Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic (AAVEC)
How to Tell if Your Pet is Having an Emergency
Not all pet injuries and illnesses require immediate medical attention. However, if you pet is experiencing any one of the below pet health emergency symptoms, please call or visit our animal hospital right away:
Not breathing or visibly struggling to breathe
Unresponsive or unable to rouse
Obvious broken bone
A visible, deep, open wound with excessive bleeding or visible bone
Anaphylactic shock
Heatstroke
Unable to get up after collapsing
Gums or tongue are either bright red or blue
Bite or sting from a venomous snake or insect or that is causing a severe reaction
Bite from a stray animal or any animal whose vaccination history is unknown
Sudden paralysis of the back legs, particularly in cats
Seizures that last longer than a couple or minutes or multiple seizures in a row, or the first seizure in your pet
This list is not exhaustive and does not cover all possible emergency symptoms. If you have questions about your pet’s symptoms or are concerned that they may be experiencing an emergency, please call us at (410) 224-0331. The emergency care team at Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic is available to assist you 24/7. We have 17 highly-skilled veterinarians on staff to make sure your pet gets the best possible critical care in Annapolis, MD.
What to do in a Pet Emergency
If your pet is currently experiencing an emergency, follow these steps to keep your pet safe and give them the best possible chance at a full recovery:
Remain as calm as possible. If you panic, you may forget something or even cause your pet to feel more stressed and scared than they probably already are.
If your pet is in an unsafe location, such as in the road or near a dangerous animal, carefully move them to a safe spot. Try not to move your pet more than is absolutely necessary, as too much movement may worsen their injuries.
Contact us at (410) 224-0331 right away. Let us know what is going on with your pet so that we know what to expect when you arrive.
Load your pet into your vehicle as carefully as possible. If necessary, use towels as a makeshift stretcher. Animals in severe pain may become aggressive, so you may need to loosely drape a soft cloth over your pet’s eyes to help them calm down. Learn more about transporting your pet in an emergency here.
Drive quickly and carefully to us and follow all instructions upon arrival.
When in doubt, take your pet straight to the emergency vet. We can help you assess the situation and make sure that your pet gets the care they need.
24/7 EMERGENCY VET IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
We offer treatment using the latest innovations in veterinary medicine, including digital radiography (x-ray) and ultrasonography (ultrasound) services. Our hospital also has an in-house laboratory, which allows us to conduct many lab tests right in our facility while you wait.
IS IT AN EMERGENCY?
We understand recognizing a pet emergency may be difficult. Here, we have provided information about how to tell if your pet is experiencing an emergency for all pet owners.
IS IT AN EMERGENCY?
We understand recognizing a pet emergency may be difficult. Here, we have provided information about how to tell if your pet is experiencing an emergency for all pet owners.
TRANSPORT YOUR PET
When your pet is experiencing an emergency it is important to stay calm and transport them to us as quickly as possible. Here are some tips on how to transport them safely.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
If your pet is experiencing an emergency, we want to make sure you are prepared and knowledgeable about what you need to do in order to help them. Here are some tips on what to do.
