When Minutes Matter
The best there is, every time.
If you are not sure whether or not your pet has a medical emergency, please call to speak with a member of the Ocean State Veterinary Specialists team. Most often, if an attentive pet owner feels concerned, there is an issue to be addressed.
Below is a list of signs suggestive of specific emergency conditions. The list is not complete. If you are unsure whether your pet is showing signs of a serious condition, please call us for advice. If you suspect your pet may have been poisoned, please call the ASPCA poison control center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
Signs of an Emergency In…
When Minutes Matter
The best there is, every time.
If you are not sure whether or not your pet has a medical emergency, please call to speak with a member of the Ocean State Veterinary Specialists team. Most often, if an attentive pet owner feels concerned, there is an issue to be addressed.
Below is a list of signs suggestive of specific emergency conditions. The list is not complete. If you are unsure whether your pet is showing signs of a serious condition, please call us for advice. If you suspect your pet may have been poisoned, please call the ASPCA poison control center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
Signs of an Emergency In…
Signs of Emergency in Dogs
- Non-productive retching
- Difficulty breathing
- Constant coughing
- Restlessness
- Pale gums
- An elevated heart rate (> 160 beats per minute at home)
- Crying out or showing signs of pain
- Not being able to move
- A distended abdomen
- Extreme lethargy
- Any significant bleeding
- Any trauma
- Not walking
- Dragging the back legs
- Any toxin ingestion or poisoning
- Squinting, bulging, or painful eyes
- Bloody urine
- Straining to urinate
- Repeated vomiting
- Severe diarrhea
Signs of Emergency in Dogs
- Non-productive retching
- Difficulty breathing
- Constant coughing
- Restlessness
- Pale gums
- An elevated heart rate (> 160 beats per minute at home)
- Crying out or showing signs of pain
- Not being able to move
- A distended abdomen
- Extreme lethargy
- Any significant bleeding
- Any trauma
- Not walking
- Dragging the back legs
- Any toxin ingestion or poisoning
- Squinting, bulging, or painful eyes
- Bloody urine
- Straining to urinate
- Repeated vomiting
- Severe diarrhea
Signs of Emergency in Cats
- Difficulty breathing
- Open-mouth breathing
- Panting
- A respiratory rate over 50 breaths per minute (count the number of breaths in 15 seconds and multiply by four to get the total breaths per minute)
- Excessive drooling
- Hiding (such as under the bed, in the closet)
- Not moving
- Dragging hind legs or any limb, sudden weakness in a limb
- Straining or making multiple trips to the litter box
- Profuse or repeated vomiting
- Sitting over the water bowl and not moving
- Seizures or twitching
- Extreme lethargy
- Any kind of trauma
- Any kind of toxicity (or if you suspect your cat ate something it shouldn’t)
- Any string hanging out of any orifice (do not pull)
- Any abnormal vocalizing
- Signs of Pain
Signs of Emergency in Cats
- Difficulty breathing
- Open-mouth breathing
- Panting
- A respiratory rate over 50 breaths per minute (count the number of breaths in 15 seconds and multiply by four to get the total breaths per minute)
- Excessive drooling
- Hiding (such as under the bed, in the closet)
- Not moving
- Dragging hind legs or any limb, sudden weakness in a limb
- Straining or making multiple trips to the litter box
- Profuse or repeated vomiting
- Sitting over the water bowl and not moving
- Seizures or twitching
- Extreme lethargy
- Any kind of trauma
- Any kind of toxicity (or if you suspect your cat ate something it shouldn’t)
- Any string hanging out of any orifice (do not pull)
- Any abnormal vocalizing
- Signs of Pain
Signs of Emergency in Avian & Exotic Pets
The evaluation of other species (small mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.) can be difficult, and sometimes what may seem like a small change can indicate a serious illness. Generally speaking, any change in basic behavior, such as increased breathing effort, loss of appetite, or lethargy/decreased movement, should prompt a call to the emergency service.
When in doubt, it is always “better to be safe than sorry,” as many conditions are more successfully treated when caught early.