When To Call Your Vet
- Your pet isn't acting quite right but you're not sure what's wrong. Should you call your veterinarian or wait a few days? The following tips will help you know when your pet needs to be seen by a vet.
- Is your pet lethargic? This is perhaps the most important signal to phone your veterinarian. If your dog or cat is not responsive to calls for play or favorite treats and seems weak or unable to stand, you should get them to a vet quickly.
- Is your pet in pain? Pain, indicated by crying, panting and restless pacing, should not be ignored. Pain can also be indicated by a reluctance to move around.
- Is your pet lame? Limping that persists more than a few hours warrants a call to the veterinarian. A pet will often bear its weight on the affected leg, or the leg will become painful to touch. Paralysis, usually indicated by your pet unable to stand or dragging a leg with or without pain, needs emergency care as well.
- Is your pet losing blood? Bleeding from the mouth, nose or rectum demands immediate attention, as does a painful eye held closed.
- Is your pet unable to go to the bathroom? Male cats seen straining in the litter box may have a dangerous urinary tract blockage. If your dog seems to be straining or having urinary or bowel movement more often than usual it should be reported to your vet as soon as possible.
- Is your pet having trouble breathing? Steady labored breathing is a sign of serious trouble. If these symptoms occur, or if your dog passes out/faints call your vet immediately. Constant coughing or gagging also needs to be checked.
- Is your pet having seizures? Seizures are a serious neurologic condition that must be monitored. Call your vet immediately. Signs of a seizure include shaking, lying on the floor and paddling the legs, loss of awareness of surroundings, possible loss of bladder and bowel control, excessive salivation, and a clamped jaw.
- Is you pet suffering from excessive vomiting or diarrhea? These symptoms could indicate anything from a simple stomach upset to a serious disease. Call your vet immediately. Even if your pet is not seriously ill, ignoring these symptoms could lead to dehydration.
- Is your pet unconscious or difficult to awaken? Dazed behavior can occur with fever, metabolic disease, ingestion of medications meant for people, changes in blood sugar levels, or diseases of the brain. It's important to have your pet examined that day.
- Is your pet refusing to eat or drink? Your pet should not go more than a day without drinking. If your dog or cat won't eat their usual meal but will hungrily scarf down treats or table food, this may mean a problem exists. Call your veterinarian if food is vomited more than once in a day, the normal appetite does not return in two to three days, or if your pet acts well but refuses to eat for more than 24 hours.
Sometimes your pet may not act very ill but problems persist for more than a day or two. Coughing frequently, vomiting or diarrhea more than twice or limping and walking gingerly all merit a call to the vet.
The bottom line is this: If you're worried about your animal's health, call your vet. They're there to help you with your pet's care and can identify potential problems. It's always better to report a minor problem than it is to let things escalate to an emergency.