How do I know if my pet needs emergency veterinary care in Perth?

February 27, 2024 Rabia

As a pet owner, it’s important to know the signs that indicate your furry friend requires urgent veterinary care. Pets can’t speak up when they’re not feeling well, so it’s up to us to watch for symptoms that something may be seriously wrong.

This is especially critical for pet owners in Perth, where emergency vet clinics may not always be readily available. Being prepared and reactive when emergencies strike can truly save a pet’s life.

What Qualifies as an Emergency?

Generally, any injury or illness that may result in lasting harm or death if not treated within the next 12-24 hours can be considered an emergency. The most common pet emergencies involve:

Difficulty breathing – This includes noisy breathing, wheezing, panting at rest, pale or blue gums
Loss of consciousness – Your pet experiences fainting, seizures, or cannot be woken up
Uncontrolled bleeding or serious wounds – large lacerations, heavy bleeding, bites, etc.
Sudden trauma – Hit by a car, falls from high places, burns, etc.
Ingestion of toxins or poison – Contact with toxic chemicals, human medications, poisonous plants/food, etc.
Bouts of vomiting/diarrhea with lethargy – Especially if lasting over 24 hours or resulting in dehydration
Sudden, severe pain – Whining, restlessness, crying out, anxious pacing
Seizures – Multiple recurrent seizures within a short time frame

Pay attention if any unusual symptoms emerge suddenly or if a condition seems to be progressing rapidly. Know your pet’s regular baseline behavior so you can recognize when emergency intervention is required.

Recognizing Trouble Breathing & Respiratory Distress

Difficulty breathing is one of the more common pet emergency symptoms. Labored breathing that continues for more than 30 minutes may signal a crisis in the works. Signs can include:

Chest movements that seem more pronounced or strenuous
Flared nostrils as they struggle to inhale
Strange breathing noises like wheezing or gasping
Coughing nonstop or extreme difficulty breathing out
Blue-tinged gums or tongue

Pets in respiratory distress may also exhibit unrelated signs like anxiety or restlessness. Excessive panting when your pet is at rest also qualifies as an abnormal symptom that suggests they can’t catch their breath. Respiratory emergencies in pets can occur from allergic reactions, underlying infections, inhaled objects, pneumonia, fluid in lungs, anemia or heart failure. Prompt veterinary assistance is vital.

Detecting Emergencies from Trauma

Pets who experience serious traumatic events often have noticeable life-threatening injuries or conditions such as:

Fractures – Broken bones, inability to use a limb or extreme pain from a body part
Heavy external or internal bleeding – Small amounts of blood from mouth, nose, rectum, etc.
Collapse – Inability to stand or sudden loss of consciousness
Burns – Singed fur, visible skin injuries, blisters from heat or chemicals
Shock – Extremely pale gums, weak rapid pulse, shivering, weakness
Eye Injuries – Dilated or uneven pupils, blood in eyes, sudden inability to open eyes

Whether your pet was struck by a car, attacked by another animal or severely injured in a fall at home, seek immediate emergency vet assistance if trauma leads to any warning symptoms above. The Pet Practice says stabilizing shock, controlling blood loss, and treating fractures ASAP greatly impact recovery.

Recognizing Toxin & Poison Exposure Emergencies

With their tendency to ingest almost anything, pets can accidentally poison themselves in ways that require urgent veterinary decontamination and treatment. Common sources for pet poisoning include:

Human prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
Ingestion of house or garden plants
Exposure to insecticides, weed killers, oils, solvents, or cleaners
Foods that are toxic to pets like chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions
Rodent bait or pets biting poisonous snakes or spiders
Contamination of pet food supplies

Pets displaying poisoning symptoms need veterinary assessment within 30-90 minutes. Effects worsen rapidly without quick treatment. Warning signs of poisoning include:

Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea
Dilated or shrunken pupils
Loss of appetite, extreme thirst or urination
Disorientation, hyperactivity or lethargy
Seizures
Skin or eye irritation (burns, swelling, blisters)

If you know or even suspect toxin exposure has occurred, take an emergency toxicology treatment approach without delay.

Responding to Gastrointestinal Upset or Dehydration

Vomiting or diarrhea are common pet illnesses. However, when these symptoms result in dehydration or lethargy, emergency assistance may be warranted. Watch for these red flags:

Frequent projectile vomiting or vomiting that persists beyond 6-12 hours
Extreme diarrhea lasting 12 hours or more
Very dark urine or inability to urinate
Loss of skin elasticity, sticky or dry gums
Sunken eyes or lethargy
Weight loss exceeding 3-5% body weight
Fever higher than 103oF

Pets with gastrointestinal distress are vulnerable to rapid dehydration, dangerous electrolyte imbalances and debilitating metabolic issues like liver disorders or pancreatitis. Don’t take a wait and see approach if symptoms are severe or progressive in the first 12-24 hours.

Responding to Uncontrolled Bleeding

Cuts and injuries often happen with inquisitive pets. However, excessive bleeding or any suspected internal bleeding should be addressed immediately as an emergency. Signs requiring urgent blood loss control include:

Heavy external bleeding from wounds not stopped with 10 minutes of pressure
Bleeding from bodily orifices like rectum, nose, ears
Coughing up blood or vomiting with signs of blood
Bruising, swelling and tenderness of the abdomen
Pale gums or membranes plus weakness, dizziness, rapid heart rate

Uncontrolled external bleeding risks deadly exsanguination. Suspected internal bleeding can rapidly lead to hemorrhagic shock. Quick transport, surgery and blood transfusions may be lifesaving once at the emergency hospital. Don’t watch-and-wait at home when bleeding seems excessive relative to the original injury.

Getting Urgent Veterinary Help

In Perth and surrounding regions, pet owners have access to afterhours emergency veterinary clinics like Pet Emergency Treatment Services, Advanced Veterinary Care Emergency and Critical Care, and Swan Valley Veterinary Hospital. These specialty hospitals have 24/7 medical teams ready to triage severe injuries and illness when normal vet offices close overnight or on weekends.

Emergency vet centers offer enhanced lifesaving capabilities compared to standard practices. This includes:

Round-the-clock ER veterinary specialists
Broad range of bloodwork, imaging and diagnostic capabilities
Advanced equipment like endoscopes, ultrasound, EEG and ECG machines
Intensive nursing care with intravenous medicines, fluid therapy, oxygen cages
Blood bank supplies and surgical interventions
Hospitalization in monitored pet ICUs when needed

Final Words

In the end, use your own judgement when assessing whether your beloved pet needs emergency veterinary assessment and care in Perth. You know your companion animal better than anyone. If symptoms seem extreme or progressive enough to potentially threaten near term disability or death, don’t delay. Call ahead so ER teams can prepare to intervene swiftly once you arrive on the scene with your ailing four-legged family member. A pet health crisis is stressful but try to stay as calm and solution focused as possible. With prompt emergency care, even critically sick or injured pets often make full turnarounds. Your vigilance and quick response make all the difference.