Having a pet is a huge commitment. After all, pets are beloved members of the family for most caring and responsible pet owners. You should give your animal the same level of concern and care as you would any other member of your family.
Do you take your pet for routine vaccinations and veterinary exams? If you do, you are already looking out for them. But sometimes, your fur friend may get sick without any warning. In such cases, you need to understand what constitutes a pet veterinary emergency.
What Is a Pet Emergency?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, this is any condition that requires immediate veterinary care or consultation. That said, any concern or problem with your pet’s health and wellbeing warrants a call to your veterinarian at a minimum.
Just like their human companions, pets can sometimes suffer from health conditions or injuries that require urgent medical intervention. Pet emergencies can occur at any time. Thus, pet owners need to prepare for when their animal companions need emergency veterinary care.
How to Determine Whether Your Pet Needs Emergency Care
Determining whether an animal requires emergency veterinary care is not always easy. As a caring pet owner, you need to be aware of some common symptoms and signs that indicate the necessity for immediate veterinary attention. Any time you are in doubt whether your pet needs emergency medical care, contact an emergency veterinary clinic or your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of pet emergencies you need to look out for include:
Obvious signs of pain
Uncontrolled bleeding
Loss of balance
Blood in diarrhea or vomiting
Seizures
Inability to defecate or urinate
Unconsciousness
Inability to walk or lameness
Dilated pupils
Sudden stumbling, staggering, or blindness
Painful, swollen, or bloated abdomen
Severe injury, such as open wounds, broken bones, or eye injuries
Difficulty breathing, choking, or extreme coughing
Ingestion of poisonous substances, plants, or foods
Why You Need to Consult a Veterinarian
The typical response for most pet owners when they suspect a pet emergency is to go online and Google the symptoms. However, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian. Otherwise, Google will give you an endless list of cure-all treatments ranging from lemon juice to turmeric and a ton of impossible and possible causes.
Common Pet Veterinary Emergencies
There are clear signs of true pet emergencies, as the list above shows. Any emergency with a beloved pet can be quite frightening. Many types of pet veterinary emergencies require urgent treatment and care. This may involve driving to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic, calling your veterinarian, or calling the Animal Poison Control’s hotline.
The most common pet emergencies veterinarians frequently encounter include poisoning, respiratory distress, pancreatitis, gastric dilation, and acute trauma. Other pet emergencies include kidney failure, seizures, and cancer emergencies.
To prepare yourself for any health emergency concerning your animal companion, discuss your pet’s health with your veterinarian. This is especially important if you have any concerns about a problem, illness, or disease associated with your pet’s breed that might put them at risk of a health emergency.
To learn more about common pet emergencies, contact Highland Veterinary Clinic at our office in Evansville, Indiana. You can call 812-710-4300 today to schedule an appointment.
