Ingestion of Xylitol, chocolate, anti-freeze, or rat poison needs IMMEDIATE attention. A list of toxic substances for cats and dogs can be found here. 

Any traumatic event, such as being hit by a car or fights with other animals

Lethargy, unusual restlessness, or unusual movement. Collapsing needs IMMEDIATE attention.

Difficulty Breathing

Pale pink, white, gray or blue tongue or gum color

Seizure activity or cluster seizures

Difficulty urinating, bloody urine, unable to urinate, lack of urine

Vomiting/loss of appetite

Facial swelling

Diarrhea/constipation

Excessive salivation / Difficulty swallowing

Excessive coughing or sneezing

Excessive water consumption

Refusal to drink or eat for 24-plus hours

Unexplained changes in behavior

Porcupine Quills

Bleeding that does not stop after 5-10 minutes

Labor for more than 2 hours without producing a puppy or kitten

BRING with you any medications your pet takes. If you have prior medical records on hand, please bring those as well.

DO NOT give your pet any medication or try any home remedies prior to speaking to a veterinary team member. Many human medications can be harmful, can delay treatment or can be even toxic to pets.

If your pet has ingested a toxic substance, please take a photo of the container, the label and anything that can help us identify the ingredients. If easier and safe to do so, please bring the container with you to the appointment. 

Also, please call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 before your visit as it will expedite our treatment protocol once you arrive at the clinic. While there is a fee involved, being able to access the Poison Control Center’s huge databases of toxins and combinations of toxins in products will expedite the treatment plan and help our veterinary team provide care to your pet as quickly as possible.  

USE a clean cloth against any open wounds to protect them and to stop any bleeding.  Any wraps placed on legs should be monitored closely for swelling above or below the wrap.  This can be problematic if left on for extended periods of time without treatment. 

If your pet has had a serious injury, they might bite or scratch even when they are usually friendly – please be careful when moving or handling them.  

If your dog is unable to walk, you can use a flattened thick cardboard or a heavy blanket to function as a stretcher. DO NOT ATTEMPT to move your dog when you arrive at our clinic; please call us at (208) 946-4100 so we can meet you in the parking lot with a gurney.  We have a loading and unloading zone in front of our door for ease of access.

Place cats in a carrier before unloading them from your car. If you do not have one, ask for a loaner from us upon check-in.