Common Types of Pet Emergencies

As a pet owner, it certainly isn’t easy to make the decision as to whether or not something is an emergency. So, to ensure the very best care for them, and to seek appropriate advice and/or treatment for your pet, it is important to know the type of emergencies that can occur and how to look out for them. Here are a few examples to watch out for and how to recognize them.

 

Poisoning

Seeing your pet suffering from the effects of any sort of poisoning is not at all pleasant, and while we do our best to take care of them, when they're outside of their home environment poisoning is always a possibility due to the natural curiosity that our pets have. How many times have you seen a dog being scolded for sniffing, eating, or licking something they shouldn’t? Most of the time this will cause illness, but sometimes our pets consume things that can make them extremely unwell. Fortunately, most cases of pet poisoning are not long-lasting and do not have a prolonged effect, but if your pet shows behavioral changes, has sudden and prolonged vomiting, seems generally unwell, or if you know for sure that your pet has eaten something toxic, you should seek veterinary help right away.

 

Physical Injury

Just like humans, animals can be injury-prone too, and things like cuts and scratches can be a common event. However, internal injuries are just as common too. Tendons can be tweaked, muscles pulled, and joints can be sprained. Whether or not these injuries would be considered an emergency can sometimes be decided just by observing them for a while. For example, has the bleeding stopping? Is my pet struggling to move and behave normally? Have they eaten something that they shouldn’t, and it’s not passed out of their body? Are they making audible indications of being in pain? If this is the case, consider it an emergency and seek veterinary care/advice promptly.

 

Diarrhea/Vomiting

Occasional, short-lived bouts of diarrhea and vomiting are not uncommon in a lot of animals and are not a cause for concern most of the time. There are many reasons for animals to suffer tummy troubles, such as a gut infection, ingestion of something poisonous, or a parasitic infestation. However, if your pets’ symptoms persist for more than 24-hours, if they worsen, and if you notice blood in the stool, for example, this should be treated as an emergency. Also, prolonged stomach issues can cause dehydration, so watch carefully for any signs of lethargy and dehydration which should be investigated as soon as possible.  

 

Urinary Problems

What goes in must come out. That’s a fact of nature and we will usually be well aware that our animals pee multiple times a day. If this suddenly stops, and they don’t urinate for a day or so, it’s something that must be treated seriously as an animal emergency. This is because urinary problems can be potentially life-threatening and the cessation of urination for a prolonged period requires immediate veterinary attention.

Breathing Problems / Respiratory Distress

As human beings, one of the most frightening events we can ever witness is another living thing struggling to breathe. There are many reasons animals can suddenly develop respiratory problems. Whether it is choking on a foreign object, a respiratory infection, a heart condition, or an allergic reaction, any sort of breathing difficulty is an immediate veterinary emergency and care should be sought instantly. Don’t delay.

If you would like to learn more about common types of pet emergencies or to schedule an appointment, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary team at Vet Express in Port of Spain, Trinidad by calling (868) 221-2257 today.