Recognizing Medical Emergencies in Pets

IS IT AN EMERGENCY?

Some emergencies such as seizures, heavy bleeding, gaping
wounds, collapse, and paralysis are easily identified as
requiring immediate attention. Other kinds of emergencies are
not so easy to recognize but may be just as life-threatening to
your pet. Because there are many different kinds of emergencies,
it is important that you be able to recognize the symptoms and
seek assistance immediately.

Clinical symptoms may develop slowly with some illnesses or
injuries, and it is often difficult to recognize them or judge
their severity on your own. If, for any reason, you feel that
your animal is not acting “right” or normal, please call us
during our normal office hours or an emergency clinic
after-hours. If you decide to take your pet to an emergency
hospital, please call ahead to alert their staff of your
emergency.

Because your pet’s health and safety are our primary concern, it
may be necessary for your veterinarian to examine your pet and
then transfer the case to an emergency clinic for overnight
observation or critical care, or refer you directly to the
emergency clinic with your pet.

Thankfully, most of your pet’s medical problems will not be
emergencies and can be addressed in a regular office visit with
your primary veterinarian.

So… how do you decide whether or not you have an emergency?
Bottom line: if you have any doubts, please don’t hesitate to
call.

COMMON WARNING SIGNS:

Difficulty Breathing: Labored breathing and/or pale or bluish
gums or tongue may indicate heart failure, lung disease,
internal bleeding, or major chemical imbalances.

Major Trauma: If your pet has fallen, been hit by a car, or has
suffered multiple wounds from an unknown source, you should seek
professional help immediately, even if s/he is acting okay.

Fainting, Collapse & Seizures: Neurologic problems can prevent
normal movement and lead to greater injury if your pet tries to
walk, while illness or injury may make a pet too weak to stand.

Poisoning: In addition to pest baits and anti-freeze, medication
overdoses and common foods like chocolate, onions, and
grapes/raisins can be lethal if ingested by your pet. If you
know or even suspect this, call immediately for professional
direction to deal with the problem quickly.

Lacerations & Bite Wounds: Wounds that break the skin are
contaminated and can become infected. Many wounds that seem
minor to the naked eye – a small puncture or bite wound -
involve deeper, more serious damage below the skin’s surface.

Prolonged Vomiting or Diarrhea: Many serious illnesses begin
with vomiting and/or diarrhea. Multiple episodes of vomiting or
diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and shock.

Serious Bleeding: For heavy bleeding, apply direct pressure to
the wound and seek help immediately.

Facial Swelling: Sudden facial swelling may be caused by an
allergic reaction to a vaccine or insect bite or sting.
Untreated, such reactions can rapidly worsen and result in
airway constriction and death.

Infections: If your pet develops an infected wound or abscess,
or if s/he suddenly gets worse while on medication for an
infection, seek professional help immediately. Infections can
spread and cause toxicity.

Difficulty Urinating: Frequent attempts to urinate that don’t
produce a normal urine flow could indicate infection or
obstruction, especially in male cats. This is an acute problem
that can quickly lead to uremic poisoning and death.

Fever or Hypothermia: The normal temperature range (in
Fahrenheit) when taken rectally is 100º-102.7º in cats and is
100º-102º in dogs. If you obtain an abnormal rectal temperature
at home, consult your veterinarian immediately. Such readings
can indicate infection, shock, poisoning, and other serious
ailments.

Eye Problems: Redness, excessive tearing, pain, pawing at the
eyes, squinting or eyelid spasms suggest an acute problem. The
symptoms can intensify and lead to blindness if not treated
promptly. EXOTIC PETS: It is important to understand that they
don’t show signs of illness as readily as other pets; their
signs may be even more subtle but no less dangerous, so please
use the common warning signs and exotic pet lists as guidelines
of what to watch for in your pet.

Birds: Staying on the bottom of the cage (not perching), fluffed
up while perched, sleeping excessively, not talking (if s/he
normally does), loose or decreased number of droppings, loss of
appetite.

Ferrets: Diarrhea, vomiting, pawing at the mouth (may indicate
nausea due to dangerously low blood sugar), frequent trips to
the litterbox with little or no urine production, pain in the
abdomen, depression, or loss of appetite.

Rabbits & Small Mammals: Diarrhea or decreased numbers of
stools, lack of appetite, weakness or depression, painful when
lifted or touched, head tilting to once side, rolling, or
flipping.

Reptiles & Amphibians: Weak or unresponsive, open-mouth
breathing, prolonged lack of appetite, thrashing, or frantic
movements. THIS LIST IS NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE!

EMERGENCY RESOURCES:

ASPCA Poison Control Center 1-888-4-ANI-HELP

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.