It’s late on a Saturday night. Your dog has vomited twice. Your cat has been making repeated trips to the litter box.
You pick up your phone and ask yourself: “Do I wait until morning?”
Knowing when a pet needs urgent veterinary attention can be difficult. Our pets can’t tell us where it hurts, and many are surprisingly good at hiding illness or pain.
Knowing what to watch for can help you recognize when your pet needs to be seen.
KNOW YOUR PET’S NORMAL
Maybe your dog is usually waiting at the door when you get home but suddenly doesn’t want to get up. Maybe your cat has started hiding under the bed.
Changes in appetite, energy, behaviour, drinking, bathroom habits, or mobility can all be clues.
Pets don’t always visibly show pain. Sometimes they become quiet, withdrawn, restless, or unable to get comfortable.
If your pet is acting significantly different from normal, pay attention.
NOT EVERY UPSET STOMACH IS AN EMERGENCY, BUT SOME ARE
An occasional episode of vomiting doesn’t necessarily mean an emergency. But repeated vomiting, blood in vomit or stool, weakness, abdominal pain, dehydration, or refusing food and water are more concerning signs.
Dogs and cats can swallow toys, socks, bones, garbage, medications, and other objects. A foreign body can become lodged in the digestive tract and may require urgent treatment.
If you suspect your pet swallowed something they shouldn’t have, don’t wait for severe symptoms before contacting a veterinary professional.
URINARY PROBLEMS SHOULDN’T WAIT
Repeated trips to the litter box, straining to urinate, crying while attempting to urinate, producing only small amounts of urine, or producing no urine at all should not be ignored. A urinary blockage, particularly in male cats, can become life-threatening.
If you’re unsure whether your cat is actually producing urine, it’s safer to have them assessed rather than waiting.
ACCIDENTS CAN BE DECEPTIVE
A pet may appear okay after an accident because adrenaline can temporarily mask pain. Pets hit by a vehicle, involved in a fight, or suffering a significant fall may have injuries that aren’t immediately obvious.
Puncture wounds can also look small on the outside while causing more significant damage underneath. A veterinary assessment can help identify hidden injuries.
WHEN IN DOUBT, TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Not every veterinary concern is an emergency, but not every emergency looks dramatic either.
Sometimes the warning sign is simply that your pet isn’t acting like themselves.
You don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong before asking for help. If something feels different, contacting a veterinary professional can help you decide what to do next.
At Moncton Veterinary Walk-in & Urgent Care, our team provides veterinary care for unexpected illnesses and injuries when waiting for a regular appointment isn’t the best option.
Our pets depend on us to notice when something isn’t right. Sometimes, being their advocate simply means knowing when to stop watching and start acting.
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