Why trauma always requires evaluation
The most dangerous assumption in trauma care is that a pet is okay because they are moving around. The body's immediate response to trauma — the adrenaline surge that keeps an injured animal mobile — can mask serious internal injuries for minutes to hours. By the time obvious symptoms appear, the window for the most effective intervention may have passed.
Always seek emergency evaluation after any significant trauma. This includes being struck by a vehicle, falls from height, animal attacks, and any injury involving the chest or abdomen.
- Hit by a car or other vehicle — regardless of apparent condition
- Fall from a significant height (even one story for cats)
- Bite wounds from any animal — size is deceptive
- Visible wounds to the chest, abdomen, or head
- Suspected broken bones or inability to bear weight
- Pale, white, or gray gums (sign of shock or blood loss)
- Difficulty breathing after any trauma
- Eye injuries
- Any trauma in which your pet lost consciousness, even briefly
Vehicle strikes
Being hit by a car is one of the most serious emergencies we see. Common internal injuries include pulmonary contusions (bruised lungs), pneumothorax (collapsed lung), diaphragmatic hernia (tear in the diaphragm), ruptured bladder, internal bleeding, and splenic or liver lacerations. None of these are visible externally. Fractures, while often apparent, may be accompanied by far more serious internal injuries that take priority.
Even at low speeds, vehicle strikes generate significant force. Please bring any vehicle-struck pet to emergency care immediately.
Bite wounds
Bite wounds are more serious than they appear — this is almost universally true. The visible skin wound is just the entry point. What lies beneath can include torn muscles, fractured bones, punctured body cavities, and damaged organs.
Dog bites are particularly dangerous because of the crushing and shaking force involved. Cat bites are narrow and deep, penetrating well beneath the surface, and become infected with astonishing speed — within hours in some cases. Cat bite abscesses that are not treated promptly can become life-threatening.
What to do before you arrive
Apply gentle pressure to any actively bleeding wounds using a clean cloth. Do not probe the wound or attempt to clean it deeply — you may dislodge a clot or introduce further contamination. Keep the wound covered and get to us as quickly as possible.
Falls
Cats have a well-known ability to survive falls, but this does not mean falls are without consequence. "High-rise syndrome" in cats typically involves injuries to the chest, legs, and jaw. Internal injuries are common even in falls that appear survivable. Any fall involving loss of consciousness, visible injury, limping, or respiratory difficulty requires emergency evaluation.
Dogs are less adapted to falls than cats and tend to sustain more serious injuries at lower heights. Any fall where a dog shows pain, limping, or abnormal behavior warrants prompt evaluation.
What to expect during your visit
Trauma patients are triaged immediately on arrival. If your pet is in shock or respiratory distress, stabilization begins before a full exam. Once stable, we perform a thorough physical assessment, followed by imaging (X-rays and/or ultrasound) to identify internal injuries. Blood work helps assess organ function and blood loss. Treatment is then tailored to the specific injuries identified.
Dogs: Use a firm surface or a blanket stretched between two people as a stretcher. Support the head and spine. Muzzle only if they are at risk of biting and there is no airway concern.
Cats: A box, carrier, or pillow case is safer than loose transport — injured cats often bite or scratch from pain. Darkness and confinement also help calm them during transport.