Common Puppy and Kitten Emergencies New Pet Parents Should Know About

A new puppy or kitten brings so much joy into your home! And as a new pet owner, you want to do all the right things for your little one. It’s hard to think about your pet being in a scary situation, but you should know that puppies and kittens are prone to certain emergencies. At VEG, we’re here with expert medical vet care for puppies and kittens in need of emergency or urgent care, 24 hours a day.

If you have a new puppy or kitten in your household, or if you’re getting ready to adopt a new furry friend, it’s a good idea to take some time to learn about the most common emergencies faced by baby animals.

PUPPY AND KITTEN EMERGENCIES OUR VETS OFTEN SEE

At VEG, we care for all kinds of animals, from newborn babies to senior pets. In this blog, we’ll focus on the young’uns. New pet owners should be aware of these common emergencies that can occur with puppies and kittens:

SUDDEN ILLNESS OF PUPPY OR KITTEN

Be aware that any sudden illness is considered an emergency for pups and kitties. Since these animals are still too young to have a strong immune system or antibodies to fight against certain illnesses, they can become very sick very quickly.

If you notice any signs of illness in your baby animal, take your pet to your nearest VEG emergency vet immediately.

Even though some illnesses are common, it doesn’t mean they’re easy to heal. Puppies especially are susceptible to canine parvovirus, aka parvo, and it is usually fatal. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to have your pets vaccinated as early as possible, so they don’t run the risk of contracting fatal diseases when they’re young.

PUPPY OR KITTY DIARRHEA

Oh yuk, a puppy or kitten with diarrhea is something pet owners have to deal with occasionally. Older pets may be able to recover from a bout of diarrhea with a little rest and time, but puppies and kittens should be seen by a vet right away if they have diarrhea more than one time.

Diarrhea can quickly dehydrate a puppy or kitten, and things can progress and turn fatal due to the animals young age and small size. At VEG, we can access dehydration and provide your pet with IV fluids to hydrate and correct any electrolyte imbalance.

INJURY SUSTAINED BY PUP OR KITTY

Any puppy or kitten injury should be treated as an emergency. Your little one is still getting to know their surroundings and spatial perception. They may also still be a little wobbly on their paws. So, some common injuries for young animals involve falling off of furniture or down the stairs. Seriously! This happens more than you can imagine.

Other injuries may occur from being attacked by another animal, or getting caught in the bars of a kennel or crate.

Although puppies and kittens can usually recover easily from some injuries, they need to be seen at a VEG emergency vet hospital and may require followup appointments at your GP vet to manage the injury and ensure they recover properly.

Additionally, if your pet has been bitten or hurt by another animal, it’s a good idea to check for any signs of infection or illness in your puppy or kitten.

INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS

Puppies and kittens both have trouble recognizing what is food and what isn’t. Because of this, they can be prone to ingesting foreign objects. Additionally, they might play too rough with their toys and break off pieces that they then swallow.

If your pet swallows part of a toy or a household item, this is an emergency no matter what the age. The same is true of pets who ingest part of a toxic plant in the home or yard. If your puppy or kitten eats anything that isn’t their food, you will need to go to your VEG emergency vet. We’re open 24 hours a day, weekends and holidays too, for emergency vet care.

PUPPY OR KITTEN RUNNING A FEVER

A fever is a sign that something is wrong with your pet. Puppies and kittens may run a fever before they show any other symptoms of illnesses, which means a fever is often a good first indication of disease.

If your puppy or kitten has a fever, don’t play the waiting game. Take your pet to the emergency vet hospital immediately. The longer you wait, the sicker your pet is likely to become with whatever is causing the problem. Our VEG vet will run tests like bloodwork and possibly X-rays of your pet to find out the underlying cause of the fever.

UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION

Finally, if your puppy or kitten is showing signs of an upper respiratory infection, this is a common emergency that needs to be tended to right away by a vet at VEG.

Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection in puppies or kittens may include:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Runny eyes
• Runny nose
• Difficulty breathing

Upper respiratory infections can be especially dangerous for younger animals because their lungs and respiratory systems have not been fully developed yet. So, it’s important to have your pet treated by a VEG vet as soon as possible to prevent respiratory illness from getting out of hand. Kittens are especially susceptible to long-term problems from respiratory diseases.

CALL VEG FOR ANY EMERGENCY WITH YOUR PUPPY OR KITTEN

Although most of these emergency situations are life-threatening if ignored, most of them can be easily treated at our VEG pet ER. If you notice signs or symptoms of any of these problems, don’t wait; take your puppy or kitten to the vet or emergency vet right away for both diagnosis and treatment.

The quicker you take your pet to a VEG pet hospital, the sooner our highly trained veterinarian will be able to start your pet on the proper course of treatment.

VEG provides emergency veterinary care to every pet that comes through our doors. We have hospital locations across the country, open 24/7, each with an emergency trained and experienced vet staff that’s ready to help your puppy or kitten!