25 Reasons to Rush Your Dog to the ER

Like your general practitioner, a good number of veterinarian offices are equipped for wellness checkups, chronic illnesses and conditions, and visits to the vet that can “wait until the morning” if necessary.  All vets can’t be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  But like humans, dogs can’t schedule their injuries and illnesses between 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.  

Also, sometimes your dog will get a serious enough injury or illness that your regular vet, while likely medically trained to do so, doesn’t have the right equipment and staff to do what is best for your dog in that situation.  It is in those times when, if at all possible, you need to get your dog to an emergency veterinary hospital.  

1. Severe trauma such as a fall or being hit by a car

2. Heavy bleeding that you cannot stop within a few minutes

3. Choking, coughing, or gagging that does not clear quickly

4. Bleeding from any orifice – nostrils, mouth, or rectum

5. Coughing up blood

6. Blood in the urine

7. Inability to pass waste – urine or feces

8. Severe limping, lameness, broken bones

9. Ingestion of a poisonous substance such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rat poison and so on

10. Seizures

11. Eye injuries

12. Unconsciousness

13. Heatstroke

14. Vomiting and diarrhea that last more than 24 hours

15. Unwillingness to drink water for more than 24 hours

16. Frostbite

17. Electric shock

18. Unproductive vomiting

19. Difficulty breathing

20. Paralysis

21. Bloated abdomen

22. Difficulty giving birth

23. Extreme lethargy

24. Prolapse of the rectum or uterus

25. Staggering, falling
    
    

There are other reasons why you may need to seek emergency services for your dog, such as blue gums or the inability to lie down. No matter the reason, if you feel that your pooch is in trouble health-wise, don't hesitate. 

Sometimes you find yourself having to make a decision as to whether your dog should go to your regular vet (if the situation occurs during regular office hours), or if your dog’s injury or illness can wait until your vet is open (if the situation occurs when your vet’s office is closed). In other cases, you may need to transport your dog to a veterinary emergency hospital.  

While urgent veterinary care can often be quite expensive, it may well be worth it.  It may be what makes the difference between life and death for your canine family member.