Urgent Care vs. Emergency Care
Urgent care and emergency care are two different areas of pet health care. Knowing the difference between these can help ensure that your pet receives the appropriate care when it matters most. Urgent care handles issues that require timely attention that may worsen without care, while emergency care deals with more serious issues that may be life threatening.
Signs Your Pet Needs Urgent Care
- Not drinking food or water
- Allergic reactions
- Limping
- Ear discharge/infection
- Nasal discharge
- Minor wounds and lacerations
- Not going to the bathroom as often
- Small traces of blood in stool/urine
Signs Your Pet Needs Emergency Care
- Trouble breathing
- Major trauma (i.e. getting hit by a car)
- Difficulty passing stool or urine
- Severe bleeding
- Ingestion of toxin
- Choking
- Possible broken bones
- Fainting or becoming unresponsive
- Bloating