These “red flag” symptoms may mean that your pet is having a serious health problem
Contact Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care (PVESC) at 207-878-3121 as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- Pale, white, or blue/grey gums, tongue, and skin
- Struggling to breathe, or seeming to have difficulty breathing
- Unable to urinate
- Collapse, unable to walk, or unresponsive
- Multiple seizures within 24 hours, or any seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
- Paralysis in one or more legs, or dragging the hind legs
- Gagging / trying to vomit but nothing coming up
- Vomiting and diarrhea for longer than 24 hours, especially if not eating
- Trauma (hit by car, hit by blunt object, falls)
- Pregnant animal struggling to give birth (more than 2 hours between deliveries, or no delivery after 4 hours)
- Ingestion of a fatal toxin or dangerous object (e.g., antifreeze)
- Severe wounds (bite wounds, puncture wounds, anything that bleeds heavily)
Common Medical Emergencies
Contact PVESC as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- Trouble breathing
- Shock
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Bloating
- Unable to urinate
- Severe injuries
- Trouble giving birth
- Tozin ingestion
Our 24/7 emergency room is located at 422 US Route 1, Falmouth, Maine.
When Should I Visit Urgent Care instead of the ER?
Not all symptoms require a visit to an emergency veterinarian. So how do you know when it’s safe to head to an urgent care hospital instead?
The following symptoms can be considered “yellow flags.” They should still be addressed by a veterinarian, but are not considered signs of a life-threatening emergency.
- Coughing and sneezing
- “Runny” or discharge from the nose or eyes
- Ear or eye infections
- Urinating more than normal or in strange places (not straining to urinate)
- Vomiting or diarrhea (for less than 24 hours)
- Constipation
- Decreased appetite
- Visible parasites (intestinal worms, fleas, etc.)
- Limping or soreness
- Lethargy, weakness, seeming “down”
- Skin irritation, rash, hot spot
- Broken or torn nail/claw
- Minor to moderate wounds (no heavy bleeding), abscesses
- Blood in stool or urine
- Allergies or allergic reactions (hives, swelling, itchiness)
Urgent Care is a good option for pets who are stable and non-critical – in other words, they are not at risk of suddenly getting much worse or dying if not seen by a doctor right away. A pet who has mild or moderate pain or discomfort, but still has normal vital signs, no “red flag” symptoms, and is generally behaving normally (still eating, drinking, and able to move) is likely okay to visit Urgent Care or even to wait for an appointment with their regular veterinarian.
Our Urgent Care hospital is located at 739 Warren Ave, Portland, Maine.
You Know Your Pet better than anyone else, so if you feel like they’re acting “off” or otherwise “just aren’t doing right,” you are always welcome to contact us for your own peace of mind.