As a pet owner, one of the hardest decisions you'll ever have to make is knowing when a health problem is serious enough to seek emergency care. Should you monitor your pet at home? Wait until your family vet opens? Or head to the emergency vet right away?

While not every illness or injury requires an emergency visit, some symptoms should never wait. In the article below, you’ll find information about five things that can happen to pets where emergency treatment may be necessary. Learn about these risks so you can be better prepared - and if any of them happen to your pet, VEG ER for Pets is open 24/7 with no appointments necessary. Emergency medicine is all we do - you can always call to speak directly with a vet if you're unsure whether your pet needs emergency care.

5 reasons to take your pet to the emergency vet

1. Heatstroke and frostbite in pets

Extreme temperatures can quickly become life-threatening for pets. Whether they've been left in a hot car, exercised too long in warm weather, or exposed to freezing temperatures, prompt treatment is essential.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is more common than frostbite and can occur in any pet who is left in a vehicle, even on a day that doesn’t seem very hot to you. It can develop rapidly and cause organ damage if not treated immediately.

Signs of heatstroke in pets may include:

• Excessive panting

• Bright red gums

• Weakness or collapse

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Confusion or seizures

Never attempt to cool your pet with ice water, as this can actually make the situation worse. Instead, move them to a cooler area, offer small amounts of water if they're able to drink, and head to the nearest emergency veterinarian immediately.

Frostbite

Pets exposed to freezing temperatures may develop frostbite, especially on the ears, tail, paws, or nose. Severe frostbite can cause tissue death and may cause your pet to lose a toe, an ear, or another body part depending on the severity. 

Signs to watch for:

• Pale, gray, or bluish skin

• Swelling

• Pain when touched

• Cold, hard skin

• Blisters or blackened tissue as the injury progresses

If you suspect frostbite, move your pet indoors and warm them gradually with blankets or warm (not hot) towels while seeking emergency veterinary care.

2. Traumatic injuries in pets

Acute injury can happen to any pet at just about any time. Outdoor pets may be more likely to suffer from acute injuries related to wild animal attacks, neighborhood pet attacks, motor vehicle trauma, and other outdoor threats. Indoor pets may suffer from acute injuries related to falling from furniture, attacks by other indoor pets, and household accidents.

Trauma can cause internal bleeding, broken bones, collapsed lungs, or other life-threatening injuries that aren't immediately visible. Deep cuts and bite wounds can also damage underlying muscles, nerves, or organs and often require thorough cleaning, repair, and pain management.

Signs your pet needs immediate evaluation include:

• Heavy bleeding

• Difficulty walking

• Obvious fractures

• Deep wounds or punctures

• Trouble breathing

• Pale gums

• Collapse or extreme weakness

Even injuries that appear minor can worsen quickly and develop life threatening infections, so it's always safest to have your pet examined after significant trauma.

3. Severe allergic reactions in pets

Pets who have suffered from an insect bite or a snake bite may suffer from severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis. These reactions can happen to dogs and cats after insect stings, vaccines, medications, foods, or other allergens and may become life-threatening within minutes.

Seek emergency care immediately if your pet develops:

• Facial swelling

• Hives

• Difficulty breathing

• Vomiting or diarrhea 

• Weakness or collapse

• Fever

If your pet has been bitten or stung but isn't showing any of these signs, they may simply have a mild local reaction, such as temporary swelling or discomfort. Continue to monitor them closely over the next several hours, as some pets can develop a more serious allergic reaction after the initial bite or sting.

4. Poisoning and foreign object ingestion in pets

Whether your pet is indoors or outdoors, there is always a chance that they can ingest toxins or foreign objects.

Emergency care is needed if your pet may have eaten:

• Human medications

• Chocolate

• Xylitol

• Marijuana products

• Toxic plants

• Household chemicals

• Rodenticides

• Batteries

Likewise, swallowing foreign objects - such as socks, toys, corn cobs, bones, rocks, or string - can create dangerous intestinal blockages or perforations. Cats especially are also prone to swallowing thread or ribbon while playing with it, which can become tangled in the cat’s digestive tract and need to be surgically removed as well.

Signs of poisoning or an intestinal obstruction may include:

• Vomiting

• Drooling

• Loss of appetite

• Lethargy

• Abdominal pain

• Difficulty passing stool

• Collapse

• Tremors or seizures

If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic or swallowed a foreign object, don't wait for symptoms to appear. Contact an emergency veterinarian immediately. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of a successful outcome.

5. Persistent vomiting, diarrhea, and bloat in pets

Occasional stomach upset isn't uncommon, but repeated vomiting or diarrhea - especially when accompanied by lethargy, abdominal pain, or blood - can quickly become an emergency.

These symptoms may indicate serious conditions such as:

• Gastrointestinal obstruction

• Pancreatitis

• Severe dehydration

• Toxin ingestion

• Internal disease

• Life-threatening infections

A swollen or distended abdomen is especially concerning. In dogs, it may be a sign of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), commonly called bloat, a rapidly progressing emergency that requires immediate surgery. Other causes of abdominal swelling can also be serious and should never be ignored.

If your pet has repeated vomiting or diarrhea, develops a swollen abdomen, or seems unusually lethargic, they should be seen by an emergency veterinarian right away.

The world's veterinary emergency company

Medical emergencies are stressful - for both pets and their people. At VEG ER for Pets, our teams are dedicated exclusively to emergency medicine, so we're prepared to treat urgent and life-threatening conditions whenever they happen. With locations in the U.S. and internationally filled with skilled ER staff, pet parents can be rest assured that their pet is in good hands during a crisis.

Seek immediate care at VEG for any pet emergency

Medical emergencies are stressful - for both pets and their people. At VEG ER for Pets, our teams are dedicated exclusively to emergency medicine, so we're prepared to treat urgent and life-threatening conditions whenever they happen.

When you arrive, your pet will be evaluated promptly by an emergency-trained veterinarian. No appointments are needed, and you'll be able to stay with your pet throughout most of their treatment because we believe you'll both feel better when you're together.

Remember, too, that the list above only touches on some of the situations where pets may need emergency care. There are many others that may occur depending on your pet’s breed, age and overall health. Take time to prepare for any possibility and know that at VEG we are here for you and your pet when you need us most!