Common Pet Emergencies:

• Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn’t stop within 5 minutes.
• Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing and gagging.
• Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, or blood in urine.
• Inability to urinate or pass feces (stool), or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool, vocalization while attempting to urinate or defecate.
• Injuries to your pet’s eye(s).
• Toxin ingestion (such as antifreeze, xylitol, rotten/compost, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.).
• Seizures and/or staggering.
• Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s).
• Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety.
• Heat stress or heatstroke.
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea – more than 2 episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these combined with obvious illness.
• Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more.
• Unconsciousness.
• Snakebites.

If you are unsure if your pet is experiencing an emergency situation call us anytime at 912-355-6113.

My Pet Ate:

Most human pharmaceuticals can be toxic to our pets, some of the most common are:

Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Cold and Flu meds, Antidepressants, Vitamins, Diet pills, Anti-cancer drugs, and Tobacco products.

There are also many household cleaners and common garage items that are dangerous as well:

Detergents, Fabric softener, Drain cleaners, Oven cleaner sprays, Disinfectants, Bleach, Liquid potpourri, Lime/scale remover, Lead, Paint thinners, Flea and tick products, Rodent bait, Mothballs, Fly bait, Antifreeze/coolant, Gasoline, Oil, Insecticides, Pesticides, and Fertilizers.

Many beautiful and common plants are toxic to our pets as well:

Ficus, Philodendron, Morning Glory, Hyacinth, Rhododendron, Pothos, Lilies, Tulip, Sago Palm, Oleander, Wisteria, Amaryllis, and Spider Plant.

In addition, there are quite a few items that are safe for us, but extremely harmful for our pets:

Candy and gum (especially sugar free varieties with Xylitol), turkey and chicken bones, Dark chocolate, Grapes, Alcohol, Raw/frozen yeast doughs, and Coffee.

If your pet has ingested any of these items, or you are unsure as to whether the item your pet has eaten is toxic to them, call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435.

A trained toxicologist will guide you through the initial phase of evaluation and advise you as to whether you need to seek immediate medical attention for your pet.

If it is determined that your pet is in a medical emergency please bring the case number given to you by the ASPCA, that information will be vital once you reach an Emergency Veterinarian.