Six signs you shouldn’t ignore signalling your pet needs to go to the vet
When your pet is struggling it can often be hard to understand what’s wrong and while they may often get better on their own, there are some signs that they may need some urgent attention.
Owning a pet can be a lot of work, whether it’s walking, feeding or cleaning but knowing when they may actually be ill can be invaluable for many owners.
That’s why Ben the Vet has taken to TikTok to help owners with a few signs to look out for when you should seek an urgent appointment with the vet.
1) Inability to pass urine
If your pet is struggling to or cannot wee it may be a sign of something more serious. It can be a symptom in any animal but it can be particularly common in male cats and is something that can be fatal. Not being able to wee can cause a build-up of urine causing the bladder to swell up causing toxin levels to rise and even leading the organ itself to rupture.
If you can see your pet straining and not weeing at all, urgently get in touch with your vet who will be able to help.
2) Swollen abdomen
If you have a larger breed of dog whose stomach has suddenly blown up and looks swollen, with the dog retching but failing to be sick it could be a sign they have a GDV or twisted stomach.
The condtion is when their stomach fills with gas, fluid, or food and then twists obstructing the passage of contents and potentially cutting off blood flow.
3) Toxin ingestion
We’ve all heard stories of a dog that has found its way into a box of celebrations or a dairy milk bar, but if your pet has eaten something toxic to them, you should get them instantly.
Vet Ben added: “If they’ve eaten something poisonous never delay in contacting your vet because often the most effective means of treating them is to induce vomiting, to make them throw the toxin back up, but after one or two hours, the toxin will have passed out of the stomach and isn’t effective.”
4) Seizure lasting more than five minutes
If a pet has a seizure lasting more than five minutes it is something called “status epilepticus” and could have a life-threatening impact on your pet.
If your pet also has several seizures over a day Vet Ben also suggests getting them some attention as quick treatment may prevent brain damage and even death.
5) Breathing difficulties
Although something that can be quite common, if your pet is having trouble breathing it could be a sign of something much worse. Ben adds: “If you can see there is an increased effort with their breathing, if they’re using their tummy to breathe, if they’re breathing rapidly, if you have a dog and they’re panting excessively or if you have a can and they’re open mouth breathing it is often a cause for concern.
6) Major trauma
What Ben says is the most obvious suggestion on the list, if your pet undergoes a major knock or serious impact, even if they walk it off and appear fine they should be looked over.
“Even if they seem okay, they’re extremely good at hiding signs of even serious internal injuries.”
If your pet starts acting differently and you’re concerned, speak to a vet straight away.
