The hardest call an owner makes is whether something is urgent. Wait too long and a problem that was treatable this morning isn’t; rush in for everything and you spend your life in waiting rooms. Here’s roughly how we think about it.
Go Now, Do Not Wait, Do Not Call First
- Difficulty breathing. Labored breathing, stretching the neck out, or any open-mouth breathing in a cat. This is the one with the least time to spare.
- A male cat straining in the litter box and producing nothing. A urinary blockage can be fatal within a day or two, and it’s far more common in male cats.
- A deep-chested dog with a swollen, hard abdomen, retching without bringing anything up. Bloat. Hours matter.
- Collapse, seizure lasting more than two or three minutes, or repeated seizures.
- Known or suspected poisoning. Rat bait, antifreeze, xylitol, grapes, lilies for cats, human medication. Bring the package with you.
- Uncontrolled bleeding.
- Hit by a car, even if they seem fine afterward.
Call Us Today
- Vomiting or diarrhea that has gone on more than a day, or contains blood
- Not eating for more than 24 hours. For a cat, this is more serious than it sounds
- Sudden lameness, or crying out when touched
- A swollen, painful eye, or squinting
- A wound or abscess
- Drinking noticeably more than usual
It Can Probably Wait for a Routine Appointment
- A lump that has been there unchanged for months. Mention it at your next visit; it isn’t an emergency
- Mild itching without broken skin
- Bad breath, tartar
- A single episode of vomiting in an otherwise bright pet who is still eating
When in Doubt
Call. We’d far rather answer a call that turns out to be nothing than have you at home talking yourself out of it. If we’re closed and something on the first list is happening, go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital. Do not wait for us to open.
Our urgent care page has our hours and how same-day visits work.