When To Call Your Veterinarian
Wondering when to call your vet and when it’s safe to monitor your dog at home? Learn how to spot true emergencies — from bloat to toxins to sudden behavior changes — so you can take action when it matters most.
Please keep a first aid kit handy at all times! Here’s a link to what’s in mine.
Once you have your dog stable and a formal diagnosis, then you can I can work together to collaborate on natural support options.
When to Call Your Vet (and When Home Care Isn’t Enough)
There’s nothing worse than wondering if you should “wait and see” or rush your dog to the vet.
And let’s face it — most of us don’t want to overreact, but we also don’t want to be the one who waited too long.
As a holistic pet health coach, I teach pet parents every day how to support their dogs naturally — but I also teach this:
There are moments when the best first aid is picking up the phone.
You can always add natural care once the dog is stable — but you can’t undo damage from waiting too long.
This guide will help you recognize those “GO NOW” moments — and give you more confidence about when it’s okay to monitor at home.
Why This Matters
Many pet parents aren’t sure what a true emergency looks like.
And to be fair — some symptoms can resolve with rest and natural care.
But others are silent killers: bloat, internal bleeding, toxin exposure, heatstroke.
Certain dogs are also at higher risk:
Puppies (especially under 6 months)
Small/toy breeds
Senior dogs
Dogs with chronic health issues or compromised immune systems
These dogs dehydrate faster, lose blood sugar faster, and tolerate less stress.
If you have any doubt — trust your gut and call your vet.
Common Conventional Approaches
Emergency vets typically use:
IV fluids and oxygen therapy
Anti-seizure medications
Toxin antidotes and GI protectants
Pain management
Surgery (if needed — bloat, internal injury, fractures)
I always remind clients: the goal in emergencies is stabilization.
Once your dog is stable, that’s when we bring in the deeper natural tools — homeopathy, herbs, functional nutrition — to support healing.
When to Call the Vet: Emergencies You Shouldn’t Ignore
Here’s a clear guide to when it’s time to stop treating at home and get professional care.
This is not about fear — it’s about empowerment.
Knowing when to act helps you sleep better at night.
Breathing & Circulation Emergencies
Breathing difficulty: Panting heavily at rest, open-mouth breathing, wheezing, gasping, pale or blue gums — always an emergency. This indicates oxygen deprivation or heart/airway crisis. Do not wait.
Bleeding that won’t stop after 5–10 minutes of firm pressure: Uncontrolled bleeding risks shock and death. Continuous bleeding = vet trip NOW.
Pale, blue, gray, or muddy-colored gums: Gums should be healthy pink. Pale = shock or anemia. Blue = lack of oxygen. Both require immediate emergency care.
Sudden coughing/gagging with pale gums: Could signal heart failure or airway obstruction — don’t wait.
Neurological & Behavioral Emergencies
Seizures lasting longer than 2–3 minutes, or multiple seizures in a day: Seizures use up oxygen and glucose, risking permanent brain damage or death. One short seizure? Call. Ongoing or clusters? Emergency now.
Collapse, fainting, or sudden inability to stand: Collapse can signal heart failure, stroke, toxins, severe pain, or bloat. Immediate vet care required.
Sudden behavioral changes (confused, circling, unresponsive, extreme aggression): Can signal stroke, brain injury, seizure activity, severe pain, or toxin exposure.
Weakness or uncoordinated gait: Sudden loss of coordination, staggering, or weakness suggests stroke, spinal injury, vestibular disease, or toxin ingestion.
Head tilt or balance problems: Vestibular disease, stroke, toxin exposure can cause sudden imbalance or tilt. Urgent vet evaluation needed.
Digestive & Metabolic Emergencies
Non-productive retching or distended abdomen (suspected bloat): Trying to vomit but nothing comes up, swollen belly, pacing, restlessness — this is bloat (GDV) which is fatal without immediate surgery. Zero delay.
Persistent vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood: One or two episodes of mild vomiting or loose stool may be monitored. But more than 2–3 episodes in adults, or any diarrhea lasting over 12–18 hours in puppies/seniors, or any blood = vet now.
