Is This an Emergency?

What concerns can wait until tomorrow and what needs to be addressed right away? Here are some general guidelines for you:
1) Loss of Consciousness. Is your pet responding to you? If you call his/her name do they look at and interact with you? No? EMERGENCY!
2) Bleeding…still bleeding? Bleeding or blood loss that won’t stop? Come in ASAP!!!
3) Pain! A sudden onset of pain or weakness (crying, yelping, not walking/moving normally) is an emergency. Certain injuries are very time sensitive and irreversible if you wait.  
4) Severe vomiting or diarrhea. This can accelerate quickly into more problems. Intestinal blockages and certain types of intestinal upset can be life-threatening.
5) Seizure that doesn’t stop or repeated seizures. This can cause overheating and permanent organ damage.
6) Can’t pee!!! If your pet cannot successfully urinate but keeps straining to go, they need to be seen today! You pet may have a blocked urethra which can cause bladder rupture, kidney failure, heart disturbances, and death! Don’t assume they just have a urinary tract infection.
7) Respiratory distress. Your pet may appear anxious, restless and worried. You may note one or more of the following signs: abdominal effort to breathe, exaggerated chest movements, open-mouth breathing, pale or bluish gum color, foaming at the mouth, coughing, collapse. This is an emergency!
8) Medication/toxin ingestion. If your pet ate your medication, another pet’s medication, an overdose of their own meds, rat bait, snail bait, chocolate, xylitol, or anything else they should not have eaten, please call us right away. If your pet arrives within an hour of ingestion, we have a much better chance of reducing the damage that toxin can cause to your pet.
9) Trauma. Dog fights, attempted abduction by large bird of prey/coyote, falls, accidents are some examples of trauma. Not all injuries are evident right away. Some take time to develop. Let us check out your pet right away to reduce potential complications.
10) Abnormal temperature. Being too hot or too cold indicates something is wrong. Normal rectal temperature is between 100.0 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit but most of us have a feel for our pet’s normal. If you are concerned your pet is not a normal temp, bring them right away.
11) This is not an all-inclusive list! If you are concerned, call! We will be happy to get your pet in for a thorough examination!