When should I take my pet to an emergency vet?

Go to the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic immediately for: difficulty breathing, collapse or sudden weakness, seizures, suspected toxin ingestion (chocolate, grapes, xylitol, lilies, antifreeze, human medications), severe bleeding, blocked urination (especially in male cats), suspected bloat (GDV) in large dogs, hit-by-car or other major trauma, or any rapidly worsening condition.

What number do I call for pet poison emergencies?

Pet Poison Helpline: 1-855-764-7661 (24/7, ~$95 consult fee). ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 1-888-426-4435 (24/7, ~$95 consult fee). Both staff veterinary toxicologists who will guide you through immediate next steps and provide a case number for your treating veterinarian.

Can a telehealth vet handle a pet emergency?

Telehealth is appropriate for borderline cases and follow-up care after an emergency clinic visit, but it cannot replace in-person emergency care for active poisonings, severe trauma, breathing difficulty, seizures, or any condition where IV access and hands-on stabilization are needed. When in doubt, drive directly to a 24-hour emergency clinic.

How fast does pet poisoning develop?

Timing varies dramatically by toxin. Xylitol causes severe hypoglycemia within 30-60 minutes. Chocolate symptoms appear 6-12 hours after ingestion. Grape toxicity (kidney failure) can take 24-72 hours to show symptoms but damage begins within the first 24 hours. Lily ingestion in cats causes acute kidney failure within 24-72 hours. Act on the exposure, not the symptoms.

Emergencies

Pet emergencies — what to do right now

Every emergency situation has a clinical right answer. Below are vet-authored guides for the most common emergencies pet parents encounter — toxic foods, heatstroke, poisoning, anxiety events. Above each guide: the phone numbers to call right now if something is happening.

Call right now if it's an emergency

Pet Poison Helpline

1-855-764-7661 — 24/7, $95 consultation, staffed by veterinary toxicologists
ASPCA Animal Poison Control

1-888-426-4435 — 24/7, $95 consultation
RexVet Telehealth ($64.99)

For borderline cases and follow-up care after an emergency visit. Not for active poisoning.

Emergency response guides

Emergency

Toxic Foods for Dogs

Chocolate, grapes, xylitol, onions, macadamia nuts — the complete list of human foods that send dogs to the emergency room.

Read full guide →

Emergency

Toxic Foods for Cats

Onions, garlic, raw fish, grapes, dairy — what's actually dangerous to cats vs. what's a myth. Includes Tylenol and lily warnings.

Read full guide →

Emergency

Poisonous Plants for Dogs & Cats

Lilies (cats only — kidney failure), sago palm (liver failure), yew, oleander, foxglove. Tiered by severity, with pet-safe alternatives.

Read full guide →

Emergency

Dog Heatstroke

Heatstroke kills dogs in 15-30 minutes. Warning signs (early, mid, late) + exact first-aid steps + who's at highest risk.

Read full guide →

Urgent

July 4 Fireworks Anxiety

Independence Day is the #1 cause of lost pets in the U.S. The 4-week preparation protocol vets use to keep dogs calm.

Read full guide →

Preventive

Tick Prevention & Lyme Disease

Three ticks that matter, how to do a daily tick check, what prevention actually works, and early Lyme symptoms most owners miss.

Read full guide →

When a telehealth visit is the right call (and when it is not)

✓ Telehealth is appropriate for

Borderline cases (small ingestion of a low-risk substance)
Post-emergency follow-up care
Chronic-condition flare-ups in an alert, stable pet
Behavior + anxiety management planning
Prescription refill questions
"Should I take them to the emergency clinic?" triage

Book a $64.99 telehealth visit →

✗ Telehealth is NOT appropriate for

Active poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, lily, etc.)
Difficulty breathing, collapse, seizures
Severe bleeding or major trauma
Suspected bloat (GDV) in a large dog
Male cat unable to urinate (urethral obstruction)
Any rapidly worsening condition

Drive to a 24-hour emergency clinic.

Get ready before an emergency

The pet families who handle emergencies best are the ones who prepared in advance. Three things to do today:

Save the poison helpline numbers in your phone right now — 1-855-764-7661 and 1-888-426-4435. You won't have time to look them up in an emergency.
Identify your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic and put the address in your phone's directions app as a favorite. Some metro areas only have one open after 10 PM.
Keep digital copies of veterinary records in cloud storage — if you end up at an unfamiliar clinic, the treating vet needs to know vaccinations, chronic conditions, current medications, and drug sensitivities.

Get care for your pet in Florida, New York, or Virginia

$64.99 video visit with a licensed vet — same-day prescriptions and RexVetRx delivery in the states we serve.

Browse more RexVet guides

Reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM — written for pet parents in Florida, New York, and Virginia.

Pet emergencies — what to do right now

Call right now if it's an emergency

Emergency response guides

Toxic Foods for Dogs

Toxic Foods for Cats

Poisonous Plants for Dogs & Cats

Dog Heatstroke

July 4 Fireworks Anxiety

Tick Prevention & Lyme Disease

When a telehealth visit is the right call (and when it is not)

Get ready before an emergency

Get care for your pet in Florida, New York, or Virginia

Florida Online Vet

New York Online Vet

Virginia Online Vet

Family Plan — $120/yr

Browse more RexVet guides

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