⇒ Triage in Multi-Species Settings: Unlike human emergency medicine, veterinary triage must account for multiple species, each with different physiological norms and responses to illness. For example:

Dogs are more resilient to blood loss than cats. Cats often hide symptom until they are critically ill, making early triage difficult. Exotic animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles) require specialised triage, as stress alone can worsen their condition.

 

⇒ Telephone Triage: Veterinary team often provide triage over the phone to guide pet owners before they reach the clinic. It helps veterinary professionals determine whether a patient requires immediate emergency care, urgent assessment, or can wait for a scheduled appointment. Goals of Telephone Triage:

 

• Identify life-threatening emergencies that require immediate transport
• Advise on first aid measures (e.g. stopping bleeding, keeping a seizing pet safe) to stabilise pet before arrival
• Prevent unnecessary ER visits for non-urgent cases
• Help owners prepare for their visit (e.g. bringing stool samples, avoiding food before surgery)

 

Here are some key questions to ask owners: Since owners may struggle to describe medical conditions accurately, structured yes/no or multiple-choice questions work best.

 

     1. Consciousness & Neurological Status 

“Is your pet conscious and responsive?”

“Is your pet having seizures? If yes, when did they start, and how long do they last? Is this episode happening for the first time ever?”

 

     2. Breathing

“Is your pet breathing normally, or does it seem laboured or noisy?”

“Is your pet panting excessively (if a cat, open-mouth breathing is an emergency)?”

     3. Circulation & Bleeding

“Is your pet bleeding? If so, where and how much?”

“Is your pet’s tongue or gums a normal pink color, or are they pale, blue, or yellow?”

     4. Vomiting & Diarrhea 

“Has your pet been vomiting? If yes, is there blood present?”

“Does your pet have diarrhea? Is it explosive, bloody or black/tarry?”

     5. Urination & Defecation

“Is your pet straining to urinate? Have they produced urine?” (Straining with no urine = possible urinary obstruction, a life threatening emergency).

“Has your pet not urinated or defecated in over 24 hours?”

     6. Injury & Trauma

“Has your pet experienced trauma, such as a fall, car accident, or attack by another animal?”

“Can your pet stand and walk normally?”

     7. Toxin Ingestion

“Has your pet eaten/had access to anything unusual (chocolate, grapes, human medications, rat poison, etc.)?”

⇒ “Reverse Triage” in Mass Casualty Incidents: In situations like disasters, fires, or large-scale trauma (e.g. multi-dog fights), vets may use reverse triage, prioritising patients that are likely to survive with intervention over those with a poor prognosis.

 

⇒ Triage Decision-making Under Pressure: Sometimes triage is not just about medical urgency-it also considers:

• available resources (e.g. stuff, oxygen cages, ICU space)
• client financial constraints, which may limit treatment options
• ethical considerations, such as when euthanasia may be the most humane choice