If you notice any of the following problems, bring your pet in immediately for emergency care or contact an emergency clinic.

Common Pet Emergencies

  • Your pet isn’t breathing or you can’t feel a heartbeat.
  • Your pet is unconscious and won’t wake up.
  • Your pet has been vomiting or has had diarrhea for more than 24 hours, or she is vomiting blood.
  • You suspect any broken bones.
  • Your pet is having trouble breathing or has something stuck in her throat.
  • Your pet has had or is having a seizure.
  • Your pet is bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth, or there is blood in her urine or feces.
  • You think your pet might have ingested something toxic, such as antifreeze, rat poison, any kind of medication that wasn’t prescribed to her, or household cleansers.
  • Your pet, particularly your male cat, is straining to urinate, or is unable to. Get help quickly if your male cat is straining in the litterbox.
  • Your pet shows signs of extreme pain, such as whining, shaking, and refusing to socialize.
  • Your pet collapses or suddenly can’t stand up.
  • Your pet begins bumping into things or suddenly becomes disoriented.
  • You can see irritation or injury to your pet’s eyes, or she suddenly seems to become blind.
  • Your pet’s abdomen is swollen and hard to the touch, and/or she’s gagging and trying to vomit.
  • You see symptoms of heatstroke.
  • Any trauma – even if the pet appears to be acting normally.
    – Being hit by a car
    – Falling out of a window
    – A fight with another animal
  • Burns
  • Your pregnant dog or cat has gone more than three to four hours between delivering puppies or kittens.

If an emergency takes place outside our normal business hours please see the AZVMA’s list of emergency animal hospitals in Arizona.