In my role as an emergency veterinarian I treat some very sick cats. And I also meet some cat owners who feel very guilty. They ponder whether their cats won’t have gotten so sick in the event that they had recognized earlier that an issue was developing. Although some cat emergencies come on suddenly and are anything but subtle, it’s true that many other cat emergencies start with vague symptoms.
It’s actually true that early recognition of subtle cat emergencies will improve the possibilities of final result. But owners mustn’t feel guilty in the event that they fail to acknowledge these subtleties — cats don’t include warning labels, and a one that doesn’t know the symptoms can’t be expected to acknowledge them (and, by definition, subtle symptoms are hard to acknowledge). As an example, I owned cats — including males — for 25 years before I knew that any urinary irregularity by any means in a male cat may very well be an emergency.
One method to determine if it’s a medical emergency or not? Examine your cat’s gums. Photography by annadarzy/Thinkstock.
Some helpful hints for determining cat emergencies that need your vet’s attention ASAP
The next list is designed to provide help to recognize cat emergencies that all the time warrant a right away trip to the vet. Nevertheless, it just isn’t exhaustive, and you might end up in an ambiguous situation not covered on the list. When you are wondering whether you must get out of your pajamas and head to the emergency cat vet in such a situation, there are some guidelines you may follow.
One useful indicator of cat health is the colour of the gums. Lift your cat’s lip and have a look at his gums now. They ought to be pink and moist. Check them recurrently, and also you’ll get a way of what they appear like normally. When you suspect your cat is sick and the gums are pale, grey, blue or brilliant red, then your cat almost definitely is in trouble (although try to be aware that your cat might still be in trouble even when the gums are their normal pink color).
Remember as well that you just are all the time free to call your cat vet or your local emergency clinic to discuss any ambiguous situation. The staff should have the opportunity to supply guidance.
Finally, do not forget that when unsure it’s all the time safest to have a vet evaluate your cat. A physical exam that reveals nothing mistaken causes no harm; doing nothing a few critical situation can result in a fatal final result.
Now let’s list among the most typical and serious cat emergencies:
Difficulty respiration is normally a medical emergency in cats. Photography by Valery Kudryavtsev/Thinkstock.
1. Difficulty respiration
That is probably the most urgent emergency any individual — cat, dog or human— can face. Death occurs after three minutes without respiration, so cats with respiration difficulties are on the sting of disaster. Respiration problems in cats will be hard to acknowledge at first. Symptoms to observe out for are heaving sides, respiration with the mouth open, coughing, wheezing, abnormal respiratory noises, and the catch-all appearance of “respiration funny.”
2. Abnormal urination in male cats
This has the potential to be a symptom of one of the vital serious cat emergencies any feline faces: urinary obstruction. This condition, which is fatal if not treated, occurs when cats are unable to urinate. For anatomical reasons, it occurs almost exclusively in males.
Cats with the condition suffer agonizing pain, after which rapid progression to kidney failure, potentially bladder rupture, and high blood-potassium levels that cause cardiac arrest. Initial symptoms could also be subtle: Affected cats may urinate outside the litter box, strain but produce only small quantities of urine, vocalize, or groom their genitals excessively.
Subsequently, any male cat with any urinary irregularity by any means ought to be checked by a vet immediately. Remember that female cats with urinary irregularities also needs to see the vet. They usually are not more likely to die from the issue, but they’re more likely to be affected by discomfort that warrants treatment.
3. Signs of severe pain or obvious distress
Bring your kitty to an emergency vet immediately if you happen to notice this one. Pain itself all the time warrants treatment, however it also generally is a sign of more serious problems similar to urinary obstruction (see above) or aortic thromboembolism (see below). Symptoms of pain and distress include vocalizing (howling), panting, hiding and overreacting to contact with a painful area.
4. Sudden paralysis of the hind end
While we’re with reference to pain, that is one of the vital truly painful cat emergencies: aortic thromboembolism, or ATE. ATE is a complication of heart disease in cats through which a blood clot lodges within the rear (normally) legs. It causes sudden paralysis of the hind end. Affected cats normally will pant, vocalize and show other signs of distress. It requires immediate veterinary attention.
Have a cat that won’t eat? It may be time to see the vet. Photography by aleg baranau / Shutterstock.
5. Stopping eating and/or drinking
A cat who won’t eat often means serious trouble. It just isn’t normal for any individual to go a full day without eating when food is accessible, and never eating generally is a symptom (kidney failure, complications of diabetes and intestinal obstruction) and a reason for (fatty liver) major health problems.
6. Protracted vomiting and/or diarrhea
That is among the many cat emergencies that require immediate veterinary attention, especially when blood is present. Just about all cats occasionally yak or have soft stools, and such incidents normally aren’t emergencies. But cats who vomit repeatedly or have blowout diarrhea should see the vet immediately.
7. Known ingestion of poisons
Ingestion of toxics similar to lily or antifreeze ought to be treated immediately. Rapid motion can dramatically improve outcomes in many differing kinds of toxicities.
8. Profound lethargy or collapse
That is among the many cat emergencies that ought to trigger an urgent trip to the vet. Profound lethargy often manifests as “not moving,” hiding in a single room for a protracted period, and never reacting to stimuli (similar to the can opener or the dog) in a standard fashion.
9. Seizure
Although a solitary seizure just isn’t more likely to be life threatening, owners ought to be aware that seizures often are available in clusters that worsen over the course of several hours. In addition they generally is a symptom of exposure to toxins similar to mold or low-quality flea control products. Cats that suffer a seizure should go straight to the vet.
10. Major trauma
This could all the time trigger a veterinary visit. Owners of cats with gaping wounds or massive hemorrhage normally know this intuitively. Nevertheless, sometimes cats who’ve fallen from height, been hit by cars, struck by garage doors or attacked by large dogs can have major internal injuries yet appear unharmed after the incident. Any time you might be aware of such an occurrence, your cat ought to be checked out.
11. Fights with other cats
Cats who’ve been in fights with other cats should see the vet sooner relatively than later. Cat fight wounds are relatively easy to treat with antibiotics in the event that they are caught early. If a delay occurs, an abscess may develop that requires anesthesia and surgery.
The underside line on cat emergencies that need immediate vet attention
Cat owners should do not forget that the above list just isn’t exhaustive; it just isn’t possible to list (and even imagine) all cat emergencies. I want to reiterate that if you happen to are unsure, it is best to call a vet, or just go to the vet.
This piece was originally published in 2016.
Thumbnail: Photography by DoraZett/Thinkstock.
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