You know your pet needs vaccinations, wellness care, and should visit our Commonwealth Animal Care veterinary team when they are feeling sick, but how do you know what signs warrant a sick veterinary visit or emergency veterinary visit? With more and more families welcoming pets into their homes, we want to ensure that experienced and new pet owners alike understand when and where to take their four-legged friends for care. Read our comprehensive guide to learn when your pet should get veterinary care and the visit type they need.

Wellness and preventive care veterinary visits

By ensuring your pet receives regular preventive care, you help head off problems before they start or catch them early enough that the illness doesn’t progress to a more serious problem. Wellness visits are appropriate anytime you want to know your pet’s health status. Our Commonwealth Animal Care team recommends you schedule your pet’s preventive care visit at least once per year. A wellness visit typically includes a full physical examination, parasite check, vaccinations, and blood or urine tests to evaluate your furry pal’s overall health.

Many pets who come in for routine wellness exams often have some illness signs, but they are so subtle the pet’s owner did not recognize them. During preventive care visits, we commonly diagnose dental disease, heart murmurs, joint disease, ear or skin conditions, parasites, cataracts, and weight changes. Once we detect these problems, our team can jump-start a patient’s effective treatment.

Sick veterinary visits

If your pet exhibits illness signs at home that are not severe enough to warrant an emergency visit, a sick veterinary visit is in order. During a sick visit, our team will take your pet’s detailed health history to determine the cause of your pet’s problem, perform a full physical examination, and order appropriate tests, such as blood work, urinalysis, X-rays, or ultrasound. 

To ensure we can schedule your pet’s sick visit as soon as possible, you should call our office as soon as your pet exhibits any illness signs at home. We can usually see your pet within a few days of your call. However, if you wait until your pet’s condition worsens, you may need to visit an emergency hospital. Illness signs that warrant a sick visit with our Commonwealth Animal Care team include the following:

  • Mild to moderate vomiting or diarrhea
  • Skin redness, itching, lesions, or hair loss
  • Ear debris, pain, or odor
  • Eye squinting, redness, or discharge
  • Bad breath
  • Mild to moderate limping
  • Reduced mobility or slowing down
  • Urine or stool accidents in the house
  • Frequent urination or increased urine volume
  • Increased or decreased appetite or thirst
  • Coughing or sneezing
  • Lethargy or other changes in energy level
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Behavior changes or concerns

Emergency veterinary visits

An emergency or urgent care veterinary visit is appropriate when your pet’s medical condition cannot wait until the next available regular appointment. Because an appointment with our team may not be available for a few days or weeks or if your pet’s condition suddenly worsens, you may also choose to see an urgent care veterinarian if your pet is experiencing mild illness signs or discomfort. 

Always call ahead before visiting an emergency veterinary hospital so the team members are ready for your pet’s arrival. During an emergency veterinary visit, your pet will be triaged (i.e., briefly examined to determine their condition’s severity). As soon as staff is available, they will perform a more complete examination and history, order tests to determine the problem, and discuss all possible treatment options with you. Illness signs or situations that may warrant emergency veterinary care include the following:

  • Bleeding, wounds, or injuries
  • Pale or white gums
  • Trauma, such as being hit by a car or falling from a height
  • Severe lameness, joint, or back pain
  • Weakness, tremors, or paralysis
  • New onset seizures, or more than one seizure in 24 hours
  • Broken bones
  • Blood in the urine or straining to urinate
  • Extreme lethargy or depression
  • Severe, acute vomiting or diarrhea, with or without blood
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Hives or facial swelling from an allergic reaction
  • Toxin or foreign object ingestion
  • Collapse

When you aren’t sure what type of veterinary care your pet needs

If your pet’s illness occurs overnight or on the weekend, you have a few options. You can call your local emergency veterinary clinic to determine whether your pet’s signs warrant a visit or if the problem can wait until morning. The safest option in most cases is to go to the emergency hospital. You can also speak with a veterinarian or veterinary technician through one of many online pet care apps and services, such as AskVet. These services will talk you through your pet’s problem and provide valuable advice.

Because they cannot speak or advocate for themselves, your pet relies on you to care for them and recognize when they are under the weather. Any change in your pet’s behavior, habits, or appearance could indicate an underlying medical issue. Our Commonwealth Animal Care team believes that when considering your pet’s health, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Contact us to schedule your pet’s wellness visit, sick visit, or anytime your furry pal needs emergency veterinary care. If we are unavailable after hours, contact your nearest veterinary emergency hospital for help.