If you are reading this while your pet is struggling to breathe, unconscious or bleeding heavily, stop reading: call the nearest emergency hospital and start driving. Everything below is for the moments when you are unsure.
Go immediately
- Breathing trouble: open-mouth breathing in a cat, noisy or labored breathing, blue, grey or very pale gums.
- Collapse, fainting or sudden weakness, including being unable to stand.
- Seizures lasting more than three to five minutes, or several in a row.
- Heavy bleeding that does not slow after five minutes of firm pressure.
- Swollen, tight belly with retching that brings nothing up, especially in large, deep-chested dogs. This can be bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), which can kill within hours.
- Straining to urinate with little or no urine, particularly in male cats. A blocked bladder is fatal without treatment.
- Trauma: hit by a car, a fall, a dog fight, even if your pet seems fine afterwards. Internal injuries often show late.
- Known or suspected poisoning: rodent bait, antifreeze, xylitol, human medication, lilies (in cats), grapes or raisins, chocolate in a meaningful amount.
- Heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, confusion or collapse after heat exposure.
- Labor problems: strong contractions for 30 to 60 minutes with no puppy or kitten delivered.
- Eye injuries or a suddenly bulging, cloudy or painful eye.
Call now, then decide
- Vomiting or diarrhea more than two or three times in a day, or with blood.
- Not eating for a day in a cat or a small puppy, or not drinking.
- Limping without being able to put any weight on the leg.
- Sudden swelling of the face, hives or vomiting after a sting or vaccine.
Emergency hospitals answer the phone around the clock and will tell you whether to come in. For anything you suspect was swallowed, a poison line can tell you whether the dose is dangerous.
On the way
- Keep your pet warm and still; carry small animals in a crate or box.
- For bleeding, keep firm pressure with a clean cloth.
- Do not give human pain relievers: ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen are toxic to pets.
- Do not make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian or poison specialist tells you to.
Reviewed November 2026. This page is general information, not veterinary advice for your pet.