As a senior pet owner, you know your greying companion has become less resilient, and conditions that were previously not concerning now may require immediate emergency care. While some situations in your senior pet present clear red flags, others can be difficult to assess whether a trip to the emergency room is required. Here are eight situations when your pet cannot wait and should be seen right away.
1. Your senior pet is having difficulty breathing
If your pet is struggling to breathe, a lack of oxygen can affect their entire body, and their condition can quickly deteriorate. A number of medical conditions, including heart and lung disease and cancer, can interfere with normal breathing. Signs your pet is having difficulty breathing include:
- Increased respiratory rate
- Increased respiratory effort
- Wheezing
- Open-mouth breathing, particularly in cats
If your senior pet is having trouble breathing, don’t delay. Rush them to the nearest veterinary hospital immediately.
2. Your senior pet has a traumatic accident
Any traumatic accident, such as your pet being hit by a car or accidentally dropped, can cause internal damage that may not be immediately obvious. While you may assume your pet is fine because they have no external injuries and are not bleeding, internal injuries, which are often more serious, can take longer to become apparent. A full-body physical exam, and possibly additional testing, are necessary after any traumatic incident.
3. Your senior pet has a seizure
Seizures can occur in senior pets for many reasons, including toxin exposure and brain tumors. Epilepsy, which is a common primary seizure disorder, typically develops in younger pets and is not a likely cause of an older pet’s first seizure. An isolated seizure is always a medical emergency that warrants immediate care.
In a senior pet who was previously diagnosed with epilepsy, the condition can suddenly worsen and the seizures become more frequent. Any pet who has a seizure lasting longer than five minutes, or multiple seizures in 24 hours, requires immediate care, despite epilepsy treatment.
4. Your senior pet is excessively vomiting
Your senior pet may have a sensitive stomach, and be more prone to vomiting if they eat something out of the ordinary. However, a number of medical problems, including kidney and liver failure, can also cause vomiting. While not every vomiting episode requires immediate care, the following situations are reasons for concern:
- Vomiting more than three times in one day
- Vomiting that lasts longer than two days
- Vomit that contains blood
- Not eating or drinking for more than 24 hours
- Vomiting accompanied by diarrhea, or other clinical signs
- Extreme lethargy
Vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration and weakness in older pets. If your senior pet is vomiting, err on the side of caution and have your family veterinarian determine the cause.
5. Your senior pet develops eye problems
As your senior pet ages, and possibly develops vision or hearing problems, they rely more heavily on their intact senses. Eye problems, which may initially seem mild, can quickly worsen and threaten your pet’s vision. Signs your pet’s vision may be in jeopardy include:
- Redness
- Squinting
- Excess tearing
- Pawing at the eye
- Third eyelid elevation
- A cloudy or pigmented cornea
- A bulging or enlarged eye
Have your pet evaluated at the first sign of an eye problem to help preserve their vision.
6. Your senior pet cannot urinate
Although urinary issues commonly develop in middle-aged pets, your senior pet could develop a life-threatening urethral blockage, which occurs when a urinary stone or inflammatory debris lodges in the urethra and prevents urine from leaving the bladder. The condition is most common in male cats with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), but any pet can develop a bladder stone. Watch for signs your pet cannot urinate, such as your cat crying in the litter box, or your dog repeatedly posturing to urinate, with no urine production.
If a veterinary emergency or other medical problem leads to a decline in your pet’s quality of life, you may consider supporting them during their final days with veterinary hospice care.