PET EMERGENCY & TRIAGE CARE SERVICES

EMERGENCIES OUR ANIMAL HOSPITAL CAN HELP WITH 

• Bites - Since the dog's mouth is full of bacteria, any bite that punctures the skin will allow bacteria or other infectious organisms below the skin surface, where the bacteria can multiply and spread throughout the tissues. This being said, all bite wounds are considered to be contaminated and/or infected. Being left untreated can create larger issues and be detrimental to your pet’s health.

• Broken Bones - The goal after your pet breaks a bone is to reduce pain and risk of further accidents, as well as avoiding infection. Once reduced, the position of the bones must be maintained and treated usually with surgery. It is crucial you get to your vet as soon as possible to avoid more damage.

• Seizures - After a dog has a seizure, your veterinarian will begin by taking a thorough history, concentrating on possible exposures to poisonous or hallucinogenic substances or any history of head trauma. The vet will then perform a physical examination and a panel of tests to rule out any other disorders. There are a number of causes for seizures making it important to get your pet to the vet.  

• Trouble Breathing - Labored breathing in dogs and cats is triggered by multiple issues that impact a complex and vital system of the body–the respiratory system. This specialized system keeps your pet moving and cool, as it is essential for many aspects of health. So, when your pet is struggling to catch their breath or is breathing heavily, it should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible as this can be dangerous to your pet.

• Difficulty Urinating - Urinary retention, or difficulty urinating, happens when your pet is unable to pass urine normally. This can be exceptionally uncomfortable for your animal and is a medical emergency. There are several causes of urinary retention, ranging from obstructions and infections to neurological conditions and cancer, so an early diagnosis can be beneficial to your pet’s health.

• Foaming Mouth - Frothing or foaming at the mouth can be a result of many different factors in a dog’s environment, often ranging in severity. If your dog is experiencing foaming at the mouth that lasts for more than a couple hours, it’s best to contact your vet for further advice. While foaming at the mouth can be a result of activity or short-lived stress, it should always resolve within hours of being back in a normal setting. If your dog’s drooling does not resolve or becomes excessive, it’s time to get your pet to a veterinary clinic. 

• Food Rejection - There are a variety of reasons for loss of appetite in dogs, and it's important to determine the cause in order to design the best treatment plan. Because loss of appetite in dogs can indicate illness, it is important to seek veterinary care if you notice changes in your dog’s eating habits. It is especially important to respond promptly to a refusal to eat in dogs that usually eat well.

• Ingestion of Toxin - Regardless of the type of hospital setting, toxicosis cases are unplanned and usually present on a walk-in basis. A veterinary technician should assess the patient as soon as possible even though clinical signs of toxin ingestion can be immediate (minutes to hours) or delayed (days to weeks) so patient status on presentation will vary. Decontamination should take place within 1 to 2 hours of toxin ingestion, and the most common gastric decontamination methods include emesis induction, gastric lavage, activated charcoal administration, and colonic enema. It is crucial you get your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible to prevent further damage.