Dog emergencies happen. Many dog owners understand, our dogs are like our children. They are an essential part of our families. We love them, and they love us right back unconditionally. So when something happens to your dog, it can be massively distressing. When the problem occurs all of a sudden, it can send you into a state of panic.
If it were any other family member, you would call for an ambulance. But what do you do when your dog is suddenly injured or becomes sick? It is essential for your dog’s health that you get the right care and support as quickly as possible. Here is how you can help your pet in the case of a dog emergency.
Keep Calm
It is very distressing to deal with your beloved dog when they are in a critical state. The stress and emotions can quickly get the better of you. However, you need to remain calm and focused. Take a long deep breath in and out. If there is anyone else nearby who can help, ask them for assistance.
If you can remain calm, you will be able to get your dog the emergency help that they need.
Identify The Problem
Several problems may require emergency veterinary care. If you can get an idea of what the situation is with your dog, this will help the vet get a clear picture of what is wrong with your pet.
Common problems that require an emergency vet include:
- Prolonged periods of vomiting or diarrhea. If your dog has been affected by this for more than 24 hours, there may be health problems that need to be addressed by your vet.
- If your dog has collapsed. If your dog is unable to get up, they will need to be seen by the vet as soon as possible
- If your dog has eaten something toxic. There are a lot of things that are toxic to dogs, including many foods that we eat every day, such as chocolate. But if your dog has eaten something that they shouldn’t have and are displaying signs that they are sick, a vet will be required to help them.
- If your dog has had a seizure or fit. If your dog has started to have a seizure, this is a sign of a major health problem, and your vet should be consulted with straight away.
- If your dog is having difficulty moving, problems with movement could be due to an injury, or they may be part of a neurological condition. It is important to get our dog examined by your vet at the earliest opportunity.
- If your dog may have broken bones. If your dog has had an accident and looks as though they are unable to put weight on one of their limbs and appear to be in considerable pain, it might be that they have broken a bone,
- If your dog is having difficulty breathing or is not breathing at all. There are some breeds of dogs that are more prone to have breathing problems, such as Pugs. However, if your dog is having considerable problems breathing, even if they have a preexisting condition, get them checked out by your vet.
Get In Contact With Your Vets Immediately
At Bright Care Vet, our animal ER is open 24/7. That means that even during the night, we can be on hand to deal with your dog emergency.
In an emergency, the first thing that you should do is immediately call us. When you call up, try and provide us with as much information about your dog’s condition, including what may have caused it. We understand that this is going to be distressing, but we might be able to give you some advice over the phone to help your dog until you can get them to us.
You must call us as quickly as you can so we can help assess the situation.
How Can You Prepare For A Dog Emergency?
As a dog owner, you will want to make sure you are ready to deal with any problems that your pet will ever face in their lifetime. Make sure and save the number of your local vet in your phone. This will save you from having to rush around looking for their number. Make sure that you have pet insurance for your dog that will cover you for any emergency care.
Having a first-aid kit at home can be helpful, too, although this will not mean that you will be able to skip taking your dog to the vet. We hope you found our Advice from your vet on what to do in a dog emergency blog helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call. If you would like more information about us, you can feel free to check out our Brightcare Veterinary Group website.
