Dogs cannot tell us when something is seriously wrong, so pet owners need to recognise changes in behaviour, appetite, breathing and physical condition.
Some symptoms can be mild and temporary, while others may indicate a medical emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention. Knowing the warning signs can help you act quickly and potentially prevent a serious condition from becoming life-threatening.
If your dog is showing severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, contact a veterinarian immediately rather than waiting to see if the condition improves.
At Hardy Veterinary Clinic in Karen, Nairobi, our veterinary team provides consultations, diagnostics, surgery and emergency veterinary care for dogs and other pets.
Here are 10 signs your dog may need to see a vet immediately.
1. Difficulty Breathing
Breathing problems should always be taken seriously.
Contact a veterinarian immediately if your dog is:
- Struggling to breathe
- Breathing unusually fast
- Gasping
- Making unusual sounds while breathing
- Stretching its neck to breathe
- Unable to settle because of breathing difficulty
- Showing blue, grey or unusually pale gums or tongue
Difficulty breathing can be associated with respiratory disease, heart problems, allergic reactions, trauma or other serious conditions.
Do not wait for breathing difficulties to resolve on their own.
2. Severe or Persistent Vomiting
An occasional episode of vomiting may not always indicate an emergency. However, repeated or severe vomiting can quickly become dangerous.
Seek veterinary attention if your dog:
- Vomits repeatedly
- Cannot keep water down
- Has blood in its vomit
- Becomes weak or extremely tired
- Has a painful or swollen abdomen
- Vomits after potentially swallowing a foreign object
- Shows other concerning symptoms
Persistent vomiting can lead to dehydration and may be associated with gastrointestinal disease, poisoning, obstruction or other serious problems.
Puppies and older dogs may be particularly vulnerable to complications.
3. Severe or Bloody Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is relatively common in dogs, but severe, persistent or bloody diarrhoea requires veterinary attention.
Be especially concerned if diarrhoea is accompanied by:
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in the stool
- Collapse
Young puppies are particularly vulnerable to serious infectious diseases such as canine parvovirus, which can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.
If your puppy has not completed its vaccination programme and develops severe vomiting or diarrhoea, contact a veterinarian promptly.
4. Your Dog Suddenly Collapses or Cannot Stand
A dog that suddenly collapses, becomes extremely weak or cannot stand normally should be assessed by a veterinarian immediately.
Collapse can have many possible causes, including:
- Severe illness
- Blood loss
- Heart problems
- Poisoning
- Low blood sugar
- Heat-related illness
- Neurological problems
- Severe infection
- Trauma
Even if your dog appears to recover after collapsing, it is important to have the underlying cause investigated.
5. Seizures or Sudden Loss of Consciousness
A seizure can be frightening for any dog owner.
During a seizure, your dog may:
- Fall over
- Become stiff
- Paddle its legs
- Drool excessively
- Lose awareness
- Urinate or defecate involuntarily
- Behave unusually after the episode
If your dog has a seizure for the first time, has repeated seizures, has a prolonged seizure, or does not recover normally afterwards, seek veterinary care immediately.
During a seizure, move objects away from your dog to reduce the risk of injury and do not put your hands or objects inside its mouth.
6. Suspected Poisoning
If you believe your dog has eaten, inhaled or come into contact with something potentially poisonous, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Potential hazards around homes can include:
- Certain human medications
- Household chemicals
- Pesticides
- Some plants
- Rodenticides
- Automotive chemicals
- Certain foods
- Other toxic substances
Do not assume that your dog will be fine simply because it currently appears normal. Some poisons can take time to produce obvious symptoms.
If possible, tell the veterinarian what your dog may have been exposed to, approximately how much and when it happened. Keep the product packaging or a photograph of the product if it is safe to do so.
Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian specifically tells you to.
7. A Swollen or Painful Abdomen
A suddenly swollen, hard or painful abdomen can be an emergency.
You may notice that your dog:
- Has a visibly enlarged abdomen
- Keeps trying to vomit without producing anything
- Paces or appears unable to get comfortable
- Shows signs of severe abdominal pain
- Becomes weak or collapses
Some serious gastrointestinal conditions can progress rapidly.
If your dog’s abdomen suddenly becomes swollen or painful, seek veterinary care immediately.
8. Serious Injury, Bleeding or Trauma
Dogs can suffer injuries from:
- Road accidents
- Falls
- Dog fights
- Animal bites
- Sharp objects
- Burns
- Other accidents
Even when an external injury looks small, there may be internal injuries that are not immediately visible.
Seek veterinary attention if your dog has:
- Heavy bleeding
- Difficulty walking
- Severe pain
- A suspected fracture
- A deep wound
- Difficulty breathing after an accident
- Loss of consciousness
- Any significant trauma
If there is severe external bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean material while arranging veterinary care.
9. Your Dog Cannot Urinate or Is Straining to Urinate
Difficulty urinating can be a serious problem.
Watch for:
- Repeated attempts to urinate
- Straining without producing urine
- Crying while urinating
- Blood in the urine
- Frequent attempts to urinate
- Restlessness associated with urination problems
A dog that cannot urinate normally may require urgent veterinary assessment.
