Please call if you have any questions about the severity of you pet's symptoms.

It is better to call with a seemingly "silly" question than to wait and have a serious problem develop.

If you note the following, you should call the clinic or emergency center immediately.  Your pet needs to be examined and treated without delay!

• Difficult or suddenly noisy breathing.
• Blue or white color in the gums.
• Injury or disease causing loss of consciousness.
• Heavy bleeding or bleeding that will not stop.
• Straining to urinate, especially males.
• Seizures lasting more than 10 minutes.
• Ingestion, or even a suspicion of ingestion of anything toxic.  (Bring the package with you!)
• Sudden onset of paralysis or weakness.
• Any injury to the eye.
• Active hard labor without delivering a puppy or kitten in 15 minutes.
• Extreme pain.
• Deep penetrating wounds.

The following health problems are serious, but you can probably wait until the next available appointment today..

• Open wounds.  The sooner we treat it the better it will heal.
• Severe itching that prevents you or your pet from resting.
• Change in the appearance of a surgical wound such as swelling, redness or discharge.
• Tick imbedded in skin.
• Continuous vomiting or diarrhea.
• Dangling or non-weight-bearing limbs.
• Ingestion of inappropriate items- balls, string, elastics, rocks, earplugs etc.

The following problems are less serious and can probably wait until morning.

• Mild vomiting or diarrhea that lasts more than a day.
• Small amounts of blood in stool.
• Mild lameness that hasn't resolved overnight.
• Shaking or scratching head or trunk.
• Abnormally bad breath.
• Anal gland problems (scooting).
• Cut or blistered footpads with only minor bleeding.
• Catfight wounds, if animal is otherwise fine.
• "Hotspots" - superficial skin infestations, unless severely painful.
• Ear infections and hematomas (swollen ear).
• Insect stings and bites causing swollen lips.
• Otherwise healthy animals off-feed for more than 2 days.