Pet Emergency Signs: When to Call Your Vet Immediately
Every minute counts in a pet emergency. Knowing the difference between a minor health concern and a life-threatening crisis could be the difference between life and death for your dog or cat. If you notice any of the signs described in this article, do not wait and do not search online for reassurance — call your vet immediately.
This guide covers the most serious emergency situations in dogs and cats, explains what is happening in your pet's body, and tells you exactly what to do. When in doubt, the answer is always the same: call your vet immediately.
Bloat and GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) in Dogs
Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is one of the most life-threatening emergencies a dog can face. It occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, cutting off blood supply to vital organs. It can kill within hours.
Signs of bloat include a visibly swollen or distended abdomen, unproductive retching where the dog tries to vomit but brings nothing up, excessive drooling, restlessness, and signs of severe distress. Large and deep-chested breeds such as Great Danes, German Shepherds, and Dobermanns are particularly vulnerable, but bloat can affect any dog.
If you suspect bloat, call your vet immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Do not offer food or water. Get your pet to a veterinary clinic as fast as possible — surgery is often the only option and time is critical.
Breathing Difficulty
Any sudden or severe difficulty breathing is an emergency in both dogs and cats. Signs include laboured or rapid breathing, breathing with the mouth open (especially alarming in cats, who rarely do this), blue or grey-tinged gums or tongue, neck extended and elbows pushed outward, and a reluctance to lie down.
Breathing problems can result from heart failure, fluid in the lungs, a blocked airway, asthma in cats, trauma, or serious infection. No matter the cause, call your vet immediately. Keep your pet as calm and still as possible — excitement or exertion can make respiratory distress dramatically worse.
Collapse or Sudden Weakness
If your pet suddenly collapses, cannot stand, or loses the use of their hind legs, call your vet immediately. Collapse can be caused by heart arrhythmia, internal bleeding, severe pain, spinal injury, low blood sugar, or toxin exposure.
Do not attempt to make your pet walk or stand. Keep them warm and still, and transport them to the vet as gently as possible — use a blanket as a makeshift stretcher if needed. Explain clearly what happened when you call your vet immediately, including how long the episode lasted and whether your pet lost consciousness.
Seizures
A seizure is frightening to witness. Your pet may fall on their side, paddle their legs, lose control of their bladder or bowels, chomp their jaw, or seem completely unaware of their surroundings. After a seizure, pets often appear confused and disoriented — this is known as the post-ictal phase.
A single, brief seizure lasting less than two minutes may not require emergency intervention if your pet has a known epilepsy diagnosis and your vet has given you a management plan. However, call your vet immediately if the seizure lasts more than two to three minutes, if your pet has multiple seizures within 24 hours, or if this is the first seizure you have ever witnessed. A seizure lasting more than five minutes is a life-threatening emergency called status epilepticus — call your vet immediately and head to the clinic without delay.
Keep your hands away from your pet's mouth during a seizure. They are not aware of their actions and may bite involuntarily.
Suspected Poisoning
Pets are curious and often ingest things they should not. Many common household substances are toxic to dogs and cats, including chocolate, xylitol (a sweetener found in sugar-free products), grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, paracetamol, ibuprofen, certain plants such as lilies (extremely dangerous for cats), rat poison, and many garden chemicals.
Signs of poisoning vary depending on the substance and may include vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, tremors, seizures, weakness, pale gums, or sudden behavioural changes. If you suspect your pet has eaten, inhaled, or come into contact with a toxic substance, call your vet immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless explicitly instructed to do so by your vet — in some cases this can cause further harm.
Try to identify what your pet ingested and bring the packaging or a photo to the clinic. The sooner you act, the better the outcome.
Urinary Blockage
A urinary blockage — where a pet is unable to pass urine — is a true emergency, particularly in male cats. The urethra in male cats is narrow and prone to obstruction from crystals, mucus plugs, or stones. A blocked cat can deteriorate rapidly and die within 24 to 48 hours if untreated.
Signs include straining to urinate with little or no output, crying out or vocalising in pain, frequent trips to the litter tray with no result, a tense or painful abdomen, lethargy, vomiting, and loss of appetite. If you notice any of these signs, call your vet immediately. Do not wait overnight to see if the situation resolves — it will not.
Urinary blockages can also occur in dogs, though they are less common. The signs are similar: straining to urinate, painful abdomen, and distress.
Other Signs That Mean Call Your Vet Immediately
- Eye injuries or sudden vision loss
- Severe or uncontrolled bleeding that does not stop with pressure
- Suspected broken bones after a fall or road traffic accident
- Swollen, painful, or hot joints
- Suspected snake or insect bite with rapid swelling
- Loss of consciousness, even briefly
- Extreme and sudden changes in behaviour or responsiveness
- Pale, white, blue, or yellow-tinged gums
Accessing Emergency Vet Care in the EU
Across the European Union, most cities and larger towns have access to emergency or out-of-hours veterinary services. If your regular vet clinic is closed, do not wait until morning — call your vet immediately on their emergency line. Most veterinary practices are required or strongly encouraged to provide clients with an out-of-hours contact number or to direct them to a designated emergency service.
In Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and other EU countries, dedicated emergency veterinary clinics (clínicas veterinarias de urgencias, cliniques vétérinaires d'urgence, Tiernotaufnahme) operate overnight and at weekends. Search for "urgencias veterinarias" or "emergency vet" along with your city name to locate the nearest facility.
When you arrive at an emergency clinic, be prepared to describe when symptoms started, what your pet may have eaten or been exposed to, any medications your pet takes, and your pet's vaccination and health history if possible. Your calm, detailed account will help the veterinary team act quickly.
What to Do While You Wait
After you call your vet immediately, keep your pet as calm and still as possible. Keep them warm with a blanket. Do not offer food or water unless the vet advises you to. Do not administer any human medications — many are toxic to pets. If your pet is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth. If they are unconscious but breathing, keep them on their side so they do not inhale vomit.
Your role is to keep your pet stable and get them to professional help. Trust the instinct that told you something was wrong — you know your pet, and if something feels urgent, call your vet immediately. Acting fast is always the right choice.