Before you start
- Your vet’s phone number
- The number of your nearest out-of-hours emergency vet
- A basic pet first aid kit
| Sign | Why it’s urgent |
|---|---|
| Difficulty breathing, blue or pale gums | May mean heart, lung or blood problems |
| Collapse, can’t stand, or unresponsive | Serious illness or shock |
| Seizure lasting over 2–3 minutes, or several in a row | Risk of brain damage |
| Swollen, hard belly with retching but nothing comes up (dogs) | Possible bloat (GDV), which can kill within hours |
| Straining to urinate with little or no urine (especially male cats) | Possible urinary blockage, life-threatening |
| Heavy bleeding, or a serious injury such as a road accident | Blood loss and internal injury |
| Eaten something poisonous | Treatment works best before symptoms start |
| Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood | Dehydration, poisoning or infection |
| Signs of heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, collapse in heat | Can be fatal quickly |
Method 1 Know what’s normal
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Step 1: Learn the basics
Notice how much your pet usually eats and drinks, how often they toilet, their energy level and their usual behaviour.
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Step 2: Do a weekly check
Run your hands over their body for lumps, check eyes, ears, teeth and gums (normally pink), and look at their coat and nails.
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Step 3: Weigh regularly
Unexpected weight loss or gain is often an early sign of illness.
Method 2 Watch for signs that need a vet soon
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Step 1: Changes in eating and drinking
Not eating for more than a day (or a few hours for rabbits and small pets), or drinking much more than usual.
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Step 2: Toileting changes
Diarrhoea or vomiting for more than a day, constipation, blood in urine or stool, or accidents in the house.
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Step 3: Pain signs
Limping, hunched posture, reluctance to move or jump, crying when touched, restlessness, or hiding (especially in cats).
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Step 4: Breathing and coughing
Persistent coughing, sneezing, discharge from eyes or nose, or noisy breathing.
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Step 5: Skin and coat
Constant scratching, hair loss, sores, lumps that grow, or a bad smell from ears or skin.
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Step 6: Behaviour
Unusual tiredness, aggression, confusion or changes in sleep.
Method 3 Avoid common poisons
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Step 1: Foods
Keep chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (sugar-free sweetener), macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine and cooked bones away from dogs and cats.
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Step 2: Human medicines
Never give pets human painkillers such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen; paracetamol is deadly to cats, and ibuprofen is very dangerous for dogs and cats.
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Step 3: Plants
Lilies (including their pollen and vase water) can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. Check plants before bringing them home.
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Step 4: Chemicals
Store antifreeze, rat poison, slug pellets, insecticides and cleaning products securely. Never use dog flea treatments on cats.
Method 4 If your pet is ill
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Step 1: Call before you go
Phone your vet or emergency clinic so they can prepare and advise you.
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Step 2: Bring information
Take any packaging of what they ate, notes on symptoms and timings, and photos or videos of symptoms such as seizures or limping.
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Step 3: Transport safely
Use a carrier for cats and small pets, and support injured dogs on a blanket. Muzzle carefully if an injured dog might bite.
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Step 4: Don’t make them vomit
Don’t try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to; it can be dangerous.
Troubleshooting
My pet ate something and seems fine
Call a vet or pet poison helpline anyway. Many poisons, including grapes, xylitol and antifreeze, cause no symptoms at first.
I can’t afford a vet
Ask about payment plans, charity or low-cost vet clinics and animal welfare organisations in your area. Consider pet insurance in future.
My cat is hiding and not eating
Cats hide pain. If your cat hasn’t eaten for 24 hours, see a vet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my dog has a fever?
Only a thermometer can tell. A warm or dry nose isn’t a reliable sign. Ask your vet to show you how to take your pet’s temperature.
Is it normal for dogs to eat grass and vomit?
Occasional grass eating is common. Repeated vomiting, or vomiting with other signs, needs a vet.
How often should my pet see a vet?
At least once a year for adult pets, and more often for puppies, kittens and older animals.
Summary
Learn what’s normal for your pet and watch for changes in eating, toileting, energy and behaviour. Call a vet immediately for breathing trouble, collapse, seizures, bloating, straining to urinate, heavy bleeding or poisoning. Never give human medicines, keep toxic foods and plants away, and save emergency numbers in your phone.
