If your pet is in immediate danger
Go to your nearest emergency veterinary clinic right now. Online consultations cannot replace hands-on emergency care, oxygen, fluids, imaging, or surgery. Use this page to recognise the warning signs and decide how quickly to act.
Pet emergencies
Is this a pet emergency? Know the signs.
When something is wrong with your pet, the hardest part is knowing how serious it is. Some symptoms need a clinic within minutes. Others can be safely assessed from home with a licensed vet. This guide helps you tell the difference, fast.
Reviewed by Dr. Ashim Sarkar
BVSc & AH · Licensed Veterinarian · Last reviewed 10 June 2026
Red-flag signs that need a clinic now
If your pet shows any of these, do not wait. Head to your nearest emergency clinic immediately and, if you can, phone ahead.
- Difficulty breathing, choking, or gasping
- Collapse, fainting, or sudden weakness
- Seizures lasting over 2 minutes, or repeated seizures
- A hard, bloated, or rapidly swelling abdomen
- Pale, white, or blue gums
- Suspected poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, rodenticide, antifreeze, human medication)
- Severe or uncontrolled bleeding
- Inability to urinate or repeated straining (especially male cats)
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea with blood
- Major trauma, a fall, or being hit by a vehicle
- Signs of heatstroke, heavy panting, and high body temperature
- Sudden inability to stand or use the back legs
What to do right now
Stay calm and keep your pet safe
Move your pet to a quiet, safe space. Handle injured or frightened animals carefully, even gentle pets may bite or scratch when in pain.
Call your nearest emergency clinic
For any red-flag sign above, head to the closest emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Phone ahead so they can prepare for your arrival.
Use an online vet to assess and guide you
If you are unsure how serious it is, or need first-aid guidance while you travel, a licensed Omelo vet can help you read the symptoms and prioritise the right next step.
How an online vet helps in an urgent moment
Answers in minutes
Connect with a licensed vet 24/7, often faster than a same-day clinic slot.
Honest triage
A vet helps you judge how serious it is and whether you need a clinic now.
Clear next steps
Get first-aid guidance and a plan, so you act with confidence, not panic.
Not sure how serious it is?
Talk to a licensed vet now. They will help you assess your pet's symptoms and tell you exactly what to do next, from ₹149.
Talk to a vet nowPet emergency questions
Can an online vet handle a real emergency?
No. A true, life-threatening emergency needs hands-on care, oxygen, fluids, imaging, or surgery that can only be delivered at a physical clinic. Omelo's role in an emergency is triage: helping you quickly judge how serious the situation is and what to do while you reach a clinic. If your pet shows any red-flag sign, go to your nearest emergency clinic right away.
How do I know if my pet's symptoms are an emergency?
Treat breathing difficulty, collapse, seizures, a bloated hard abdomen, pale or blue gums, suspected poisoning, severe bleeding, inability to urinate, and major trauma as emergencies that need a clinic immediately. For milder or uncertain symptoms, an online vet consultation can help you decide whether it is safe to monitor at home or whether you should be seen in person.
My pet ate something toxic. What should I do?
Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Note what was eaten, how much, and when, and take the packaging with you to your nearest clinic. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet specifically tells you to, as it can be dangerous with certain substances. An online vet can confirm whether the item is toxic and how urgently your pet needs in-person care.
Is an online vet faster than waiting for a clinic appointment?
For non-emergency worries, yes. Most pet owners connect with a licensed Omelo vet within minutes, 24/7, for ₹149. That is often faster than getting a same-day clinic slot, and helps you avoid an unnecessary stressful trip when home care is appropriate.
Omelo provides online veterinary guidance and is not a substitute for in-person emergency care. We cannot perform physical examinations, run diagnostics, give injections, or handle emergencies. If your pet is in immediate danger, please visit your nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately.