St. Francis Animal Hospital

Possible Symptoms:

• Not breathing or visibly struggling to breathe

• Unresponsive or unable to rouse

• Collapse

• Obvious broken bone

• Open wounds or active bleeding

• Discoloration of the mouth (ex: blue or red gums or tongue)

• Bite or sting from a venomous snake or insect or that is causing a severe reaction

• A bite from a wild animal or another pet whose vaccination history is unknown to you

• Sudden paralysis of the back legs

• Severe abdominal distension

• Seizures that last longer than five minutes, multiple seizures in a row, or the first seizure in your pet

• Heatstroke

  • Any combination of swelling, hives, excessive salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea may be symptoms of heatstroke

• Anaphylactic shock

  • Any combination of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, staggering, difficulty urinating, and excessive panting or drooling may be signs of anaphylactic shock

What to do in a Pet Emergency

If your pet is currently experiencing an emergency, follow these steps to keep your pet safe and give them the best possible chance at a full recovery:

1. Remain as calm as possible. If you panic, you may forget something or even cause your pet to feel more stressed and scared than they probably already are.

2. If your pet is in an unsafe location, such as in the road or near a dangerous animal, carefully move them to a safe spot. Try not to move your pet more than is absolutely necessary, as too much movement may worsen their injuries.

3. Call us at (360) 253-5446 right away. Let us know what is going on with your pet so that we know what to expect when you arrive.

4. Load your pet into your vehicle as carefully as possible. If necessary, use towels as a makeshift stretcher. Animals in severe pain may become aggressive, so you may need to loosely drape a soft cloth over your pet’s eyes to help them calm down.

5. Drive quickly and carefully to us and follow all instructions upon arrival.