Do not wait several days to see whether the problem resolves on its own.
10. Extreme Lethargy or Sudden Behaviour Changes
You know your dog’s normal behaviour better than anyone.
If a normally active dog suddenly becomes extremely weak, unresponsive or unusually withdrawn, something may be wrong.
Pay attention to changes such as:
- Refusing food and water
- Sleeping much more than normal
- Hiding
- Unusual aggression
- Disorientation
- Difficulty walking
- Unresponsiveness
- Sudden weakness
A change in behaviour is especially concerning when it occurs alongside vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, pain, fever or other physical symptoms.
When Should You Take Your Dog to an Emergency Vet?
A useful rule is:
If your dog is experiencing a severe, sudden or rapidly worsening symptom, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Do not wait for symptoms to become extreme before seeking help.
Some situations that warrant urgent veterinary attention include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Collapse
- Seizures
- Suspected poisoning
- Severe bleeding
- Serious injury
- Severe vomiting or diarrhoea
- A swollen or painful abdomen
- Inability to urinate
- Severe weakness or unresponsiveness
When in doubt, it is safer to speak with a veterinary professional.
What Should You Do Before Taking Your Dog to the Vet?
If your dog needs urgent care, try to remain calm.
1. Call the Veterinary Clinic
Contact the clinic and explain what has happened. Tell the veterinary team:
- Your dog’s age
- Breed
- Approximate weight
- Symptoms
- When the symptoms started
- Any medication your dog takes
- Whether your dog has recently eaten anything unusual
- Any recent injury or exposure to another animal
2. Keep Your Dog Calm
Avoid unnecessary movement, particularly if your dog has suffered trauma.
3. Do Not Give Human Medication
Many human medications can be dangerous to dogs.
Do not give your dog painkillers or other medication unless a veterinarian has specifically advised you to do so.
4. Bring Relevant Information
If possible, take your dog’s vaccination records and information about any medication it currently receives.
If poisoning is suspected, take the product packaging or a photograph of the product if available.
Prevention Is Better Than Waiting for an Emergency
Not every veterinary problem can be prevented, but regular preventive care can reduce the risk of some serious diseases and help identify health problems earlier.
Your dog’s preventive healthcare programme may include:
- Regular veterinary examinations
- Vaccinations
- Deworming
- Flea and tick prevention
- Dental care
- Healthy nutrition
- Weight management
- Parasite control
- Appropriate exercise
- Regular monitoring at home
Vaccination is particularly important for puppies because they are vulnerable to several serious infectious diseases.
If you are unsure whether your dog’s vaccinations are up to date, speak with your veterinarian.
Emergency Veterinary Care in Karen, Nairobi
If you live in Karen, Hardy, Lang’ata, Nairobi or surrounding areas, knowing where to seek veterinary care before an emergency happens can save valuable time.
Hardy Veterinary Clinic provides veterinary services including general consultations, vaccinations, diagnostics, surgery, dental care and emergency veterinary care.
If your dog is experiencing a serious or rapidly worsening condition, contact a veterinary professional as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a veterinary emergency for a dog?
Difficulty breathing, collapse, seizures, severe bleeding, suspected poisoning, serious trauma, severe vomiting or diarrhoea, inability to urinate and sudden extreme weakness are examples of situations that can require urgent veterinary attention.
Should I take my dog to the vet if it stops eating?
A short period of reduced appetite may not always be an emergency. However, complete loss of appetite, especially when accompanied by vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, pain or other symptoms, should be discussed with a veterinarian promptly.
What should I do if my dog eats something poisonous?
Contact a veterinarian immediately and provide information about what your dog may have eaten, how much and when. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a veterinary professional.
How do I know if my dog’s vomiting is serious?
Repeated vomiting, blood in vomit, inability to keep water down, severe weakness, abdominal pain or vomiting accompanied by other concerning symptoms warrants prompt veterinary assessment.
Can a dog recover from a seizure without treatment?
Some dogs may recover from an isolated seizure, but seizures can have many underlying causes. A first seizure, repeated seizures, prolonged seizures or abnormal recovery should be assessed by a veterinarian.
When should I take my puppy to the vet?
Puppies should receive routine veterinary care for vaccinations, parasite control and health checks. Take a puppy for urgent veterinary care if it develops severe vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, difficulty breathing, seizures, suspected poisoning or other serious symptoms.
Does Your Dog Need Urgent Veterinary Care?
If something about your dog’s condition seems seriously wrong, don’t wait until the situation becomes critical.
Early veterinary assessment can help identify the cause of an illness or injury and determine the appropriate treatment.
Hardy Veterinary Clinic
391 Kongoni Road, Hardy–Karen, Nairobi
Veterinary services include:
✓ General consultations
✓ Dog and cat vaccinations
✓ Emergency veterinary care
✓ Diagnostics and laboratory services
✓ Pet surgery
✓ Dental care
Contact Hardy Veterinary Clinic to discuss your pet’s condition or book a veterinary consultation.
