Pet Emergencies
It is frightening when your pet is sick and seems to be in distress. Below is a guide to use to determine if your pet is in need of emergency care. Also provided is treatment guideline if your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea.
Symptoms and Their Urgency for Care
Immediate Attention is needed for these symptoms:
- Inability to breathe with noisy respiration, blue tongue, gasping for breath
- Bleeding that will not stop from any part of the body. In the meantime apply pressure
- Inability to urinate, constipated and continues to try to go
- Ingestion of mouse/rat poison, antifreeze, lead products, insecticides or household chemicals
- Unable to deliver puppies or kittens
- Severe, continuous pain with no relief
- Continuous vomiting or diarrhea with the appearance of blood
- Loss of balance, or consciousness, possible with tremors, staggering, blindness or fainting
- Continuous scratching, biting or self mutilation
- Penetrating wounds especially on the chest or abdomen
- Serious injury
- Hit by car
Attention before the day is out is required for these symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing with or without a cough and is still eating and drinking
- Vomiting or diarrhea without blood or pain
- Sudden lameness with no apparent cause
- Swallowed a foreign object
- Severe itching without mutilation
- Strange, disagreeable odor
- Injuries that may worsen with delay
Attention can wait until the following day for these symptoms:
- Non-continuous vomiting or diarrhea without blood , unusual matter, or pain
- Mild to moderate itching with no skin damage or bleeding
- Lameness with little or no pain or discomfort in walking
- Excessive drinking and/or elimination of urine without blood, pain or straining
- Loss of appetite for a day
- Most all skin problems
Emergencies
If you feel your pets situation is life threatening, and you have unsuccessfully contacted Pet Med Clinic, than we recommend the Lorain Animal Emergency Clinic. The emergency clinic provides urgent medical support for your pet. This means that they provide emergency pet care to stabilize your pet until you are able to return to Pet Med Clinic.
The most important body systems to be stabilized are the cardiovascular (heart), and respiratory (lungs). Abnormalities or dysfunctions of these systems can be immediately life threatening. In talking with the emergency clinician on staff at the emergency clinic you should discuss what needs to be treated now due to being live threatening and what can be stabilized until you return to Pet Med Clinic.
The Lorain County Emergency Clinic will see a variety of emergency situations. Although your pet’s welfare is always considered, and the clinic will always see your pet regardless of the situation, not all cases are life-threatening. The emergency clinic can stabilize and/or alleviate pain for your pet without treating the initiating problem. As the owner you have the option of declining services at the clinic, however, you should be aware of the risks in doing so and these should be explained to you by the attending veterinarian. These risks vary from case to case.
Here is a list of questions you should consider asking:
- Is there another option? Is there a more conservative treatment for this situation?
- Can you do something now to stabilize and/or relieve the discomfort until I can return to my family veterinarian?
- What could happen to my pet if I elect to wait until I can return to my family veterinarian?
- Can I see how the conservative treatment works and if the condition worsens then return?
In conclusion, remember that your pet’s health is the primary concern. A discussion with the veterinarian should provide you with choices for the best care available. Using the pet emergency clinic, in an informed manner insures you and your pet the best medical care available.
Treatment for vomiting or diarrhea:
VOMITING (Always consider serious, therefore call PMC first for advice.)
- Withhold all food and water for 12-24 hours.
- After 24 hours of no vomiting, offer small, frequent portions of an electrolyte solution or water.
- After 24 hours of no vomiting gradually offer small, frequent portions of highly digestible diet. Bland foods include chicken, white rice, cottage cheese, toast, chicken or beef baby food.
- If no vomiting occurs over the next 2-3 days, gradually return your pet to its regular diet.
DIARRHEA
- No food should be given for 24-48 hours. However, do NOT restrict water intake unless vomiting is present.
- Feed small amounts of highly digestible foods such as Prescription Diet I/D, chicken white rice, cottage cheese, toast, chicken or beef baby food. Begin with 1/3 amount of the normal portion size and gradually increase to the usual portions over the next several days.
- The diet should be highly digestible, low in fiber, moderate in fat and lactose (milk) free.
- Keep your pet’s rear-end free from feces by washing with warm water.
TO CONTACT THE LORAIN ANIMAL EMERGENCY CLINIC CALL (440) 240-1400.