Sick Pet Visit
Our urgent pet care for ailing companions helps to diagnose and treat your furry friend’s illness.
Urgent Pet Care
Pet urgent care ensures animals receive prompt attention for sudden veterinary problems. Respiratory infections, eye and ear infections, minor wounds, and gastrointestinal disturbances can be distressing for animals and their parents. For severe trauma, bleeding, breathing problems, or other issues that occur outside of our regular hours, we can also refer you to an emergency veterinary clinic in the area for prompt treatment.
To help you better recognize vet emergencies, we have provided a list below of symptoms that more than likely constitute an emergency situation.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
While isolated incidents are not typically an emergency, if these have happened multiple times in succession and are accompanied by blood, you should make an appointment with us.
Open Bleeding, Sprains, Strains, Broken Bones, Dislocations, and Concussions
Also known as acute injuries, these should be treated immediately. Any information you can give us on how these occurred is beneficial.
Difficulty/Not Breathing
Do not wait; please take your pet to the nearest animal hospital; prompt treatment is essential. This is the case for rapid and shallow breathing patterns; this requires immediate care. When you arrive, please let the staff know your pet is having issues breathing.
If they are not breathing, you may choose to perform CPR.
Ingestion of Poison and Toxic Substances
If your pet has ingested any cleaners, chocolate, poisonous plants, or chemicals, please immediately take them to an emergency hospital. Do not wait to see what happens. The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-888-426-4435 for immediate guidance.
First or Severe Seizure
If your pet has had its first seizure, please get in touch with your veterinarian for an appointment to discuss the underlying cause; thankfully, a single seizure is not often harmful. However, if a seizure lasts more than a few minutes or your pet has multiple seizures within a few minutes, please take them to us or a nearby emergency veterinary clinic after hours.
Bites and Allergic Reactions
If your pet has been bitten by a snake or insect, please look for signs of anaphylactic shock. These symptoms include swelling at the bite site, skin rash, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and shock. Do not wait to visit an animal hospital if you notice even one symptom.
Ingestion of Foreign Bodies: Toys, Chews, Towels, Etc.
If your pet swallows a piece of cloth, towel, rope, plastic, etc., this indeed qualifies as an emergency. Even if the piece is small and you believe it will pass through their system, only an X-ray can determine this for certain. Please call your veterinarian immediately!
Common Urgent Care Conditions
Author: Dr. Corinne Majeska
Heatstroke is one of the most common pet urgent care situations veterinarians encounter in their practice. It occurs when pets become overheated in hot weather, causing symptoms like drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, uncoordinated movement, and unconsciousness. Minor cuts and other types of soft tissue damage can also be treated as urgent care. If your pet has a severe respiratory or eye infection, the vet should see the animal immediately.
Make Companion Pet Hospital Your Veterinarian in Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Majeska and the staff at Companion Pet Hospital are dedicated to providing quality care for all their patients in Philadelphia, PA, and surrounding areas.
We offer many veterinary services to ensure health, including exams, vaccinations, dental care, microchipping, diagnostics, surgery, boarding, and grooming.