Come now, or call first?
If you are not sure, call. A technician will tell you whether to come in now. These are the signs that mean don't wait.
Drive straight here if you see
- Trouble breathing, or breathing with the mouth open (cats)
- Collapse, or can't stand
- A seizure, or one after another
- Pale, white or blue gums
- A swollen, hard belly with retching that brings nothing up
- Straining to pee with little or nothing coming out, especially male cats
- Hit by a car, or a fall, even if they seem fine
- Bleeding that won't stop with pressure
- Overheated: heavy panting, drooling, wobbling
What the colours mean
A technician sees every patient within five minutes and gives a colour. The sickest are seen first, not whoever came first.
- RedSeen now. Life-threatening.
- OrangeSeen within 15 minutes.
- YellowSeen within the hour.
- GreenStable, seen in order. Median wait over the last 30 days: 48 minutes.
Ate something it shouldn’t have?
Bring the packet with you. Some poisons are treated by making your pet sick, which only works soon after they eat it. Call us, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (a consultation fee may apply).
| Grapes and raisins | Can cause kidney failure in dogs, even in small amounts. |
|---|---|
| Xylitol | A sweetener in gum and some peanut butters; dangerous to dogs within minutes. |
| Chocolate | The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous. |
| Lilies | Any part, even pollen or vase water, can cause kidney failure in cats. |
| Ibuprofen and other human painkillers | Never give them to a pet. |