Veterinary emergency and specialty facilities exist for a reason—they can support you and your pet when serious illnesses or accidents occur. Nobody wants to visit a veterinary emergency room, but the need may arise, and you should learn where your nearest facility is located. Not every veterinary emergency is avoidable, but you can help reduce your pet’s risks for several common situations. Help your pet avoid an emergency by reading our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team’s guide to the most common preventable veterinary emergencies.

#1: Pet trauma

The most common pet traumas include vehicle collisions, fights with other animals, and falls. Because a pet who has experienced trauma may have internal injuries that are not immediately apparent, such an incident always requires prompt veterinary attention. Trauma can cause your pet to experience broken bones and other orthopedic injuries, wounds, bruising, and the rupture of internal organs such as the lungs, bladder, or spleen. 

To prevent trauma, ensure your pet stays on leash or in a securely fenced area at all times. Do not leave small pets unattended outdoors in areas where wildlife roam, and prevent their interactions with unfamiliar large dogs. Always gradually introduce new pets to your household, and consult a trainer if tensions arise and continue. If you live in a high-rise building, always ensure your windows and screens are secure, and don’t let your pet out on a balcony unless the structure is entirely enclosed.

#2: Pet foreign body ingestion

This common emergency occurs when a pet consumes an inedible item that becomes stuck in their intestinal tract, resulting in vomiting, belly pain, and sometimes fever. If the object remains lodged for too long, a pet may die from septic infection, and surgery or endoscopy is required to remove the foreign body. While some pets are sneaky about stealing objects, you can help prevent them from ingesting a foreign body by keeping your floors clear, putting away tempting items, and supervising playtime. 

Common foreign body culprits for cats include ribbon, string, rubber bands, and hair ties. Dogs will eat just about anything, but a few common items include balls, toy squeakers, corncobs, and bones. A basket muzzle can help prevent a dog from eating outdoor items, such as rocks, mulch, or grass.

#3: Pet vomiting and diarrhea

Vomiting and diarrhea are common emergency clinic presentations. Causes can vary greatly, and may be the result of an infection or underlying disease process. Vomiting and diarrhea can result from the following preventable causes:

  • Pancreatitis — Pancreatic inflammation can develop with no known cause, as a result of diabetes or high cholesterol, or because of a breed’s genetic predisposition. About 10% of pancreatitis cases occur after a pet has eaten something fatty.
  • Dietary indiscretion — If your pet has sensitive digestion, vomiting or diarrhea can easily result if you introduce a new food too quickly or feed them a new treat. In addition, these signs can occur if your sensitive pet eats trash or ingests an outdoor item. 

Avoid feeding pets high-fat treats, and always introduce a new diet gradually—over a week or two. In addition, introduce your pet to new treats gradually, starting with small amounts and monitoring your pet’s response. Supervise pets while they are outside, and always secure trash out of your pet’s reach.

#4: Pet poisoning

Pets are curious and often get into things they shouldn’t, including toxic items and foods. Common pet toxins include:

  • Chocolate  
  • Coffee
  • Xylitol—used in sugar-free products and toothpaste
  • Over-the-counter and prescription medications, including inhalers
  • Antifreeze
  • Rodent poison
  • Raisins and grapes
  • Onions and garlic
  • Macadamia nuts

To prevent poisoning, ensure you secure all human foods and medications in high cabinets, out of your pet’s reach. Don’t leave backpacks or purses on the floor, and ask guests to do the same. Keep pets on leash if you live in rural areas where rodent poison may be used, and if you have a household rodent problem, use pet-safe rodent control methods. Clean up antifreeze spills immediately and do not allow your pet access to garages or sheds.

#5: Pet heatstroke

Pets are able to sweat through only a few glands on their paw pads, so they use panting and gas exchange as their primary cooling mechanism. Laying on cool ground, drinking cool water, and immersing themselves in water are other effective pet cooling strategies. However, pets generally cannot withstand the same heat levels as humans. 

Never leave your pet unattended in a hot vehicle or outside on a hot, sunny day. Provide your pet with plenty of fresh, cool water, and be aware of their heat tolerance. Brachycephalic (i.e., flat-faced) breeds, overweight pets, and those with laryngeal paralysis or tracheal collapse have the greatest heatstroke and associated respiratory distress risk. Keep these pets in your air-conditioned home during hot weather. If your pet is panting rapidly during an outdoor activity, move them indoors as soon as possible.

When to seek emergency veterinary care

Pet emergencies are not always preventable, but emergency veterinary services are available to provide your pet’s care when necessary. Annual or semi-annual wellness examinations, along with appropriate screening tests, are the best strategy to help your veterinarian detect disease in a condition’s early stage, reducing your pet’s sudden emergency risk.

Still, emergencies can happen despite your best efforts. Seek immediate veterinary care if your pet shows any of the following signs:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea
  • Uncontrolled bleeding or bruising
  • Trauma
  • Broken bones
  • Collapse or unconsciousness
  • New seizures, or more than 1 seizure in 24 hours
  • Eye injuries
  • Toxin ingestion
  • Inability to pass urine—especially common in male cats

If your pet is experiencing an emergency, contact our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team during our normal business hours. However, if your pet has an after-hours emergency, contact your local veterinary emergency facility. Reach out to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline if you suspect your pet has ingested a toxin.