For many of us, when our dogs are ill, it is often quite difficult
to know whether or not their condition warrants a trip to the
emergency room.
In an emergency, the first thing you should know is where to take
your dog. Many veterinarians offer 24 hour emergency service.
Please make sure to ask your vet if this is a service offered by
their practice. If your vet does not offer this service, know where
your local veterinary emergency hospital is located.
So how do you know if you are experiencing an emergency? Most
veterinarians will tell you that if you feel the situation is
urgent to please call the closest emergency clinic and speak to a
veterinary staff member. They will assess the situation and in most
cases, have you bring your dog in to be examined. The following are
some common emergency situations and ideas for how to handle them.
Acute Abdominal Pain. If your dog is showing signs of abdominal
pain such as tenderness to the touch, standing with his back
arched, or refusing food, you should take him to the closest
emergency clinic immediately. Other signs of abdominal distress can
include vomiting, crying, shaking and difficulty breathing. These
may be signs of Gastric Torsion. This condition can come on
suddenly and in most cases affects large, deep chested dogs but any
dog can be affected. This condition must be treated as soon as
possible. There are other conditions associated with abdominal pain
such as constipation, kidney or liver disease, or even a common
stomach ache, but it is important to have tests done to rule out
anything serious.
Uncontrollable Bleeding or Bleeding from the Chest. If your dog
gets a cut, you should apply direct pressure with a clean dry
bandage to the wound. The bleeding should stop within ten minutes,
after which time, you should make an appointment to see your vet as
soon as possible. The vet can only give your dog stitches within a
small window of time. However, if the bleeding does not stop within
twenty minutes or the bleeding is from the chest, you should take
your dog to the emergency clinic immediately.
Broken Bones. If your dog has been in an accident where you suspect
broken bones, first call your regular vet to see if you can get an
appointment soon. If not, take your dog to the emergency clinic.
They will need to take x-rays to determine whether or not bones
have been broken.
Breathing Difficulties. If your dog is having breathing
difficulties, take them to the closest emergency hospital
immediately. There are many reasons why your dog could be having
breathing problems and many of them are serious.
Car Accidents. If your dog is hit by a car, it is important to take
him to the closest emergency clinic immediately. Even if he is
acting normal, he may have internal injuries that need to be taken
care of quickly. Wrap your dog in a blanket to help prevent shock,
and keep away from his mouth as many dogs that are in pain will
bite (even if they never have before).
Continuous Convulsions. If your dog has a minor seizure or two, it
is a serious problem and you should call your veterinarian at once.
However, if your dog has a series of convulsions that last for more
than a few minutes, you should place a blanket over your dog, keep
away from his mouth and get him to the nearest emergency clinic
immediately. There are several reasons why your dog could be having
convulsions including epilepsy, metabolic problems, brain tumors,
and poisoning and fits of seizures are considered to be life
threatening in many cases.
In any serious situation, if you feel that your dog should be seen
by a veterinarian, call his office to see how soon you can get in.
Many veterinarians have technicians available to assess situations
and answer questions to help you determine the seriousness of your
dog’s condition. If your regular veterinarian is not available or
if you feel that it is an emergency, the best thing to do, if at
all possible, is to call the emergency clinic and tell them what is
going on and that you are on the way. This helps the staff prepare
for your situation in advance so the veterinary team is ready to
work on your dog when you get there. If you have further questions
on what kinds of conditions are emergency situations, please ask
your veterinarian.
