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.

About the author:

Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital and its cat-only affiliate, Coastal Cat Clinic, are small animal practices located in Pacifica, California. To find a veterinarian or to learn more about the vet clinic and our staff, visit:[http://lindamarvet.com/]

 Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital