When should I call the Vet?
Most pet parents have been in a situation like this: Buster
slipped on the way down the stairs and now he’s walking with a limp. It’s
11:00 at night—should you call your veterinarian, or are you just being a
worrywart?
You’re never wrong to call.
If you’re concerned about your pet, you should never feel embarrassed
about calling a veterinarian. Veterinarians are used to emergencies and they
prepare for them.
Most veterinary hospitals have doctors on-call or provide referrals to
emergency pet hospitals, so don’t worry about waking your veterinarian out
of a sound sleep. In fact, all AAHA-accredited hospitals are required to
provide 24-hour access to emergency care, either in their own facility or
through referral to another hospital.
Remember, you know your pet better than anyone else.
If you notice your pet behaving in a way that’s unusual for her, or if
something just doesn’t seem right, you may have picked up on a subtle sign
of a real problem. To find out, you can call your veterinary hospital, or an
emergency animal hospital near you. By asking a few questions over the phone,
an emergency veterinarian should be able to tell you whether you should bring
your pet in right away, or whether she can wait for an examination during your
hospital’s normal office hours. Even if you find out nothing’s wrong,
you’ll be glad to have your mind at ease.
Definite emergencies
There are some times, however, when you won’t need to call first.
If you notice any of the following problems, take your pet in immediately
for emergency care.
- Your pet has been experienced some kind of trauma, such as being hit by
a car or a blunt object or falling more than a few feet. (Falling, not
jumping as cats do)
- Your pet isn’t breathing or you can’t feel a heartbeat.
- Your pet is unconscious and won’t wake up.
- Your pet has been vomiting or has had diarrhea for more than 24 hours,
or she is vomiting blood.
- You suspect any broken bones.
- Your pet is having trouble breathing or has something stuck in her
throat.
- Your pet has had or is having a seizure.
- Your pet is bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth, or there is blood in
her urine or feces.
- You think your pet might have ingested something toxic, such as
antifreeze, rat poison, any kind of medication that wasn’t prescribed to
her, or household cleansers.
- Your pet, particularly your male cat, is straining to urinate, or is
unable to.
- Your pet shows signs of extreme pain, such as whining, shaking, and
refusing to socialize.
- Your pet collapses or suddenly can’t stand up.
- Your pet begins bumping into things or suddenly becomes disoriented.
- You can see irritation or injury to your pet’s eyes, or she suddenly
seems to become blind.
- Your pet’s abdomen is swollen and hard to the touch, and/or she’s
gagging and trying to vomit.
- You see symptoms of heatstroke.
- Your pregnant dog or cat has gone more than three to four hours between
delivering puppies or kittens.
What to do if it’s an emergency:
If you notice any of the symptoms above or you suspect a serious problem,
try to get directly in touch with a veterinary professional. Don’t leave a
voicemail or use the Internet or email.
Your first step is to call your veterinarian.
If you’re in an unfamiliar city, look in the phone book under
"Veterinarians" and call the nearest emergency hospital.
Once you decide to bring your pet in for emergency treatment, make sure you
know where you’re going and how to get your pet there safely. If you have
any questions about directions or how to move your ill or injured pet, call
the hospital and ask.
Be prepared:
The best way to deal with pet emergencies is to prepare for them, just in
case. The next time you bring your pet in for a checkup, ask your veterinarian
what you should do in case of emergency. Find out whether your animal hospital
is open 24 hours, or whether they refer emergency cases on evenings and
weekends. If they refer, get the name, address, and phone number of the
emergency facility they refer to.
Keep your veterinarian’s name and number on an emergency sheet near the
phone, right next to the numbers for your doctor, fire department, and poison-
control hotline.
If your veterinarian refers evening and weekend emergencies to another
hospital, write down that hospital’s name and number too, as well as what
hours your doctor refers cases there. This way, if an emergency catches you
off guard, you won’t have to file through drawers or folders looking for
business cards. You may also want to have a list of pet first aid tips easily
accessible, along with guidelines for human first aid.
Most important, remember to trust your instincts. You know and love your
pet, and you have the right to be worried if something seems wrong. Emergency
veterinary professionals are there for you—never be afraid to call.
See also:
Back to General Pet Care Tips
Library of Dog Breed
Information
