According to Deborah Colker, DVM and Richard Rogoff, VMD, the following situations require a call to the veterinarian, no matter what the day or hour:

• Frequent bouts of diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Very fast or very slow respirations (Normal is 20-40 breaths/minute.)
• Very fast or very slow pulse rate (Normal is 100-240 beats/minute.) You can check your animal’s heart rate either by putting your fingers (not the thumb) over the femoral artery—the artery that travels down the leg—on the inside of the thigh by the groin or (much easier) by putting your fingers over the left side of your animal’s chest just behind the foreleg. The fastest rates are in kittens and puppies.
• Straining to urinate
• Paralysis
• Dangling limbs
• Any trauma—being hit by a car, falling out a window, a fight with a large dog—even if the animal appears to be acting normally
• Injury or irritation to the eyes
• If you suspect your pet has been poisoned
• Burns
• Bleeding wounds

Whatever the cause, if you the owner thinks it is an emergency, then it is.

You should know ahead of time how your veterinarian handles emergencies. Ask your veterinarian what he/she suggests you do in an emergency. It may be better for you and your animal if the practice refers you to an emergency clinic that is open and staffed all night. We recommend:

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