As a pet owner, being observant of your furry friend’s health is key. It is important to understand all of the maintenance requirements for your pet as well. For instance, you need to know that you should take your kitten or puppy in for vaccines every three to four weeks until they’re 16 weeks old. To keep your dog or cat in their best possible health, you must know what to look out for in terms of health and safety.

Here are a few signs that you need to take your pet to an emergency veterinarian.

Hard and Swollen Abdomen

If your pet’s abdomen is hard and swollen, you should visit an emergency veterinarian right away. While it could be a minor issue, you want to ensure your pet is healthy anyway.

A few causes of an abnormally hard and swollen abdomen include:

  • Heart Failure -Enlarged organs, such as the liver, can take place when a pet is in heart failure.
  • Ascites -A buildup of fluid can cause your pet’s abdomen to become enlarged. This can be caused by malfunctioning organs such as the heart or liver.
  • Parasites -If your pet is infected with parasites, they may have a pot bellied appearance. An experienced vet will choose the correct dewormer to make your pet healthy again.
  • Gastric Dilation Volvulus -In other words, your dog may have eaten too quickly and is now extremely bloated. While it may sound minor, this issue can become fatal within only a few hours of time. To avoid such an issue, make sure your pet is fed smaller meals throughout the day instead of one big meal. Encourage your pet to eat slowly and to rest after their meals.

Exposure to Toxins

Toxins are in more items than you may realize, including several human foods, medications, and household products. If your pet gets exposed to or ingests these toxins, you must not delay taking your pet to an emergency veterinarian. Failure to do so might lead to some serious complications that can threaten your pet’s life.

The following signs may indicate that your pet has ingested something poisonous or toxic:

  • Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
  • Trouble breathing and/or swallowing
  • High body temperature
  • Muscle spasms or seizing
  • Odd behaviors

When it comes to toxins and poisoning, the trick is early treatment. You must never delay getting your pet the medical attention it needs.

Extreme Pain


Pain can be devastating to your pet. Unfortunately, it can be hard to notice some of the subtle symptoms of pain, especially in stoic animals. . Here are some signs your pet is in pain and that it’s time to visit an emergency veterinarian:

  • Excessive noise -If your pet is whimpering, whining, snarling, and/or howling excessively, they may be trying to vocalize their pain.
  • Withdrawal – Pets may try to hide and be in their own company when they’re in pain.
  • Excessive affection -For some pets, the opposite may be true; they may be constantly trying to get your attention in an attempt to get help.
  • Panting -If your pet is heavily panting, they may have trouble breathing or swallowing. Excessive panting is also a general symptom that your pet is in distress.
  • Excessive licking -Your pet will try to clean their own body when they’re in pain.
  • Changes to their eyes -Look at their pupil sizes and squintiness for any changes.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Pets can vomit if they eat or drink too much too quickly. They might also have the occasional loose stool. However, if your pet has repeated episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhea, it may lead to dehydration, which is a serious threat to pets.

Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can also be the cause of stress, anxiety, toxic substances, an allergic reaction, parasites, organ failure, or a virus. Take your pet to an emergency veterinarian right away so they can determine the cause and the best course of treatment for your pet.

When your pet is sick, quickly seeking the services of a reputable emergency veterinarian is key. For those in Tucson, AZ and the surrounding areas, look to Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center. We provide excellent veterinary services so that your pet can remain healthy and well-cared for for years to come.

At Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center we are happy to provide a wide range of veterinary specialty and emergency services. It is important to have a “primary care” veterinarian to keep your new family member healthy and happy with routine vaccinations and health checks. But if you find yourself in the midst of a veterinary emergency, our team of experienced veterinarians is here to help. When it comes to visiting animal hospitals, we understand that the experience can be full of stress and worry, so we aim to make things as simple as possible. For more information, get in touch with one of our experts today.