12 Reasons To Rush Your Dog To The Vet

1. Squinting-If your dog is squinting and cannot open his or her eye, you must get to the veterinarian ASAP. This could mean a few things such as a scratch on the cornea, glaucoma, or a melting ulcer. You need not worry about what these things are, you need to call the vet, grab the dog, get in the car and GO.


2. Vomiting-If your dog is vomiting repeatedly in a short period of time, this is serious. When you call your vet, be sure to mention if your dog typically eats things it shouldn't (socks, toys, stuffed animals, etc.) as well if they could have ingested foreign material or liquid such as plants, pesticides, etc. In the unusual case that they could have ingested a toxin such as marijuana or other drug, you MUST tell your vet or they can not treat your dog and he could very well die.


3. Difficulty breathing-If your dog seems to be having trouble breathing, his/her tongue is blue, call your vet on the way there. They need immediate care.


4. Seizures-If your dog is having a seizure, which is most often indicated by suddenly falling on to their side, paddling, urinating and/or defecating, salivating, disorientation, call your vet immediately. You should not try to handle your dog during the seizure. Try to pad the area around them but do not put yourself too close to the dog as it may bite out of confusion and being disoriented. Try to keep track of the duration and frequency of the seizures, because your vet will need to know this information. As soon as the seizure passes, which can be anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes or so, transport your dog to the vet. Be sure to pad the car well, and be mindful that another seizure could results in urination or defecation where the dog lies in your car.


5. Bloody diarrhea- If your dog is having bloody diarrhea this can be a minor symptom or an indicator of something far more serious. Call your vet right away and be sure to save a stool specimen so that the veterinarian can examine it under a microscope.


6. Trouble urinating-If your dog is going out to urinate and seems to be straining or not releasing any urine, there may be an infection, blockage or other problem at hand. Call your veterinarian immediately and if you can, catch a urine sample to bring in to the veterinarian for a urinalysis. Refrigerate the sample if you are unable to bring it in immediately. Note the time that you collected the specimen.


7. Lumps-If your dog has a lump that has suddenly gotten very large, swollen or is oozing pus, call your vet right away. You should be seen that day to treat the lump. Some lumps are cancerous, some are not. Your vet will be the only one to determine if the lump is serious.


8. Bites or wounds-If your dog has been bitten or has been in a fight, or has wounds of unknown origin, you need to bring him/her to the vet as soon as possible. Be sure to be careful not to come into contact with the wound itself and NEVER try to break up a dog fight directly. Use noise or other distraction to stop the fight.


9. Bloated Belly-If your dog's belly seems to be growing in size, or distended, you need to call your veterinarian immediately. If this has happened after eating, monitor your dog carefully until you can get him/her to the vet. Do not allow them to run off-leash or exert in an overly energetic manner. Simply put them on their leash and keep them in the heel position until you get to the car to take them to the vet.


10. Lethargic-If your dog is suddenly lethargic, sleepy, un-responsive or limp call your vet immediately.


11. Limping-If your dog is suddenly limping and it does not resolve within a short amount of time, you need to call your vet. In the case where they are not bearing weight on a leg at all, this can indicate a torn knee, ligament or broken bone. It is important to get to the veterinarian the same day. If it is not that serious, you will probably be sent home with some pain and anti-inflammatory. However, if it IS that serious, surgery may be in the very near future.


12. Discoloration-If your pet seems to be either very pale or yellow, around the eyes, ears and mouth, you need to call your vet and have him/her seen that day. Their normal color should be bubble-gum pink around the mouth (gums, tongue, etc.) and the whites of their eyes should be clear.

These are only 12 serious indicators that a dog is ill or injured and needs immediate medical attention. By no means is this list intended to be regarded as the only instances when an emergency visit is required. You should use your common sense when it comes to the behavior of your dog---you know your dog better than anyone.

Many people are unaware of these particular injuries/instances being emergencies. As a human, when you feel ill, you can usually determine the difference between not feeling good and an emergency. For our pets, we need to have a keen sense of observation and a general knowledge of what is life-threatening, to know when to take them to the emergency veterinarian.

If you are ever in doubt, simply call your veterinarian. If it is after business hours, call the local emergency veterinary service that your veterinarian recommends. If you don't have that number on your refrigerator next to your human hospital number, call your veterinarian today to get that number.

If your dog has a pre-existing condition, be sure that you know what to look for in case of emergency. Talk with your veterinarian if you do not know the symptoms of a sudden decline in your dog's health. And, again, be sure to have the emergency service phone number in a place where you can easily access it.

Dogs, as most animals, can easily mask their pain. They may not show any symptoms at all if injured or ill. At the onset of unusual behavior, you should make an appointment to see your veterinarian the very same day, as it is possible your pet has not been well for a few days. Be sure to let them know of any signs that you have witnessed. When you go in for your appointment, the more history you can provide, the better.