Animal Medical Center of Gahanna
Recognizing A Pet Emergency
You’re not alone if you’re wondering, “How do I know if my pet is having an emergency?” Seek medical attention immediately if your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms:
Trauma (motor vehicle accident, animal attacks, falls)
Problems with eyes or eyesight
Suspected broken bones
Difficulty breathing
Loss of consciousness
Collapse, weakness and/or the inability to support weight or stand up
Seizures (lasting more than 2 minutes or multiple seizures within a 24 hour period)
Straining or unable to urinate
Difficulty or pain while defecating
Bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth and/or blood in vomit, urine or feces
Excessive vomiting/diarrhea (particularly if lasting more than 24 hours)
Not eating/drinking for more than 24 hours
Pain (whining, panting, inability to get comfortable, arching back)
Distended and/or hard abdomen and/or retching/vomiting attempts
Ingestion of household chemicals (soap, drain cleaner, potpourri, essential oils)
Ingestion of human or other pet’s medications
Ingestion of foreign object(s)
Ingestion of chocolate, grapes, raisins, sugar-free products containing xylitol, rat/mouse bait, garlic, rodenticides, petroleum products, and/or antifreeze
Heat stroke
Difficulty delivering puppies/kittens (active contractions with no birth within 60 minutes or more than 4 hours between deliveries)