How do you know whether your pet needs to be seen immediately by a veterinarian? The following situations should be treated as a pet emergency, and you should call us or head into the pet hospital immediately:

• Serious trauma, including being hit by a car, bitten by another animal, or broken bones
• You have observed your pet ingesting a poisonous substance such as rodenticides, pesticides, medications, liquid nicotine, or Xylitol
• Severe bleeding, or bleeding that does not stop within a few minutes
• Bleeding from the mouth, rectum, ears, nose, or eyes
• Coughing up blood
• Eye injury
• Difficulty breathing
• Bloody urine or stool
• Seizure or collapse
• Unconsciousness

There are other, less obvious signs of a pet emergency, including:

• Swollen or hard abdomen
• Gagging, choking, or nonstop coughing
• Not eating or drinking water for 24 hours
• Extreme anxiety or disorientation
• Lethargy or lameness
• Limping or favoring one side
• Diarrhea or vomiting that occurs more than twice in a 24 hour period
• Localized swelling
• Complications arising during the birthing process

You know your pet better than anyone else. If you notice your pet looking, moving, or behaving strangely, or even if he or she just seems “off”, please give us a call to have your pet evaluated. Often, a slight change in behavior or appearance can be a subtle sign that a deeper problem lurks beneath the surface.

At Memphis Animal Emergency we are committed to giving your pet the best possible care, and our emergency patients are given top priority. If your pet needs assistance after business hours, We are located in the heart of Midtown