When is it a pet emergency?

If you have an emergency please call us immediately. You can phone the practice number even when we’re closed and your call will be answered by our out-of-hours team who will give you the help you need.

Seemingly simple conditions like sickness and diarrhoea can deteriorate quickly so don’t delay in calling us for veterinary help.

Before an emergency arises, it’s a good idea to learn a little about how to spot a potential emergency situation for your pet.

Ensuring your pet’s daily well-being requires regular care and attention. Sometimes it can be difficult to know if your pet is unwell or in pain, they cannot tell you and are very good at hiding their symptoms. To help you recognise illness in your pet, here are some symptoms that could indicate a more serious underlying health problem. We recommend that if your pet shows any of the following signs, you should call us as soon as possible.

  • Difficulty breathing, bad breath
  • Difficulty or inability to walk or stand properly
  • Disorientation, lethargy or weakness
  • Pale gums
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea
  • Difficult, unproductive retching
  • Straining to urinate, blood in urine
  • Loss of appetite, marked weight loss or gain, excessive water consumption
  • Abnormal lumps
  • Abnormal discharges from the nose, eyes, or other body openings
  • Persistent coughing, sneezing
  • Painful, red or swollen eye(s)
  • Loss of hair, a ragged or dull coat, open sores

Most emergencies are obviously life threatening situations. Sometimes it may be more difficult to tell if your pet needs emergency attention. If you are seriously concerned about your pet, don’t delay in calling us.