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Common Cat Emergencies

Difficulty Breathing

Signs:

  • Breathing with mouth open

  • Wheezing or taking rapid breaths

  • Blue or pale colored gums

What to do:

  • Keep your cat calm

  • Do not roughly force them into a carrier

  • Immediately take them to an emergency vet

 

 

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Signs:

  • Straining in litter box

  • Crying while using the restroom 

  • Little to no urine being excreted 

  • Frequent litter box use

What to do:

  • Go to the vet immediately as it can quickly become life threatening 

 

 

Signs:

  • Vomiting

  • Drooling

  • Seizures 

  • Weakness

What to do:

  • Do not force vomiting unless advised so by a vet 

  • Call a vet immediately 

  • Bring the toxic substance/packaging with you to the vet if possible for quick identification 

 

 

Signs:

  • Refusing food

  • Hiding

  • Lethargy

What to do:

  • Call a vet if your cat skips meals for more than a day as it can be something serious

 

 

Signs:

  • Vomiting

  • Constipation

  • Loss of appetite

What to do:

  • Do not pull string if visible from mouth

  • Seek vet help immediately 

Urinary Blockage (especially male cats)

Toxic Ingestion/Exposure

Loss of Appetite

Intestinal Blockage

Common Dog Emergencies

Physical Trauma

Signs:

  • Limping or having trouble moving

  • Bleeding

  • Whining

  • Pale gums or weakness

What to do:

  • Keep your dog as still as possible

  • Use a towel or blanket as a makeshift stretcher

  • Apply gentle pressure to wound to stop bleeding

  • Go to nearest emergency vet as soon as possible 

 

 

Signs:

  • Excessive heavy panting

  • Drooling

  • Vomiting

  • Weakness

What to do:

  • Move your dog somewhere cool out of the heat

  • Give small amounts of water

  • Apply cool (not freezing) water on the dogs paws and body

  • Go to the vet as soon as possible as it can become fatal

 

 

Signs:

  • Vomiting

  • Tremors

  • Seizures

  • Lethargy

What to do:

  • Do not force vomiting unless advised so by a vet 

  • Call a vet immediately 

  • Bring the toxic substance/packaging with you to the vet if possible for quick identification 

 

 

Signs:

  • Pawing at mouth

  • Gagging

  • Difficulty breathing

What to do:

  • Carefully check the mouth

  • If object is clearly visible, try to remove it

  • In extreme cases, perform a dog-safe version of the Heimlich maneuver 

  • Go to the vet immediately

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Signs:

  • Swelling (specifically facial swelling)

  • Hives

  • Difficulty breathing 

What to do:

  • Monitor mild swelling

  • Go to the vet immediately if breathing is affected

Heatstroke
Toxic Ingestion

Choking

Allergic Reaction

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