Pet symptom guide
My Dog Was Hit by a Car — What Do I Do Right Now?
Go to the ER immediately, even if your dog seems okay. Internal injuries may not be visible. Keep your dog still and warm during transport.
Emergency now
Not sure if this is serious?
Check your dog's symptoms nowWhat this symptom can mean
Being hit by a car is always an emergency scenario in dogs, even when your dog can stand or walk afterward. Internal bleeding, chest trauma, lung injury, and shock can progress quickly and may not be obvious in the first minutes. What looks like a 'lucky escape' can change rapidly without warning.
Your goal is rapid, calm transport and minimal movement. Keep your dog warm, avoid unnecessary handling, and head to emergency veterinary care immediately. Triage can support urgency decisions, but trauma from vehicle impact should be treated as ER-level by default.
- •Educational only—not a diagnosis. Signs can change fast, especially overnight.
- •Watch energy, breathing, hydration, and gum color together—clusters of warning signs raise urgency.
- •If you're torn, the checker below helps you brief a vet in under a minute.
Common causes
- • Blunt-force trauma to chest, abdomen, spine, and limbs
- • Internal bleeding without visible external wounds
- • Fractures, soft tissue injury, and pain shock
- • Lung bruising or breathing compromise
Emergency — act on these
When it IS an emergency
- • Any loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty, or collapse
- • Pale gums, weakness, or inability to rise
- • Visible fractures, bleeding, or severe pain
Safer to monitor — not immediate ER
When it may be okay to wait briefly
- • Vehicle-impact trauma should not be managed as wait-and-see
- • Even if stable, immediate veterinary assessment is recommended
What you can do at home while monitoring
- • Move your dog carefully onto a stable surface for transport
- • Keep your dog warm and as still as possible
- • Do not offer food/medications during emergency transport
- • Go directly to ER and call ahead if possible
Related symptom guides
Overlapping signs on our emergency hub—then use the hub or checker for a structured pass.
FAQ
My dog seems normal now. Do I still need ER?
Yes. Internal injuries can be delayed and life-threatening despite a normal early appearance.
Should I wait for my regular vet to open?
No. Trauma after a car strike should be evaluated in emergency care immediately.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. If you believe your dog is in immediate danger, contact your nearest emergency veterinary hospital.