No eating for more than 24 hours (adult dogs), or any missed meal in puppies/toy breeds: Skipping one meal can be normal in adults. But no food at all for 24 hours (or any missed meal in vulnerable dogs) signals trouble — liver risk, hypoglycemia, or progressing illness.
No drinking for more than 12–18 hours: Dehydration progresses fast — if your dog refuses water for more than 12–18 hours, or is too weak to drink, call the vet.
Signs of dehydration: Sticky gums, skin that stays “tented” when pinched, sunken eyes. If dehydration is visible, IV fluids are needed.
Sudden abdominal distention or pain: Painful, tight, or swollen belly = emergency. Could be bloat, organ rupture, internal bleeding, peritonitis.
Prolonged straining to defecate or urinate: Unproductive straining can indicate obstruction (rectal or urinary), nerve injury, or severe inflammation. For constipation: most healthy dogs can go up to 36–48 hours without a bowel movement if eating/drinking normally. Longer, or with other symptoms = vet. For diarrhea: more than 24 hours in adults, or 12–18 hours in puppies/seniors = vet.
Toxin & Poison Emergencies
Known ingestion of poison or toxin, or inhaled toxin exposure: Includes chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol, medications, household cleaners, rat poison, plants, mushrooms — as well as inhaled toxins such as smoke, improperly used essential oil diffusers, chemical fumes, or blue-green algae aerosol. Do not wait.
Known or suspected ingestion of blue-green algae: Always fatal if untreated. Call the vet and head in immediately.
Temperature & Hydration Emergencies
Temperature under 99°F or over 104°F: A dog’s normal temp is 99.5–102.5°F. Below 99 or above 104 is a life-threatening emergency — hypothermia, sepsis, heatstroke.
Heat stress signs even in cool weather: Dogs can overheat even at moderate temperatures during exercise, excitement, or in enclosed spaces. Heavy panting, collapse, vomiting after exertion = emergency.
Skin, Eye, & External Emergencies
Severe allergic reaction: Facial swelling, hives, vomiting, weakness, collapse — risk of airway obstruction or anaphylaxis. Use Apis if trained, but get to the vet.
Eye trauma or swelling: Protruding eye, bleeding, sudden cloudiness, or major swelling = immediate vet care to preserve vision.
Jaundice (yellow tint to eyes, gums, ears, skin): Indicates severe liver disease, bile obstruction, red cell destruction. Immediate vet care is required.
Tick-Borne & Infectious Emergencies
Known tick bite with new fever, lameness, weakness: Tick-borne infections like Lyme, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma can progress fast. Don’t wait — treat early for best outcomes.
Other Critical Situations
Sudden vision loss or bumping into things: Can indicate sudden blindness (SARDS), stroke, brain swelling, retinal detachment, or systemic disease.
Sudden inability to rise: If your dog cannot stand up and this is new — assume serious internal issue, spinal injury, bloat, or collapse. Head in fast.
Your gut says “something is very wrong”: You know your dog. If your instincts are screaming at you — listen to them and call.
Natural Support Options
In emergencies, your first goal is stabilization — not replacing vet care.
Once your dog is stable, natural options can help support healing:
Homeopathy — supports trauma recovery, shock, toxin clearing
Essential oils — used properly can help calm and soothe (always consult first)
Herbs — gentle liver support, immune modulation, and healing
Nutrition — gut healing and restoration after illness or emergency
Learn More about First Aid in My Remedies Course!
For trusted brands and products I recommend, visit my curated favorites here:
https://welloiledk9.com/products
Let’s Keep Your Dog Safe — and Supported
Natural care is powerful, and I want you to feel confident using it.
But knowing when to say “this is bigger than what I can handle at home” is one of the smartest things you can do as a dog mom.
If you want more guidance on how to integrate natural support after an emergency — or how to be prepared BEFORE one happens — I can help.
Now — what’s in your dog’s first aid kit?
Let’s get your dog the personalized support they need.