Veterinary care is fairly affordable, but emergency visits are no small matter. On average, a pet emergency can cost you anywhere from $800-$1,500 for one visit alone.
Keep in mind that this cost wouldn’t include potential services like x-rays or surgery.
With costs like those in this economy, it’s crucial to be able to tell if an emergency visit is necessary. Are you currently wondering whether you should head to urgent care or wait until your vet opens?
Read on to learn five important signs of a senior cat emergency that mean you shouldn’t wait.
1. Obvious and Severe Injuries
The most obvious sign that your pet needs urgent care is when they have a severe injury. If you see a clear wound, sprain, or bleeding, then see an emergency vet ASAP.
2. Signs of Distress and Panic
Even if you don’t notice obvious injuries or accident, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. You might be experiencing a senior cat or senior dog emergency when there are signs of distress or panic.
Your cat might cry, hide, howl, or pace around. All these are serious signs of concern.
3. Eye or Head Injuries are Emergencies
Eye or head injuries should always get treated as emergencies. Why? An eye injury can become life-altering if it’s not addressed immediately.
Head injuries are similar. Bleeding or a concussion could lead to permanent damage. They could also lead to significant behavioral changes.
4. Eating or Bowel Problems
Eating or bowel problems that haven’t resolved after a day or two are emergencies. This goes for any senior cat or senior dog.
The reason why you should treat this as an emergency is because it could be a sign of something serious. Your pet could have kidney issues, a tooth infection, or a life-threatening problem.
Since your pet can only go so long without eating or using the bathroom, the issue is urgent.
5. Prolonged Symptoms
As a whole, Americans spent a whopping $16 billion for vet care throughout 2016. Many of these visits were for conditions or injuries that have been ongoing for a long time.
If your senior cat has had prolonged symptoms, then it might be an emergency. A strange coughing noise, for instance, could be a life-threatening condition.
Judge the situation based on how long the issue has been going on. You should feel alarmed if it’s been more than a few days or a week.
Evaluating the Severity of a Senior Cat Emergency
Have you recognized one or more of the signs above? If so, then it might be best to get offline and into a pet emergency clinic.
A senior cat emergency is a jarring experience. While pet medical care has evolved so much, it’s still impossible for pets to tell us their issues.
It’s up to you to recognize when your pet needs immediate care.
After your experience, be sure to reward your pet with plenty of TLC. Check out our senior-friendly toy options in our store now.