Central Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

So, what’s the difference between urgent and emergency care?

The answer isn’t always clear-cut, but generally speaking, Emergency Care is required for any life-threatening injury or illness that requires immediate hospitalization. Urgent Care falls between emergency care and regular vet visits, in the somewhat nebulous area of “I know something’s wrong with my pet and it needs to be checked out by a vet ASAP.” 

At CTVSEH we specialize in severe emergency pet situations. For patients experiencing an urgent care episode, please call additional local emergency clinics for availability.
If your pet is experiencing a severe emergency situation, PLEASE CALL before you arrive so we are able to assist you immediately upon arrival. There are certain ailments that require special needs and we prefer to be prepared to work quickly. For example, if a pet is having trouble breathing and needs an oxygen cage we want to have our emergency cages ready and the team prepared to meet you at the door. 

Here are some emergency pet situations. This is not a complete list, use your judgment, but always call before showing/going.

DogsCentral Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

  • multiple seizures or prolonged (more than 5 minutes) seizure, twitching
  • hit by car
  • collapse
  • loss of consciousness
  • walking like they are drunk
  • toxin ingestion, if you are not sure call ASPCA poison control at (888) 426-4435 (there may be a consult fee)
  • bloated abdomen
  • vomiting in a dog that doesn't bring anything up, especially if he/she has a bloated abdomen
  • not eating/drinking for more than 1 day, especially if lethargic
  • lameness if it is accompanied by illness-fever, inappetence, or extreme pain
  • vomiting multiple times in one day or over more than one day especially if lethargic, weak or mentally dull/decreased responsiveness
  • significant bleeding, or bleeding that won't stop
  • small dog (less than 5 lb) or puppy that is feverish, weak, or not eating
  • trouble breathing
  • dragging back legs
  • not moving/unable to move
  • constant coughing
  • heart rate over 160
  • white, blue, dark red, or very pale gums
  • vomiting and diarrhea at the same time
  • ingestion of a toy or other foreign material
  • excessive drooling
  • facial swelling post-vaccination or bug bite/sting

CatsCentral Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

  • male cat not urinating, or making multiple trips to the litter box and not producing much or any urine
  • walking around the house yowling
  • walking like they are drunk
  • twitching or seizures
  • toxin ingestion, if you are not sure call ASPCA poison control at (888) 426-4435 (there may be a consult fee)
  • lameness if it is accompanied by illness-fever, inappetence, extreme pain
  • small pet (less than 5 lbs) or a kitten that is feverish, weak, or not eating
  • trouble breathing/open mouth breathing, panting, especially if head/neck is extended
  • dragging back legs
  • not moving/unable to move
  • frequent coughing
  • bulging or painful eyes
  • white, blue, dark red, or very pale gums
  • ingestion of a toy or other foreign material, string hanging out of rectum or mouth
  • cats-panting or respiratory rate over 50 breaths per minute
  • facial swelling post-vaccination or bug bite/sting

So what do I do about the following Urgent Care situations until my pet can be seen...

Vomiting/diarrhea:

  • If your pet is bloated, very lethargic, a puppy or kitten, dog under 5 lbs, very thin, has vomiting and diarrhea at the same time, or you know he/she ate a toxin or toy/foreign object, please call our emergency hospital for medical directions.
  • If your pet is alert, acting fairly normal and no bloating-hold food and water for 8 hours. Then start offering small amounts of a bland diet. This can be boiled ground hamburger, chicken, or turkey. Offer water in small amounts. If your pet drinks a lot of water at once he/she will vomit. If your cat/small dog does not want to eat try meat baby food. The ingredients should be meat and water, no onion or garlic powder, pasta, etc.
  • Rice or baby rice cereal can be added to a bland diet to slow diarrhea. Feed them as you eat after the stomach bug-small amounts at a time every few hours. After there is no vomiting or diarrhea for 48 hours, slowly mix a regular diet with a bland diet for a few days before feeding normally.
  • A pet that has had diarrhea will not pass any stool for up to 3 days after it resolves. This is normal as long as your pet is acting normal.
  • Make an appointment as soon as possible, we may want to take radiographs, run bloodwork, or do other diagnostics. Your pet may benefit from hydration, appetite stimulants, anti-diarrhea medication, anti-nausea medication, etc.

