The true emergencies — go now

Some situations mean get to a vet immediately — minutes matter. Learn these cold, before you ever need them.

Go now for:

• Bloat (GDV): a hard, swollen belly with unproductive retching, drooling, and restlessness — most common in large, deep-chested breeds. Fast and fatal. Go immediately.
• Difficulty breathing: choking, gasping, or blue/gray gums.
• Collapse or unconsciousness.
• Seizures lasting more than a few minutes, or clustering back-to-back.
• Suspected poisoning — call your vet or a pet poison hotline on the way.
• Heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, wobbliness, or collapse in the heat.
• Severe bleeding that won't stop with firm pressure.
• Hit by a car or a bad fall — even if they seem okay; internal injuries hide.
• Straining to urinate with nothing coming out (a blockage — especially dangerous).

Before the emergency

Save three numbers in your phone today: your regular vet, your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic, and a pet poison hotline. Know the drive to the ER. In a crisis you won't want to be Googling.

Educational only — this helps you recognize an emergency, not treat one at home. When in doubt, go.