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Soma kwa Kiswahili

Urgent care

Animal in distress? Call now.

Urgent calls are answered whenever possible, day or night. If Dr. Colleta cannot attend in time, she will direct you to the nearest available clinic.

Call +254 181 423 940

Never wait for a reply to the booking form in an emergency.

Know the signs

What counts as urgent

If you see any of these, call straight away. If you’re unsure, call anyway — it’s better to ask.

  • Dogs & cats

    • Difficulty breathing, or pale or blue gums
    • Collapse, seizures or sudden weakness
    • Suspected poisoning — rat bait, chemicals, plants
    • Heavy bleeding or a deep wound
    • Swollen, tight belly with retching but nothing coming up
    • Straining but unable to pass urine
    • Hit by a vehicle, even if they seem fine

  • Cattle, goats & sheep

    • Bloat — a swollen left side and distress
    • Difficult calving, kidding or lambing
    • Down and unable to get up
    • Suspected poisoning
    • Sudden death in the herd
    • High fever and refusing feed

  • Poultry & pigs

    • Several sudden deaths in the flock
    • Many birds sick at the same time
    • Pigs off feed with fever or red-purple skin patches
    • Heavy bleeding or a prolapse

  • Horses & donkeys

    • Colic — rolling, pawing, looking at the flank
    • Severe lameness or not bearing weight
    • Heavy bleeding or a deep wound
    • Choke — food or saliva from the nose
    • Any eye injury

While you wait

What to do until help arrives

  1. Keep yourself safe — injured or frightened animals may bite or kick.
  2. Keep the animal quiet, shaded and as still as possible.
  3. Don’t give human medicines or home remedies unless Dr. Colleta advises it.
  4. Suspect poisoning? Keep the packaging or a sample to show us.
  5. Bleeding? Press firmly with a clean cloth until help arrives.
  6. Sudden death in livestock? Don’t open or move the carcass, and keep other animals away.