How to Recognize a Pet Emergency

How to Recognize a Pet Emergency

How to Recognize a Pet Emergency

How to Recognize a Pet Emergency

How to Recognize a Pet Emergency

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How to Recognize a Pet Emergency

Pet emergencies take my different shapes and forms and for pet owners, one of the biggest challenges can be recognizing them. This is because, unless the issue is extremely obvious, your pet may be masking their symptoms so well that unless you know what to look for, you may not even realize that there is a problem at all.

Unfortunately, failure to recognize a pet emergency could mean that your pet is left suffering unnecessarily, and in some cases, the situation could have permanent or even life-threatening consequences for your pet. To help you understand when to see help, here is our guide to common pet emergencies and how to recognize them.  


Persistent diarrhea and or vomiting


It isn’t unusual for an animal to have an episode of diarrhea or vomiting from time to time, but if it becomes a regular occurrence, or if your pet has persistent diarrhea or vomiting for more than 24 hours, you should seek the advice our vet. Not only is your pet at risk of becoming dehydrated, but the underlying cause could potentially be something life-threatening too. Some of the most common causes of persistent diarrhea and vomiting include:

-        Parasite infestations

-        Intestinal infections

-        A problem with a major organ or body system

-        Something trapped in your pet’s digestive system

-        Poisoning


Suspected poisoning


There are lots of different substances that can be toxic to our pets, but unfortunately, they lack the knowledge or, in some cases, the common sense to necessarily avoid those things which are harmful to them! It isn’t always easy to tell if your pet has been poisoned by consuming a harmful substance, but there are some signs to look out for, which include:

-        Vomiting/gagging

-        Lethargy

-        Loss of appetite

-        Changes in bowel movements

-        Nosebleeds

-        Blood in stools

-        Irregular heartbeat

-        Rapid breathing

-        Inability to urinate

-        Seizures


Inability to urinate/pass bowel movements


Although all animals are different, most will empty their bladder multiple times in a day and have a bowel movement at least once. As their owner, you probably already have a good idea as to what is normal for your pet. However, if they suddenly stop being able to urinate or pass feces, they need to be seen by a vet fairly quickly. Failure to urinate in 24 hours can be life-threatening, while bowel problems can also be dangerous. Your vet needs to establish the cause of the issue as soon as possible.


Respiratory distress


Unsurprisingly, any sort of problems with your pet’s breathing should be considered an emergency situation and you need to get them to see your vet immediately so that the cause can be established and treated. Some of the most common causes of respiratory distress in pets include:

-        Choking on something lodged in their airway

-        An allergic reaction

-        Collapsed lung

-        Infection of the lungs and respiratory system

-        Heartworms

-        Heart problems


Injuries


Unless they are extremely obvious, such as bleeding excessively or a visible laceration, injuries in pets are sometimes more difficult to detect. If you have any reason to suspect that your pet has sustained an injury, it is important that you get them checked out. For example, your pet may have been hit by a car and have no obvious signs of being hurt, but they should still be assessed since some injuries are internal. Limping, unwillingness to move around, loss of appetite, obvious pain and unusual behavior are all signs that something may be wrong.

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