What Requires An Emergency Vet Visit?
As a pet owner, you want to ensure that you are providing the best healthcare possible to your furry friend, which is why a trip to the vet is essential when you notice a problem. The issue is, how do you know if they require an emergency vet visit and not just a regular daytime appointment? In this article, we will list several symptoms that we consider an urgent matter so that you can be certain you are making the right choice when you take your animal to an out-of-hours service.
1. They Are Coughing
Is your pet coughing in a manner similar to that of the common cold in humans? Whilst certain illnesses can cause an animal to cough, such as kennel cough in dogs, it can also relate directly to the symptoms of pneumonia, indicating that they are struggling to breathe. If this is a relatively new behaviour or one that has suddenly become worse, you should take them to a vet immediately before allowing the situation to escalate.
2. Vomiting
Animals do vomit occasionally to remove anything that has not agreed with their system from their stomach, but this should alleviate itself with one or two convulsions. If your pet is vomiting excessively then this is dangerous – they will quickly become dehydrated and this could indicate that there is an underlying condition such as gastroenteritis or poisoning. It's best to be safe by taking them to the vet when this occurs.
3. Hard Or Swollen Belly
Your pet’s abdomen should usually be squishy and soft to the touch. If they are swollen and hard, this could indicate an underlying issue. Not only will your pet be extremely uncomfortable, but they could have a case of gastric dilation if they are a dog. This is a condition in which your pooch’s stomach stretches due to an excess of food or air that has been ingested, and is considered a health crisis by animal healthcare professionals.
4. Seizures
Any neurological symptoms are immediate emergencies due to them exposing a problem with your pet’s spinal cord or brain. They could be indicative of tumours or injuries that will need treatment to avoid further damage. Other issues that require an emergency vet include, but are not limited to, sudden paralysis in one or more parts of the body, difficulty with balance and the onset of confusion.
5. Extreme Pain
Animals that are in an immense amount of pain will seem out of character. They can seem shaky and whiny or might come to you with the intention to be comforted. Since a pet cannot tell someone how they are feeling, or where the pain is coming from, taking them to a vet is the best way to have them inspected. You would not want the pain to get any worse overnight.
Here at
Litchfield Pet Hospital, we can take any pet for 24-hour emergency consultations across the Darwin area. If you have a problem with your furry friend, get in touch with us at
08 8983 2838.
