🚨 EMERGENCY CHECKLIST

ALL SPECIES Universal Emergency Signs

• Respiratory distress - gasping, open-mouth breathing
• Severe bleeding - especially dangerous for small animals
• Seizures or convulsions - tremors, loss of coordination
• Unconsciousness - unresponsive to touch or sound
• Severe trauma - animal attacks, falls, crushing injuries
• Prolapsed organs - tissue protruding from cloaca/vent
• Paralysis - inability to move, especially hind limbs
• Eye injuries - punctures, severe swelling

REPTILES Bearded Dragons, Leopard Geckos, Snakes

• Bubbling from nose with wheezing and lethargy
• Seizures, muscle tremors (Metabolic Bone Disease - MBD)
• Not moving, unable to lift body off ground
• Severe dehydration (sunken eyes, skin tenting)
• Retained shed causing constriction
• Egg binding >48 hours

BIRDS Parrots, Budgies, Cockatiels

• Tail bobbing - exaggerated breathing movements
• Fluffed feathers + lethargy + sitting on cage floor
• Heavy bleeding (life-threatening within minutes)
• Egg binding - straining >2-3 hours without laying
• Voice change with respiratory distress
• Complete cessation of eating or drinking

Note: Small birds can die from losing just a few ml of blood. Birds can die within hours of showing symptoms.

MAMMALS Rabbits, Ferrets, Chinchillas

• GI Stasis - not eating/pooping for 12 hours (CRITICAL)
• Severe diarrhea or bloody droppings
• Gasping, difficulty breathing, blue gums
• Heat stroke (temp >40°C, panting, drooling)
• Seizures or head tilt with loss of balance
• Bite wounds from other animals

Note: Heat stroke can be fatal in minutes for chinchillas and rabbits.

AQUATIC Axolotls, Fish

• Floating upside down or unable to maintain position
• Extreme lethargy, unresponsive to stimuli
• Water temperature >24°C for axolotls (CRITICAL)
• Severe fungal infection or open wounds
• Gasping at surface despite adequate oxygen