When to get to the vet — stat! When does a pet health problem warrant an immediate trip to the veterinarian or emergency clinic, day or night? Take your pet for treatment right away in the following situations: — Physical trauma, such as being hit by a car or falling out of a window — Loss of consciousness — Difficulty breathing — Pale gums — Sudden collapse — Seizure activity — A bloated or enlarged belly — Nonproductive retching, especially with a bloated or enlarged belly — Bloody or black/tarry diarrhea — Inability to walk — Straining to urinate, especially in male cats — Known toxin ingestion, especially of antifreeze, Easter lilies or rat poison

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