A pet can be burned by caustic chemicals, electric shock, or contact with an open flame or a hot object. You may notice dark, discolored fur with a burnt odor, or you may actually see the swollen, blistered skin underneath.

One of the most common eye problems among animals is injury to the cornea (KOHR-nee-uh), the eye's transparent outer layer. This may occur if the eye is scratched, when bits of grass become lodged in the eye, or foreign matter blows into the eye.

Hundreds of cleaning products, common drugs and plants, insecticides, and automotive products can be hazardous to animals. Severe cases of poisoning require immediate action.

Trauma occurs when an animal is struck by or collides with a heavy object such as a large branch, a car, or a wall. An animal who's suffered trauma may experience internal or external bleeding and could go into shock, a condition in which blood pressure and vital signs are dangerously low.