When Illness Strikes
We Can Be Your Guide
We Can Be Your Guide
| Signs | Possible Events | Possible Disease |
| Unresponsive/Unconscious | Hit By Car, Fall, Blow To Head | Cardiac, Trauma, Primary Neurological Disease |
| Collapse But Conscious | Trauma, Insulin Overdose Seizure, Exercise Induced |
Cardiac, Hypo Glycemia (Low Blood Glucose), Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure) Internal Bleeding, Anemia, Splenic Rupture, Seizure |
| Paralysis/Paresis (Hind End Weakness) +/- Vocalizing In Cats | Sudden Usually No Known Trauma | Intervertebral Disc Disease Saddle Thrombus (Cats) (Clots) |
| Obvious Hemorrhage /Active Bleeding | Trauma Or Spontaneous | Laceration, Nasal Trauma, Oral Trauma, Bleeding Mass |
| Respiratory Distress (*Cats/Dogs) | Trauma, Spontaneous, Heat Or Exercise Induced |
Cardiac – Cats, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, Aspiration Pneumonia, Pneumothorax (Air Outside Of Lungs In Chest), Laryngeal Paralysis |
| Seizures Continuous > 5min | Spontaneous, Error In Insulin, Poisoning | Epilepsy, Hypoglycemia, Ingestion Of Toxin |
| Abdominal Bloating | Abnormal Food Or Volume Of Food Spontaneous Or Trauma (Spleen) |
Gastric Volvulus Dilation (GDV), (Stomach Bloats And Twists Preventing Movement Of Gas), Splenic Rupture |
| Profound Vomiting And Diarrhea | Unvaccinated Puppies | Parvovirus, Addisonian Crisis |
| Severe Lethargy | Mutliple Causes | |
| Unable To Urinate (*Cats) | Urinary Blockage | Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, Urethral Stones |
| Retching Without Producing Anything | Ingestion Impaction Of Treat Or Toy | Esophageal Foreign Body |
| Various Signs From Seizure To Vomiting | Toxin Ingestion Xylitol, Grapes Onion Chocolate | Renal Injury, Liver Injury |
| Oral Burns, Difficulty Breathing, Collapse | Chewing Electrical Wires | Electrocution, Non Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema |
| Hyperthermia /Hypothermia | Pet Left In Hot Car, Fall Through Ice | Potential Organ Failure Without Rapid Treatment |
| Signs | Event | Disease |
| Difficulty Birthing | Dystocia, | |
| Extreme Retching / Swallowing | Missing Toy Or Large Treat | Esophageal Foreign Body |
| Cluster Seizures | Epilepsy, Toxin Ingestion | |
| Vaginal Discharge Unspayed Female, Increased Thirst Increased Urination, Not Eating Or Vomiting | Pyometra | |
| Bloody Vomiting Or Diarrhea Mulitple Episodes | Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, Parvo, Ratbait Ingestion | |
| Swollen Red Eye, Squinting, Head Shy | Glaucoma, Uveitis Deep Corneal Ulcer | |
| Inability To Use Hind Legs | Intervertebral Disc Disease | |
| Cat Cannot Urinate, In And Out Of Litter | Feline Lower Urinary Tract Dis, Urethral Blockage |
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing animal cruelty.
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Did your pet just eat something poisonous? Call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately. The sooner a pet poisoning is addressed, the easier, less expensive, and safer it is to treat.
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