It’s easy to feel powerless when there’s something wrong with your pet. After all, they can’t talk to you and tell you what’s wrong, so you have to wait until their symptoms appear. If you notice that your pet is ill, hurt, or acting odd, it’s always best to be concerned. Always contact your vet clinic in Sydney and visit your after-hours vet clinic when in doubt.

In the meantime, it can also help to know what problems to look out for in your pet. Here are 9 common pet emergencies and some information about them.

  1. Apparent Pain

It’s not always easy to know when your pet is in pain but they may give you some clues. Pacing, acting restless, painting, being aggressive and having a fast heart rate are all signs to watch out for. If you suspect that your pet is in pain, contact your vet immediately.

 

  1. Difficulty Breathing

If you’ve noticed that your pet is having difficulty breathing, treat this as an emergency. This can be due to any number of problems, including heart disease, trauma, allergic reactions, toxins, and cancer. It is a life threatening emergency if your pet is having difficulty breathing, seek veterinary advice immediately.

 

  1. Difficulty Urinating

Have you noticed that your dog is finding it hard to urinate when you’re on a walk? What about a noted absence of urine in your cat’s litter box? Trouble urinating can be more than just a urinary tract infection. It can be bladder stones, inflammation, blood clots, or even stress.

 

  1. Vomiting or Diarrhoea

Vomiting or diarrhoea can be a result of your pet getting into the rubbish, but it can also be a symptom of an underlying cause.  If your pet is experiencing excessive and ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea, you should definitely take them to an emergency clinic. If you don’t act quickly, dehydration can occur and further complicate the situation.

 

  1. Seizures

Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain and they can be triggered by a range of intra- or extra-cranial problems. Seizures may be a sign of underlying problems and may be life threating.

 

  1. Choking and Coughing

Choking is especially scary, even when the symptoms resolve themselves in a few seconds. Coughing can be caused by lodged foods, viruses, bacteria and even heart failure. If your pet is having respiratory problems, you should take them to the vet, or if necessary, an emergency clinic.

 

  1. Toxic Ingestion

Toxins can be ingested, absorbed into the skin, or inhaled. Some household items like cleaners, medications and batteries can poison your pet if consumed. Even common foods such as chocolate, sugarfree chewing gum, avocados, and onions are toxic to pets. Please contact an emergency clinic promptly if you observe your pet eat anything unusual. They may suggest you bring your animal in to induce vomiting. It is better to act early.

 

  1. Blunt Force Trauma

Blunt force trauma can be deceiving because your pet may appear normal on the outside. Even minor bumps can prove fatal due to internal injury. If your pet has had a knock, make sure you visit your vet for a check-up. If they suddenly collapse due to a blunt force trauma, visit an emergency pet clinic immediately.

 

  1. Tick Paralysis

Tick poisoning is very common in Sydney and is a life-threatening condition. Clinical signs of tick paralysis include vomiting, a change in breathing, wobbly back legs and a change in voice. Please contact your emergency vet is you notice these symptoms or find a tick on your pet.

 

CTA: Do you have a vet emergency? Come to NEVS in Sydney for after-hours care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us on now (02) 9452 2933.