Pet emergencies can often strike unannounced, causing tremendous amounts of stress for pets and their owners. But how do you know what kind of situation warrants a visit to a 24-hour emergency vet clinic? Below we look at some common pet emergencies that need immediate medical attention to ensure the welfare of your pet.

Vomiting and Diarrhoea

Cats and dogs can vomit or diarrhoea every now and then without indicating any severe medical issue. But when there are more than a couple of episodes in a day or either of these is paired with any other obvious signs of illness or pain, it’s a cause for concern.

We know our pets like to occasionally like to ingest things they shouldn’t, but we might not always see it happen. Some harmful products that are commonly ingested include:

  • Antifreeze
  • Medications
  • Cleaning products
  • Fertilisers
  • Insecticides
  • Paint
  • Plants
  • Rodent poison
  • Chocolate, onion and other harmful food for dogs

If your dog or cat has ingested something it shouldn’t and you didn’t see it, vomiting and diarrhoea can be a sign. If not related to ingesting something, profuse vomiting can also be caused by gastroenteritis, inflammations of the pancreas and bacterial or viral infections.

Trauma

If your dog or cat experiences severe injuries from a fight with another animal, high falls, a motor vehicle accident or another accident involving blunt force, immediate medical attention is essential. Even a minor injury without any obvious signs of pain can create life threatening internal injuries.

Some injuries can also take hours to present symptoms, so it’s better to play it safe and seek veterinary care as soon as possible. In the case of bite wounds and other damages, there is the risk of infection, disease and other injuries that may be more extensive than they appear.

Allergic Reactions

Persistently itchy skin, swelling, fur loss and hives can be a sign of an allergic reaction. This requires veterinary care, but it becomes a real emergency once more serious symptoms like difficulty breathing, profuse vomiting or lethargy show up. For example, lethargy can be an initial symptom of tick paralysis, which is very dangerous.

Difficulty Urinating

If your dog or cat has difficulty urinating, it can be caused by a build-up of stones or crystals in their bladder that go beyond an ordinary case of urinary tract infection. It can be a sign of severe inflammation, cancer or blood clots, which require immediate veterinary attention.

Emergency Veterinary Services in Sydney

If you need emergency veterinary services from a specialist in Sydney, call the experts at Sydney Veterinary Emergency & Specialists immediately on (02) 9197 5800. Our qualified and experienced emergency vet staff are available 24 hours a day to treat your pet, no matter what kind of crisis you are dealing with.

For any other veterinary issues that aren’t an emergency, you can book an appointment from Monday to Friday 8:30am-6pm. Contact us online or learn more about our services.