When to go to the vet right away.
We are not vets, and this page does not grade how urgent anything is. It repeats the signs that the ASPCA lists as reasons a pet may need emergency care, and one emergency in cats that Cornell's Feline Health Center describes. If you are unsure, call your vet or an emergency clinic.
Signs a pet may need emergency care
The ASPCA names severe trauma from an accident or a fall, choking, heatstroke, an insect sting, household poisoning or another life-threatening situation as reasons a dog may need emergency care, and lists these signs (ASPCA):
- Pale gums
- Rapid breathing
- Weak or rapid pulse
- Change in body temperature
- Difficulty standing
- Apparent paralysis
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Excessive bleeding
The ASPCA's cat page carries the same list.
A cat that strains but passes little or no urine
Cornell's Feline Health Center says that a cat with a blocked urethra passes little or no urine and becomes increasingly distressed, and calls this an absolute emergency that needs immediate veterinary treatment. Male cats, neutered or not, are at greater risk because their urethra is longer and narrower, and the time from a complete blockage until death may be less than 24 to 48 hours (Cornell Feline Health Center).
Suspected poisoning
If you think your pet has eaten something toxic, the ASPCA asks you to call your vet or its 24-hour Animal Poison Control line at (888) 426-4435 (US).
Before it happens
- Ask your vet what to do out of hours: whether the practice has a 24-hour service, an on-call vet or a partner emergency clinic (ASPCA).
- Keep the name, number and address of the nearest emergency clinic on the fridge or in your phone (ASPCA).
- An injured pet may bite; the ASPCA advises protecting yourself first and moving the animal carefully. The first-aid cards cover what to do on the way.
Sources
Checked 27 October 2026: ASPCA, Emergency Care for Your Pet; Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. This page is general information, not a diagnosis; your vet knows your animal.