What dog behaviors warrant a trip to the emergency vet and how do you find an urgent-care pet facility ASAP? dogster.com advices:
Difficulty breathing
Your dog’s gums should be a pink hue. If they are blue, red or gray, it could indicate trouble with oxygenation, blood flow or internal bleeding. Although dogs pant, excessive panting is a concern, as is coughing up pink, frothy liquid.
Repeated vomiting and/or diarrhea
Although dogs may have a single incident of vomiting or diarrhea, repeated episodes — especially ones that involve blood — require an emergency vet or other immediate medical care. These may be symptoms of an intestinal blockage or ingestion of toxins. Additionally, excessive vomiting and diarrhea can quickly result in dehydration. If you have questions about toxic substances and their effect on dogs, contact ASPCA Poison Control. Some common toxins include medication (prescription and over the counter — OTC), chocolate(particularly dark chocolate), grapes/raisins (along with some other human foods), cleaning products, insecticides and rodenticides and gardening products.
Distended or bloated abdomen
Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) or “bloat” can be an extremely serious health concern for dogs. An accumulation of gas can sometimes cause the stomach to rotate or twist. The stomach then puts pressure on large arteries and veins, restricting blood flow. This can quickly turn into a deadly situation. A distended abdomen is certainly a symptom, but a dog might also exhibit signs of restlessness and excessive panting. Take any concern of bloat seriously and immediately take your dog to an emergency vet.
Trauma
Trauma warrants an examination, even if your dog appears unharmed. Trauma can occur after a fall from an elevated location, being hit by a vehicle, being attacked by another animal — or any other type of accident. A dog could emerge from such a situation with lacerations, broken bones, internal injuries, blood loss, shock or more. Seek care immediately.
Foreign body ingestion
Dogs are known to be not-so-discriminating in what they eat, and this puts them at risk of intestinal blockage. If you suspect your dog has eaten a foreign object, look for symptoms like vomiting, sluggishness and weight loss. Then, get him to an emergency vet fast.
Seizures
Canine seizures can be triggered by liver disease, kidney disease, electrolyte problems, head injury, brain cancer and encephalitis. Any episodes of this abnormal brain activity should be reported to a medical professional.
Difficulty urinating
If your dog strains to urinate, it could indicate a urinary tract infection — or something more serious. Difficulty urinating could be caused by stones or crystals in the bladder, inflammation, trauma, prostate disease, cancer or even stress. Urination issues should not be ignored. Take your dog an emergency vet immediately.
Not eating or drinking
If your dog goes a full day without eating or drinking, it’s time to contact a veterinary professional. The symptoms could indicate pickiness around food or behavioral issues, but they could also point to systemic diseases and infections, dental problems or stress.
