Red-Flag Symptoms — Go to Your Vet Now

Any difficulty breathing is an emergency. Do not wait.

Signs of Breathing Difficulty

• Laboured, noisy, or rapid breathing
• Breathing with the mouth open (especially cats — cats should never pant like dogs, and open-mouth breathing in a cat is always an emergency)
• Blue or purple gums or tongue (cyanosis)
• Extended neck and elbows pushed out while breathing
• Wheezing, gasping, or choking sounds
• Collapse or inability to stand

If your pet is struggling to breathe, go to your vet or nearest emergency animal hospital immediately. Keep your pet as calm and still as possible during transport — stress increases oxygen demand.

The following symptoms all require immediate veterinary attention. Do not wait to see if they improve.

Seizures

Uncontrolled shaking, jerking, stiffening, or loss of consciousness. During a seizure, do not restrain your pet or put your hands near their mouth. Clear the area around them, note the time and duration, and go to your vet as soon as the seizure ends. If a seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes, or multiple seizures occur in a row, this is a critical emergency.

Suspected Poisoning or Toxin Ingestion

If your pet has eaten something potentially toxic — chocolate, rat bait, snail bait, medications, toxic plants, antifreeze, or any unknown substance — go to your vet immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a vet. Bring the packaging or a photo of the product if possible.

Severe Bleeding

Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure, bleeding from the nose, mouth, or rectum, or blood in vomit or stool. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth if you can, and go to your vet.

Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus)

This is a life-threatening emergency most common in large, deep-chested breeds (Great Danes, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles). Signs include a visibly swollen and hard abdomen, unproductive retching (trying to vomit but nothing comes up), restlessness, drooling, and rapid decline. This condition can be fatal within hours without surgery.

Inability to Urinate

If your pet (especially male cats) is straining to urinate with little or no urine produced, crying in the litter tray, or licking the genital area excessively, this could be a urinary blockage. This is a life-threatening emergency — a complete blockage can cause kidney failure and death within 24 to 48 hours.

Trauma

Any significant physical trauma — hit by a car, fall from a height, dog attack, or crush injury — requires immediate veterinary assessment, even if your pet appears fine. Internal injuries may not be immediately visible.