Itching or skin infection:

  • If your pet is very itchy, has a hot spot, or skin infection where scratching put an Elizabethan collar (cone of shame) on to prevent licking (available at many pet stores). Also, socks on the paws may reduce damaging skin from scratching (only if your dog will not eat the socks).
  • You can safely give Benadryl to any pet that is not severely ill or debilitated. Give one tablet per 25 lbs twice daily by mouth. If you give a liquid, some pets foam at the mouth due to the flavoring. Make sure it is just diphenhydramine, not a combination product with a decongestant, etc. Benadryl causes sleepiness, drinking, and urinating more. A small percentage of pets will be anxious rather than sedated.
  • If you are able to remove the hair in the affected area that is beneficial but use caution as even the most wonderful pets may bite when in pain, and skin lesions can be quite painful. Clean the area with ½ peroxide and ½ water solution. Do not soak fur and leave it matted and wet, this will make it worse, not better. Hydrocortisone sprays can be helpful, make sure they are alcohol-free. Your pet should be seen within 48-72 hours.
  • If you have an appointment, please do not wash or clean the area for at least 12 hours prior as it will make it more difficult to diagnose/treat.

Red eyes:

If the eye is ruptured, out of the socket, swollen or discolored call the emergency clinic.

Preventing scratching is very important, especially in brachycephalic (snub nose) breeds. Rubbing can cause ulcers and even ruptured eyes. Place an Elizabethan collar (cone of shame available at pet stores). Inflatable collars will not work. Wrap ice or ice pack in a towel and hold on closed eye for 15 min every few hours to provide relief. You can get eye wash (not for contacts) at the pharmacy and rinse the eye as well. Your pet should be seen within 24-48 hours. Please do not rinse the eye or apply any medications to the eye on the day of your appointment as it will alter some test results that may be necessary to have to correctly diagnose the cause.

Lameness:

  • If your pet is feverish (rectal temperature above 102.5F), very painful, or lethargic call the emergency clinic.
  • If your pet is limping but otherwise normal, restrict his/her exercise-leash walk dogs out to the bathroom only. Do not allow jumping or use of stairs. For cats confine her/him to a large dog crate or small room, make sure to give your cat a litterbox, food, and water.

Wounds:

  • If the wound is large or bleeding without stopping or if your pet is in a lot of pain, call the emergency hospital. Apply pressure to bleeding wounds with a paper or cloth towel. Wear gloves and avoid contact with blood if possible. Wash hands as soon as possible.
  • If the wound is small, not bleeding and your pet is not in distress, you can clean it with ½ peroxide/1/2 water solution. You should wear gloves and wash your hands after handling the wound. DO NOT pour fluid into the wound, gently cleanse the area around it, avoid touching the exposed muscle or actual wound.
  • If a wild animal bit your pet, call your town animal control officer. You can find their number online or via your town's police. Rabies is a real consideration, take precautions to prevent human exposure to body fluids of the animal and your pet/their wound.
  • Placing an Elizabethan collar (cone of shame available at most pet stores) to prevent chewing and licking. Restrict your pet's exercise-this means crating a cat with food/water/bed/litterbox. Dog leash walks to go to the bathroom only. Your pet should be seen within 24 hours.

Urinary problems:

  • Blood in urine in a sick pet or one that is not urinating, please call the emergency hospital. For cats, this includes many trips into the litter box, yowling, or passing urine in very small amounts.
  • If your pet is acting normal but having accidents in the house or leaking urine when laying down, this is not an emergency.
  • Collect a urine sample into a clean container first thing in the morning and make an appointment. Your dog should be seen within 72 hours, your male cat within 24 hours, female cat within 48 hours.
  • Discomfort after vaccination If your pet has facial swelling, extreme lethargy, or is vomiting call the emergency hospital. If the site where the vaccine was given is sore then wrap an ice pack in a dry towel and apply it to the area every 2 hours for 15 minutes or less. It is normal for him/her to be quiet and a little sluggish for a few days. If your pet is not eating, top-dress food with some boiled meat. Avoid offering lunch meat or canned food if they are not used to it as this will cause diarrhea/vomiting.

Additional Resources

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has supplementary information on pet first aid, as well as a downloadable guide of helpful tips. AVMA