Pet Emergency

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR PET IS HAVING AN EMERGENCY

Signs of a Pet Emergency

Pets can behave in unusual ways, so it may not always be easy to determine if they’re experiencing an urgent situation or not. For your information, the Animal Emergency Center has compiled a list of common conditions that can indicate an emergency.

Some veterinary emergencies are obvious and some are more difficult to assess. If you notice that your pet is acting differently than usual, it is time to call your vet or emergency vet to ask some questions. From there, your Watsontown veterinarian can let you know if you should bring your pet in immediately or if he/she can wait for an examination during normal business hours.

If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, please call our clinic immediately at (570) 742-7400.

Contact the Watsontown Animal Emergency Center

The more you know about veterinary emergencies, the better prepared you will be the next time your pet needs emergency treatment. If possible, it’s important to call us prior to arriving at our urgent care center. Our team can better prepare for your pet’s circumstances with a little bit of advance warning.

Know the Signs of a Pet Medical Emergency

Below, you’ll read a list of symptoms than can be indicators of a medical veterinary emergency. Some are less severe than others.

  • Excessive coughing
  • Labored breathing
  • Noisy or increased breathing rate or effort
  • Blue tongue or gums
  • Bleeding from any body part or orifice (mouth, eyes, ears, etc.)
  • Swollen stomach
  • Inability to eat or drink
  • Dry heaving
  • Excessive drooling
  • Ineffective, frequent attempts to urinate
  • Weak urine stream
  • Abdominal distension
  • Infrequent or lack of defecation
  • Straining to defecate with little or no fecal volume
  • Hard or dry bowel movement
  • Swelling around the anus
  • Heavy panting
  • Weakness
  • Rectal temperature higher than 104°F
  • Inability to deliver by end of normal gestation period
  • Going more than 1-2 hours after delivery of one fetus (puppy or kitten) with other fetuses remaining in uterus
  • Going more than 15 minutes with membranes protruding
  • Falls or collisions with an object (vehicle, motorcycle, etc.)
  • Limping
  • Pain
  • Whimpering
  • Bleeding
  • Punctured skin, chest, or abdomen
  • Bleeding
  • Pale gums
  • Weakness
  • Shallow breathing
  • Dilated pupils
  • Hives
  • Red eyes or lips
  • Swelling around facial area
  • Whining/whimpering/yelping
  • Pacing
  • Trembling Unwillingness to move
  • Aggressive behavior when moved
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Muscle atrophy
  • Limb pain
  • Abnormal posture
  • Collapsing
  • Walking off balance
  • Tilting of the head Seizures (more than one in a 24-hour period)
  • Circling Visual deficiencies
  • Lethargy
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Excessively slow breathing
  • Pale mucous membrane
  • Weakness
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Fever
  • Vomiting
  • Shaking
  • Fever
  • Seizures
  • Diarrhea

*Common toxic substances include antifreeze, rodenticides, lawn fertilizers, chocolate, human medication, and household cleaners.

  • Squinting one or both eyes
  • Discharge
  • Closed eye(s)
  • Cloudiness in eyes
  • Change in eye color
  • Inflamed paw
  • Limping
  • Constant licking of the paw