Five questions, about a minute

Does this need an ER, urgent care, or a call to your vet?

Answer a few questions about what you are seeing. The result is a starting point from published veterinary guidance, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, this quiz points you to an ER.

This is not veterinary advice. It cannot examine your pet, judge how serious a problem really is, or replace a conversation with a veterinarian. If your pet looks unstable, or you are not sure, call a vet or a 24/7 ER now and go in if they tell you to, or if your pet is getting worse.

Question 1 of 5

1. Is your pet showing any of these emergency signs right now?

Veterinary sources treat these as reasons to go to a 24/7 emergency hospital now. If any one of them is happening, choose yes.

Trouble breathing, choking, or gums that are blue, gray, white, or very pale
Collapse, unconsciousness, or not being able to stand or walk
A seizure now, one that lasts more than 5 minutes, or more than one in 24 hours
Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, or major trauma (for example, hit by a car)
A swollen, hard, or painful belly, or trying to vomit with nothing coming up
Straining to pee with little or no urine, especially a male cat
Signs of heatstroke: heavy panting, weakness, vomiting, or odd-colored, dry, or sticky gums
Severe pain, sudden paralysis, a serious eye or head injury, or trouble giving birth

Yes, at least one of these No, none of these

Common questions

Is this symptom quiz veterinary advice?

No. It is a short, conservative starting point from published veterinary guidance, not a diagnosis and not veterinary advice. It cannot examine your pet. When in doubt, call a veterinarian or a 24/7 ER now.

What if I am not sure about a question?

This quiz treats uncertainty as a reason to get help sooner. If you are not sure whether your pet is alert, whether the problem is getting worse, or whether your pet ate something poisonous, the result is to go to a 24/7 ER or to call a poison helpline and go in.

What should I do if I think my pet ate something poisonous?

Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (both 24/7; a consultation fee may apply) and go to a 24/7 ER if they advise it, or if your pet is already in distress. Do not give home remedies or try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian or poison expert tells you to. A searchable list of common toxins is at https://vetsopentoday.com/pet-toxin-checker.html.

Sources

The red-flag list and the “usually fine for urgent care” examples summarize publicly posted guidance. This quiz is conservative: if a question is unanswered in a way that leaves doubt, the result is to go to an ER or to be seen today.

AVMA, First aid tips for pet owners (seizures, bleeding, heatstroke, shock, poison-control numbers; first aid is not a substitute for veterinary care)
University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Seeking emergency care for your pet
University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center, Urgent Care (examples of urgent-care vs. emergency conditions)
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Primary, urgent or emergency care
ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Pet Poison Helpline
VetsOpenToday, Urgent care or ER? A pet emergency checklist

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