***See the bottom of our page for prohibited food and toxic plants****
Primary Symptom | Your Pet should be seen in.... |
Abscess | 24-48 hrs |
Antifreeze Exposure/Ingestion | Immediately |
Behavior Change, gradual/ acute onset | in 1 week/ 24-48 hr |
Birthing, 3+ hrs between puppies | Immediately |
Birthing, Kittens, 2+ hrs between kittens | Observe, as some queens birth kittens 24 hrs after onset of labor |
Birthing, bleeding up to 12hrs after | Immediately |
Birthing, Straining for 3+ hrs, no kit/pup | Immediately |
Bleeding, non-stop | Immediately |
Bleeding, in feces where patient is otherwise normal | 24-48hrs |
Blindness, acute/progressive | Immediately |
Blood in Urine | Immediately |
Breathing rapidly, >40 BPM at rest | Immediately |
Broken Limbs | Immediately |
Burn, Chemical or Thermal | Immediately |
Chewing Gum/Mint Ingestion | Immediately |
Constipation, > 2 days, otherwise normal | 24 hrs |
Coughing Fits | Immediately |
Coughing Intermittently | 3-5 days |
Coughing Regularly | 24hrs |
Crying while Urinating | Immediately |
Defecation, inappropriately | 3-5 days |
Depression/Lethargy | Immediately |
Diarrhea with Vomitting | Immediately |
Diarrhea 2+ days | Immediately |
Diarrhea, bloody or jelly-like | Immediately |
Discharge from Ears w/Odor | 24hrs |
Discharge from Ears w/no Odor | 2-4 days |
Distress | Immediately |
Dizziness w/Head tilt, or walking in circles | 24 hrs |
Dizziness w/ Lethargy and depression | Immediately |
Drowning, (near drowning) | Immediately |
Eating, constantly with Urinating Excessively | 24-48 hrs |
Eating, constantly, but losing weight | 5 days |
Exposure to Tylenol (Acetominophen), Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen | Immediately |
Exposure to Lawn chemicals, detergents, insecticides | Immediately |
Eye problems (red, squinting, pawing at eye, bulging, discharge) | Immediately |
Fainting (Syncope) | Immediately |
Fleas, Large numbers | 24hrs |
Frequent attempts to Urinate, none produced | Immediately |
Frequent attempts to Urinate, normal or scant amt | 24 hrs |
Gums, pale- same color as teeth | Immediately |
Halitosis (Bad Breath) | 5-7 days |
Head Tilt, acute/ gradual | Immediately/5 days |
Heat Exhaustion | Immediately |
Hiding, sudden onset, not eating, personality change, ticks | 24 hrs |
Hypothermia (extreme cold exposure) | Immediately |
Ingestion, Antifreeze, Rodenticide, other known poisons | Immediately |
Ingestion, Lily, Poinsettia, Diffenbachia, other poisonous plants | Immediately |
Ingestion, String or toy | Immediately |
Intolerance during exercise, sudden | 24 hrs |
Jaundice (Icterus) | Immediately |
Kittens, < 4 weeks old, any illness | Immediately |
Lameness, otherwise normal | 24-48hrs |
Laryngitis | 24 hrs |
Lethargy,sudden onset | Immediately |
Limping, won't put weight on affected limb | 24 hrs |
Lumps/Bumps, otherwise normal | 5-7 days |
Not Eating, sudden onset, cat, behavioral change, ticks | Immediately |
Not Eating, patient is obese | 24 hrs |
Not Eating, yellow gums | Immediately |
Not Eating, for 2-3 days | Immediately |
Not Eating, for 24 hr but drinking | 24 hrs |
Not Urinating for 12-18hrs, lethargy, not eating/drinking | Immediately |
Not Urinating for 24hrs, otherwise eating/normal | 24 hrs |
Open Mouth Breathing at rest, as in distress (not panting) | Immediately |
Pain, sudden onset, cat, lethargy, hiding, personality changes, ticks | Immediately |
Pain, chronic, otherwise normal | 5 days |
Pain, intermittent, otherwise normal | 24 hrs |
Pain, severe | Immediately |
Pawing at face/ears constantly, cannot get comfortable | Immediately |
Purplish/Bluish tinge to tongue (not breed-related) | Immediately |
Scooting (wiping rear end on floor), otherwise normal | 3 days |
Scratching at Ears, otherwise normal | 2-4 days |
Seizures | Immediately |
Shaking Head, otherwise normal | 3 days |
Sneezing constanty, not eating well | 24 hrs |
Sneezing constantly, other symptoms | Immediatlely |
Sneezing, intermittently, otherwise normal | 3 days |
Straining to Urinate w/o producing normal amt of urine | Immediately |
Tapeworms, othewise normal | 2-3 days |
Ticks, painful, lethargic, hiding, not eating, personalilty change | Immediately |
Toxin Ingestion/Exposure (Rat poison, Slug Bait, OTC/Rx Meds, etc) | Immediately |
Trauma, (hit by car, fight, a fall, with or w/o bleeding, or broken limbs | Immediately |
Urinating, frequently w/o normal amt of urine produced | Immediately |
Urinating, inappropriately, inside house, outside of litter box, otherwise normal | 24hrs |
Urine, bloody | Immediately |
Voice Changes, can't meow or bark, otherwise normal | 24 hrs |
Voice Changes, can't meow or bark, other symptoms | Immediately |
Vomitting, 3+ episodes in 12hrs , other than a hairball | Immediately |
Vomitting, more than 2x per month, otherwise normal | 3-5 days |
Vomitting, pink fluid, not acting normal | Immediately |
Vomitting, pink fluid, otherwise normal | 24 hrs |
Walking in Circles, +/- Head tilt, dizziness | 24 hrs |
Weak or Wobbly | Immediately |
Weight Gain, for no reason, otherwise normal | 3-5 days |
Weight Loss, for no reason, otherwise normal | 3-5 days |
Wound, swelling, feels hot, oozing pus or other liquid | 24 hrs |
Wound, fresh, open | Immediately |
Yellow, ears, gums, whites of eyes | Immediately |
DO NOT GIVE YOUR CAT OR DOG THESE MEDS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE:
Tylenol (Acetominophen), Orudis (Ketoprofen), Ibuprofen, Aleve (Naproxen), Celebrex(Celecoxib), Cannibis (Pot), Headache Powder, Human Prescriptions, Aspirin (unless directed by your Vet), Ethanol (Drinking alcohol, Beer), Methanol (Rubbing Alcohol), Controlled substances (Unless directed by your Vet).
Toxic Foods and Plants:
Grapes, Raisins, Garlic, Onions, Walnuts, Almonds, Macadamia nuts, Chocolate, Caffeinated products, Tobacco, Chewing gum/Candies, Dried Fruits, Bread dough, Fried foods, Gravies, Fat Trimmings, Tomato products, Bones, Fast Food, Apple Cores
Lillies, Poinsettias, Dumbcane, Holly, Poison Oak/Ivy/Summac, Devil's Ivy, Oleander, Philodendron, Mistletoe. ( not an all inclusive list)