SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Dog Care
Dog Care Tips
Dog
Emergency: How To Recognize The Symptoms
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.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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