16 16 questions answered

Symptoms and emergencies: questions Indian pet owners ask

Updated October 2026By Petym

Poisoning, bites, injuries and the signs that mean a vet now.

Each answer starts with the short version, then explains it with the sources behind every fact and the date they were checked. Where a guide or tool goes deeper, the answer links to it.

16 questions answered

Is there an animal poison helpline in India? We found no national pet poison line in India. Who to call instead, and what to do on the way.
Can a cat scratch give you rabies? It can. In India a cat scratch counts as a rabies exposure: wash it and see a doctor the same day.
My male cat is straining to pee, is it an emergency? Yes. A male cat straining with little or no urine may be blocked, which can kill within a day or two.
My dog ate grapes or raisins, what should I do? Call a vet now, even for a few. Grapes, kishmish and imli can cause kidney injury in dogs.
My dog ate onion, what should I do? Call your vet now. Onion and garlic, raw or cooked in a tadka, can damage a dog's red blood cells.
My dog ate rat poison, what should I do? Call a vet now, even if your dog looks fine. Take the packet. Why signs can take days.
A dog bit me, do I need a rabies injection? Wash the wound, then see a doctor the same day. What the exposure categories mean in India.
My dog was bitten by a snake, what should I do? Keep your dog still and carry it to a vet now. No tourniquet, no cutting, no sucking, no herbs.
My dog is breathing fast, is it an emergency? Panting after a walk is normal. Fast breathing at rest, blue gums or collapse means a vet now.
My dog has loose motion with blood, what should I do? Call your vet today. In a puppy, or with vomiting or weakness, go now: parvovirus and AHDS move fast.
My dog is having a seizure, what should I do? Time it, clear the space, keep your hands away from its mouth. Over two minutes or a second fit: vet now.
My dog was hit by a vehicle, what do I do? Keep safe, move the dog flat, stop bleeding, keep it warm, and get to a vet even if it seems fine.
My dog is not eating, what should I do? Why dogs go off their food, how long you can wait, and the signs that mean a vet today.
Why is my dog vomiting yellow foam? Yellow foam is usually bile from an empty stomach. Here is when it is minor and when it needs a vet now.
A stray dog bit my dog, what should I do? Separate them safely, then see your vet within hours: bite wounds hide damage, and the rabies plan is the vet's call.
My vaccinated pet dog bit me, do I still need a rabies injection? Yes, see a doctor the same day. India's guidelines say treat the bite whatever the dog's vaccine card says.

Going away soon? Tell us your dates.

A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.

Find a sitter How it works

Meet your sitter first, free
PAN-checked, first-aid trained
A photo every day
Pay through Petym, never cash