Do I Need To Look For an After-Hours Vet Near Me?

Our furry friends can very easily land themselves in situations where it becomes necessary to seek the help of a vet. Whether your cat has chewed on a poisonous plant and is now being lethargic, or your dog is having bloody diarrhea at night when most vets are not available, it can be difficult to know whether you should search “after-hours vet near me” on Google, take your pet to an emergency clinic or wait until the morning.

Pets are unable to tell us when they’re in pain or something’s not right. It is always up to the owners to figure out if they need treatment or emergency care through their behaviour and non-verbal cues. In case of an emergency, signs of which we’ll discuss below, it is always advisable to take your pet to your local 24-hour emergency vet. But in several other cases, booking an appointment with an after-hours vet may suffice.

Signs Your Pet Needs Emergency Care

• Snakebite: An animal that has been bitten by a snake, or has been seen near one should immediately be taken to an emergency vet, even if they seem fine.
  
• Blood loss: A wound that doesn’t stop bleeding, bruises in unusual places, bleeding for no apparent reason are all reasons to take your pet to emergency care. These may be hiding signs of blood disorders.
  
• Tick bites/Tick paralysis: If left untreated, tick bites can lead to total paralysis and even death. Look out for signs of drooling, lethargy, breathing difficulties, changes in your pet’s bark or meow, change in heart rate or paralysis of any part of the body. Early intervention is key to a successful recovery from tick paralysis.
  
• Seizures: Cluster seizures occur when a dog experiences two or more seizures within a 24-hour period. While an isolated seizure is highly unlikely to be life-threatening, cluster seizures demand that your dog be taken to an emergency vet.
  
• Toileting issues: Especially true for male cats, difficulty in urinating or refusal to use their litter box can be signs of life-threatening urinary obstructions.
  
• Labour problems: If your pregnant pet seems to be having difficulty giving birth, immediately get in touch with an emergency vet to protect both your pet and their unborn babies.
  
• Trauma: If your pet has been struck by a car, has fallen from a significant height, been in a fight with another animal, or broken a bone, immediately take them to emergency care. Even if they don’t show any signs of injury, they may have internal injuries which can be life-threatening.

Signs Your Pet Needs an After-Hours Vet

• Not eating: If your pet hasn’t eaten properly in over two days, seek the help of an after-hours vet. Your pet may be displaying signs of illness, dental disease or adverse reaction to a vaccine.
  
• Diarrhea: Prolonged bouts of diarrhea can lead to dehydration. If diarrhea continues for more than 48 hours, or if your pet feels weak and lethargic, seek the advice of an after-hours vet.
  
• Vomiting: Like diarrhea, acute vomiting can have many causes. Your pet may be suffering from food poisoning, pancreatitis, kidney or liver disease, parasite or an infection. Prolonged vomiting can also lead to dehydration.
  
• Coughing and sneezing: If your pet has contracted an upper respiratory infection, usually caused by airborne viruses, your pet may show symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, wheezing, fever or difficulty breathing. But coughing can often also be the first sign of more serious lung or heart problems.
  
• Scooting: A dog may drag their bottom or anus (or scoot) due to discomfort or irritation around the anus. Most commonly, this is due to anal sac problems like inflammation, abscesses, blockages and itching.
  
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Especially in female dogs and all cats, a urinary tract infection may present itself as difficulty in urinating, urinating outside of the litter box, frequent trips to the litter box and excessive vocalisation. Most UTIs are easily treatable through antibiotics and a diet change.

Other reasons to choose an after-hours vet

Anyone who has ever owned a pet knows how upsetting it can be to see your pet in pain. Most of us would like a vet to see them as soon as we discover something is wrong. Unfortunately, life can often get in the way. From arranging time off work to take the pet to a vet clinic to making babysitting arrangements for the children at home, not to mention stressing out your already distressed animal by taking them to an unfamiliar location; it can all get overwhelming.

Mobile vets provide you with the chance to get your pet assessed by them after you and your partner (if applicable) are done with your workdays. This means you don’t have to take a day off work or organise a babysitter. Additionally, some after-hours vets may even make house visits, which allows your pet to be examined in the comfort of their own home and also allows the vet to see them at their normal behaviour. This may even allow a better, more accurate diagnosis.