergency veterinary hospital.

Go to the ER

The following symptoms are possible signs of a true emergency and should be evaluated by a veterinarian right away.

1. TROUBLE BREATHING

Defined as a respiratory rate of 50 breaths per minute or greater that is NOT panting
Open-mouth breathing in a cat is always considered an emergency
Exaggerated, loud, or noisy breathing in brachycephalic cats or dogs that is new (smushy-faced breeds)
Abdominal heaving noted with every breath
Neck extended to breathe

2. WEAKNESS, STAGGERING, SHAKING, & MOBILITY ISSUES

Sudden and profound weakness or collapse
Inability to walk or suddenly staggering as if drunk or unsteady on their feet, sudden trouble going up or down the stairs
Acting disoriented and/or mentally “off” or inappropriate
Shaking abnormally, restless, pacing, inability to get comfortable or rest
Seizures or tremors
Sudden limping or loss of motor function in one or more limbs – ESPECIALLY in a cat

3. INAPPROPRIATE URINATING, DEFECATING, DIARRHEA, AND VOMITING

Straining to defecate or urinate- ESPECIALLY in male cats
No urinations noted in more than 24 hours
Diarrhea that has progressed to pure liquid, blood, or black and has happened 2 or more times in 24 hours with loss of appetite and/or decreased energy and/or vomiting
Retching/trying to vomit without producing anything; or distension of the abdomen where it is noticeably larger and more firm and/or tense than usual
Vomiting 3 or more times in a 24 hour period with loss of appetite and/or decreased energy and/or concurrent diarrhea

4. BLEEDING, WOUNDS, & TRAUMA

Ongoing bleeding- ESPECIALLY bleeding that occurs with every heartbeat (i.e. spurting)
Bite or puncture wounds along the neck, chest, or abdomen
Severe trauma such as being hit by a car, falling from a high surface, being stepped on

5. ABNORMAL APPEARANCES OR BEHAVIOR (SKIN, GUMS, EYES, AND NOISES)

White or blue gums in presence of acting lethargic or weak
Sudden appearance of bruises along the body without any history of trauma
Excruciating pain or vocalizing
Facial swelling or hives
Bulging eyes or sudden blindness
Squinting eyes suddenly
Fever at home (temperature > 102.8) in presence of other symptoms (ie lethargy, anorexia for > 24 hours, etc.)

6. SUSPECTED EXPOSURE TO ANY TOXIN OR MEDICATION

Always call Poison Control first!

Xylitol – dogs
Lilies – cats
Grapes/raisins – dogs
Chocolate (dose dependent) – cats and dogs
Antifreeze – cats and dogs
Insulin overdose
Over the counter OR prescribed medication that has not been specifically prescribed for your pet – call Poison Control for advice on whether pet needs to be seen
- human medications such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be safe for humans but deadly for cats
Rodenticide/rat poison

May Be Safe to Wait for Appointment

The following are symptoms that MAY be safe to wait until morning to see your regular vet or an urgent care vet, or can see an emergency hospital if the symptoms have not improved by the next day.

CAUTION: no single symptom can be universally be defined as a true emergency or non-emergency without a veterinarian to evaluate the patient directly. If you are at all concerned or unsure of how serious your pet’s symptoms may be, always err on the side of caution and have them evaluated sooner than later.

Coughing without signs of labored breathing and able to rest (i.e. cough is not affecting quality of life at home)
Sneezing, runny nose
Not eating anything for less than 24 hours
Vomiting once or twice within 24 hours but acting normal
One or two episodes of diarrhea within 24 hours but acting normal
Limping (NOTE- some forms of lameness are more serious than others, espeically in adult cats, so please call a veterinarian depending on more specific details pertaining to your pet at the time)
Itchy skin or ears, or thickness/fluid pocket within an ear

Can Be Safely Monitored at Home

Some symptoms can be safely monitored at home, treated at home, or can wait several days to see a veterinarian. Again, this list is not exhaustive, and sometimes seemingly minor symptoms can be a sign of a more serious problem. Please always ask the advice of a veterinarian prior to making decisions about waiting to have your pet seen. Below is a list of symptoms that have more specific recommendations based on condition:

Torn toenail with minor to no bleeding
Small wound or abrasion
New lumps or bumps identified on your pet (that do not resemble hives which is an emergency)
Ticks found on your pet – this does NOT need to be seen by a veterinarian and can be gently removed via tweezers
Fleas
Worms seen in stool in absence of other clinical signs (especially in puppies, kittens, and outdoor cats)

You know your pet and if you see anything out of the ordinary, please don’t hesitate to call or go to your veterinarian or the nearest ER. We hope you won’t need our ER services but if you do, we are here.

Know Before You Go

Below is our Patient Severity Index that our emergency teams use when evaluating & triaging a patient and determining which pets must be seen first. Pets at Level 1 would be seen immediately, and pets at Level 5 will likely experience longer wait times at the ER.

>Click here to view our Patient Severity Index