Triage is the art of assigning priority to emergency patients and their problems based on rapid assessment of historical and physical parameters (see Table: Parameters to Evaluate During Triage). Several historical or observed problems warrant transfer of the animal to the treatment area regardless of physical findings. These problems include known or suspected trauma, poisonings, profuse vomiting or diarrhea, urethral obstruction, labored breathing, cardiopulmonary arrest, seizures, loss of consciousness, severe alterations in mental state, acute inability to walk, excessive bleeding, prolapsed organs, potential snake bite, heat prostration, open wounds exposing extensive soft tissue or bone, anemia, burns, dystocia, shock, and disease that may rapidly decompensate such as gastric dilatation and volvulus and allergic reactions.