A pet who becomes sick or injured unexpectedly is one of the most stressful situations a pet owner can experience. Veterinary emergencies can happen at any time, and pet owners need to be prepared to act quickly and know where to bring their pet for care when an illness or accident occurs outside of regular veterinary office hours. Emergency and urgent care veterinary facilities are available for pets who need prompt medical attention, but each type fulfills a unique need. Our Oriole Road Animal Hospital team explains how to decide which care type your pet needs if they become unexpectedly ill or injured. 

What is veterinary urgent care?

Veterinary urgent care provides timely medical attention to pets experiencing health issues that are not immediately life-threatening but require prompt treatment to prevent the condition from becoming more serious. Veterinary urgent care bridges the gap between routine veterinary visits and emergency care and is a valuable resource for pet owners when their pets need immediate care but are not in critical condition. To address conditions that can’t wait for a regular veterinary appointment, most urgent care facilities offer extended business hours, including evenings and weekends. However, urgent veterinary care facilities are not usually open 24 hours per day. 

What conditions may require veterinary urgent care?

Pet owners should consider veterinary urgent care for issues that need timely intervention but are not immediately life-threatening. These may include:

  • Ear infection 
  • Eye injury or infection
  • Minor laceration 
  • Limping or lameness 
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI) 
  • Skin infection or hot spot 

What is emergency veterinary care?

Emergency veterinary care is required when a pet faces a life-threatening situation or needs immediate medical attention to prevent serious harm or death. These situations are often critical and require immediate medical attention from a veterinarian with specialized training in emergency medicine. ‘

What is emergency veterinary care?

If your pet’s condition is life-threatening, they need emergency veterinary care. Common situations that require emergency care include:

  • Respiratory distress — Pets who are struggling to breathe may extend their neck, breathe through an open mouth, gasp, and wheeze. Their gums and tongue may turn blue, purple, or grey, because they are oxygen deficient. If you can do so safely, check your pet’s mouth for a visible obstruction such as a ball or chew toy. 
  • Severe bleeding — Heavy or prolonged bleeding is a veterinary emergency. If your pet loses too much blood, they can die. Injuries that result in severe bleeding require immediate veterinary attention. When arteries are punctured or lacerated, bleeding is extremely serious. These injuries result in bright red blood pumping at a fast rate. If your pet is bleeding heavily or the bleeding doesn’t stop after a few minutes, place pressure on the wound using a clean cloth or sterile gauze, and immediately take them for veterinary care.  
  • Prolonged or repeated seizures — A seizure can be frightening and confusing for both pet and owner. Seizures lasting longer than two minutes require veterinary attention, and those lasting five minutes or longer can cause irreversible damage. Multiple seizures close together or one prolonged seizure requires emergency care.
  • Inability to urinate — While a UTI causes a pet to struggle to urinate, the condition may not be an emergency. However, if no urine is being produced, the problem can quickly become fatal. If your pet is not producing urine despite their attempts to urinate, they need immediate, lifesaving care.
  • Significant trauma — If your pet experiences a trauma, such as being hit by a car or falling from a high elevation, they need immediate veterinary care. After a traumatic incident, your pet may not exhibit injury signs, but they may have sustained a serious internal injury, causing internal bleeding. To ensure your injured pet receives the care they need and pain-relieving medications, a veterinary professional should evaluate your pet’s condition as soon as possible.
  • Toxin ingestion — Many everyday items in your home and yard are toxic to pets. Medications, foods, plants and flowers, rodent bait, and household items are common causes of toxin-related pet illnesses. If you know or suspect your pet has ingested a toxin, immediately contact Animal Poison Control and seek emergency veterinary care.

You know your pet best, and being able to recognize when something is off can help you ensure their well-being. Understanding the difference between veterinary emergency and urgent care means you will be able to act quickly so your pet receives the care they need, when they need it. If your pet is ill or has sustained an injury, contact our Oriole Road Animal Hospital for an evaluation.