Signs that can't wait

If you see any of these, call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic now, before you set off, so they can get ready.

Dogs

• Repeated retching or trying to vomit with nothing coming up, especially with a swollen or tight belly. This can be a twisted stomach (GDV), which is fatal without immediate surgery.
• Heavy panting, drooling, bright red or pale gums, wobbliness or collapse on a hot day or after exercise. These are signs of heatstroke, which can kill quickly; start cooling and go to a vet.
• Bloody diarrhoea or bloody vomit, especially in a puppy or a dog that seems weak. This can mean serious infection such as parvovirus or severe gut disease.
• Fever, weakness, pale or yellow gums or dark red-brown urine after tick season walks. These can be signs of babesiosis, a tick-borne disease in central Europe that can become severe quickly.

Cats

• A cat, especially a male, straining in the litter tray and passing little or no urine. A blocked urethra is an absolute emergency and can be fatal within about 24 to 48 hours.
• Open-mouth breathing or panting in a cat at rest. Cats rarely pant; this can mean an asthma attack, heart or lung disease, or heatstroke.
• A cat that has eaten nothing for 24 hours. Cats that stop eating can develop a dangerous fatty liver condition (hepatic lipidosis), so they must never be left to go without food.
• Drooling, twitching, trembling or fits after a dog flea product or household flea spray was used. Permethrin and similar insecticides made for dogs are highly toxic to cats.

Be ready before it happens

• Save your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour clinic in your phone.
• Keep your pet's vaccination record or pet passport where you can grab it.
• If your pet has eaten something, take the packaging or a piece of the plant with you.
• Move an injured animal gently and keep it warm; a frightened animal may bite, even yours.