Emergency guide
What to do in a pet emergency
Stay calm, call ahead, and get moving. This page helps you decide quickly — it’s not a substitute for a veterinarian.
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Signs your pet needs emergency care
- Difficulty breathing, choking or blue/gray gums
- Collapse, fainting or inability to stand
- Seizures lasting over 3–5 minutes, or several in a row
- Swollen, hard abdomen with retching (bloat)
- Male cat straining to urinate with little or no output
- Suspected poisoning or ingestion of medications
- Heavy bleeding that won’t stop within 5 minutes
- Hit by a car, fall from height or any major trauma
- Heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, bright red or pale gums
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
- Sudden paralysis, wobbling or dragging legs
- Eye injuries or a suddenly cloudy, bulging eye
Step by step
What to do
Keep yourself safe
Injured animals may bite or scratch, even gentle ones. Approach slowly and use a towel or blanket to handle them.
Call the emergency hospital
Describe what happened. The team can give first-aid advice and prepare for your arrival.
If poisoning is possible
Bring the packaging or a photo of what was eaten. Don’t induce vomiting unless a vet or poison line tells you to.
Transport carefully
Keep your pet warm and still. Use a carrier, a board or a blanket as a stretcher for larger animals.
Bring records
Medication lists, vaccine history and your regular vet’s contact info all help the ER team.
Prevention
Common household toxins
Chocolate & caffeineTheobromine — dark and baking chocolate are worst
XylitolSugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters
Grapes & raisinsCan cause kidney failure in dogs
Onions, garlic, chivesDamage red blood cells in dogs and cats
LiliesEven pollen can cause kidney failure in cats
Human medicationsIbuprofen, acetaminophen, antidepressants, ADHD meds
AntifreezeSweet-tasting and deadly in small amounts
Rodent & slug baitMany baits are highly toxic to pets
Macadamia nutsWeakness, tremors and fever in dogs
Nonstick pan fumesOverheated PTFE coatings can kill pet birds
Alcohol & raw doughYeast dough expands and produces alcohol
Essential oilsTea tree and others are dangerous to cats