Bloomfield Animal Hospital / Is It An Emergency?

IS IT AN EMERGENCY?

Unfortunately, our pets cannot tell us what exactly is bothering them. The following will hopefully provide some useful information to help you assess your pet's condition and the course of action you should take.

If your pet has any of these symptoms, call ahead and bring him/her in IMMEDIATELY:

PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT	SYMPTOMS
Inability to Breathe	Noisy respiration, blue tongue, gasping for breath.
Bleeding that Won’t Stop	Continuous bleeding from any body part. Apply pressure and contact us ASAP.
Difficulty Urinating or Appears Constipated	No urine or bowel movement but pet continues to try.
Inability to Deliver Puppies or Kittens	Hard labor for more than 2 hours with no appearance of any more pups or kittens.
Pain	Severe or continuous discomfort with no relief, or sudden lameness.
Vomiting or Diarrhea	Continuous or with the appearance of blood.
Loss of Balance or Consciousness	Tremors, staggering, blindness, fainting, comatose.
Severe Itching	Continuous scratching, biting, or self-mutilation.
Penetrating Wounds	Any serious laceration, especially at the chest or abdomen.
Hit by Car	Bring in pet immediately!
Bloat	Sudden abdominal swelling.

If your pet has any of the following symptoms, you should call your veterinarian and make an appointment for an exam TODAY:

PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT	SYMPTOMS
Difficulty Breathing	With or without cough. Pet continues to eat and drink. Pet does not appear frantic.
Vomiting or Diarrhea	Without blood; No unusual contents; Pet does not appear to be in pain.
Swallowed Foreign Object	Call and make an appointment with your vet even if you THINK pet swallowed it.
Itching	With possible self-mutilation.
Strange Odor	Foul odor emanating from any part of the body.
Burns	Heat or chemical burns incurred same day. If severe go to vet immediately.
Dirty or Smelly Ears	Pet scratching at ears. Odor coming from either or both ears.

If your pet has any of the following symptoms, it is safe to monitor and wait OVERNIGHT before consulting with your veterinarian:

PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT	SYMPTOMS
Vomiting or Diarrhea	No blood; no foreign material; no pain; not continuous.
Itching	Mild to moderate scratching; no skin damage; no bleeding; not continuous.
Lameness	Little or no pain; no discomfort when walking; not continuous.
Thirst or Urination	Excessive drinking and/or urinating with no blood, no pain, no straining or discomfort.
Loss of Appetite	Skipped one main meal, but no other signs of illness.