Is It an Emergency? How to Tell if Your Dog Needs to go to the Emergency Vet

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, the veterinary world has become increasingly busy while also being insanely short staffed. Because of this, getting an appointment at the vet has become very difficult and wait times at 24 hour ER vets are sometimes up to 5 or 6 hours long. This is very stressful, not just for veterinary staff, but for pet parents as well. One of the many factors playing into the whole mess is the lack of understanding from pet parents on what is truly an emergency vs what can wait for an appointment with your rDVM (regular vet). Today, I’m going to break down the difference between what situations are a veterinary emergency and which are not. 

What is an Emergency Vet?

Emergency vets act much like hospitals. These are 24 hour locations that have staff available 365 days a year to treat urgent pet matters whether it’s Christmas Day, 3 am, or a Sunday. They exist, because much like human doctors offices, most general practice vet clinics have typical 9-5 type hours. If your pet experiences an illness or injury when the regular vet is closed, the emergency vet is there to assist you. 

Because emergency vets do not operate on a typical appointment schedule, there are cons to having to visit one such as:

• Long wait times
• Emergency fees and up-charges
• You can’t choose the doctor and tech staff that works on your pet
• They operate by triage, not on a first come first serve basis

For these reasons, it’s always best to contact your regular vet should they be open while you’re experiencing a pet emergency. If your regular vet can squeeze you in, you and your pet are likely going to have a better experience.

How to Know if Your Dog Needs to Go to the Emergency Vet

Your dog needs to visit the emergency vet anytime they experience an illness or injury that appears life threatening when your regular vet is not open or cannot squeeze you in. These injuries and illnesses include but are not limited to:

• Choking or difficulty breathing
• Severe bleeding
• Eye injuries
• Abdomen discomfort
• Inability to use the bathroom
• Suspected broken bones
• Seizures
• Eating poison
• Heat stroke
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea
• Unconsciousness

A good rule of thumb is if your dog seems to be in severe discomfort to the point of panic they need to be seen ASAP. As pet owners, we know our dogs better than anyone else. Your gut will likely tell you whether or not something is an emergency. 

Situations Where Your Dog Does Not Need to Go to the Emergency Vet

While it’s normal for us to panic at any sign of pain or discomfort from our pets, it’s important to know which situations can wait to be checked out by a regular vet and do not require a trip to the ER. These situations include:

• Minor wounds or injuries
• Lack of eating for less than 24 hours
• Acute vomiting or diarrhea
• Ear infections
• Cold symptoms such as runny nose or eyes 
• Minor or acute lameness
• Decrease in activity levels

If your dog is breathing normally and does not appear to be in extreme distress they are likely okay to wait a day or two to be seen by your regular vet. Any injury or illness that has continued for several days or weeks such as limping or an ear infection can most times wait to be seen. Behaviors that are normal for your dog, such as an epileptic dog having a seizure, are not an emergency. 

Why Does it Matter?

While you may not care about having to wait long hours or pay an uncharge for an emergency vet fee, making sure that we only make trips to the ER for true emergencies is important for the ER vet staff and the patients that are truly experiencing emergencies.

If you bring your dog who’s had an ear infection for a week to the ER you are taking staff away from a patient who could be experiencing a fatal illness or injury. 

We all worry about our pets when something seems off, but it’s important to remember that every slight change is not an urgent matter. 

Note: if you’re truly unsure whether or not your pet is experiencing an emergency, call the closest ER or your regular vet for guidance on what to do next.