Knowing when to seek veterinary care for your pet is critical for their health and safety. Accidents, injuries, and sudden illnesses are situations most pet owners will face at some point with their furry companions. Recognizing whether your pet’s signs constitute an urgent or emergency health situation can help you determine the right action. Our Peak Pet Urgent Care team explains what to look for to help ensure your pet receives the appropriate care.
Emergency health situations in pets
Emergency veterinary care is required for life-threatening conditions that demand immediate medical attention. Delaying treatment in these cases can result in severe harm or even death. How do you determine whether your pet is facing an immediate threat? Some common scenarios that require emergency care include:
- Severe trauma, including deep wounds, injuries from car accidents, and falls from substantial heights
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Blood in vomit, stool, or urine
- Difficulty breathing
- Choking
- Bites from wild animals, including venomous snakes
- Seizures
- Severe allergic reactions (i.e., anaphylaxis)
- Ingestion of poison
- Difficulty giving birth
- Signs of severe pain or distress
- Eye injuries
- Inability to urinate or defecate
- Limping or inability to stand
- Severe lethargy
In these situations, you should seek veterinary care immediately by calling the nearest veterinary emergency hospital.
Veterinary emergency hospitals
Veterinary emergency rooms (ERs) are specialized facilities that provide immediate, critical care for cats, dogs, and other animals. Key characteristics of these hospitals include:
- Round-the-clock availability — Emergency veterinary hospitals are typically open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle medical situations outside regular business hours.
- State-of-the-art equipment — Veterinary ERs are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, such as digital X-rays, ultrasound machines, CT scanners, and MRI machines, to help veterinary staff quickly and accurately diagnose different conditions.
- Highly skilled staff — Veterinary emergency hospitals are staffed by veterinarians and technicians with specialized emergency and critical care training.
- Surgical facilities — Veterinary emergency clinics have fully equipped surgical suites capable of handling various situations, from trauma and wound repair to more complex procedures, including internal surgeries.
- Intensive care units (ICUs) — Emergency hospitals often have advanced monitoring equipment in a dedicated ICU to continuously care for critically ill or injured animals.
Urgent health situations in pets
Urgent care is needed for non-life-threatening conditions that still require prompt attention or for those situations that are not an immediate risk to a pet’s life. Common urgent care scenarios include:
- Minor wounds
- Occasional vomiting or diarrhea
- Mild limping without fracture
- Ear infections
- Skin issues, such as hot spots and itching
- Eye redness or discharge
- Mild allergies
- Upper respiratory infections
- Behavior changes
- Sudden lethargy
Veterinary urgent care facilities
Pet urgent care clinics, such as our Peak Pet Urgent Care, are designed to handle urgent health issues. Like emergency veterinary hospitals, pet urgent care clinics offer specialized services and staff trained in triage and surgeries. Key services include:
- Extended hours — Urgent care clinics are open late and on weekends, outside typical veterinary office hours, and offer walk-in and same-day appointments.
- Specialized services — Urgent care clinic veterinarians diagnose and treat an array of conditions affecting cats, dogs, and other animals.
- Diagnostics — Most urgent care facilities have on-site diagnostic tools such as X-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests, and laboratory services.
- Skilled staff — Urgent care clinics have veterinarians and support staff who are trained in emergency and critical care, along with veterinary preventive medicine.
- End-of-life care — If your pet is sick, and their condition deteriorates, our team can help them pass as peacefully as possible.
Discerning the difference between emergency and urgent pet care situations can help you get your furry companion the appropriate care. If your pet is injured or ill and you’re unsure what to do, contact our Peak Pet Urgent Care team so we can assess their needs and advise you on the next steps.
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