Any time you have a question concerning the health of your pet(s) you should call your veterinarian for advice.
If it is a question of general health care or a minor problem call during normal office hours. If there is a genuine emergency or your pet is in pain call immediately.
The determination of what is or isn’t an emergency is your decision. If in doubt, please call.
The following is not meant to be an all-inclusive list but, rather, guidelines for when to call your veterinarian.
Call immediately if:
1. Your pet has been hit by a car. Even if there are no apparent injuries, there could be internal damage.
2. There is an obviously broken bone or you have a strong suspicion of such.
3. Your pet is losing a lot of blood. Either from a cut or through vomiting or diarrhea.
4. Your pet is straining to urinate without producing any urine.
5. Your pet is having difficulty breathing or panting excessively and is in obvious distress.
6. Your pet is shaking uncontrollably (not just shivering due to cold or nervousness) or is having a seizure or convulsion.
7. Your female pet has been in labor for approximately 2 hours or more without producing any offspring.
8. Your dog or cat appears to be paralyzed in front, rear, or all legs.
9. Your pet is extremely listless or weak.
10. Your dog or cat experiences a sudden drastic change in behavior.
11. You discover your pet ingesting a known toxic substance or a non-food item that could injure or block the throat or gastrointestinal tract.
12. Your pet has suffered severe burns, smoke inhalation, electrical shock, or near-drowning.
13. Your dog or cat has persistent, repetitive vomiting or diarrhea.
14. Your dog appears to have become bloated very suddenly.
Again, this list is not intended to be all-inclusive. There are simply too many potential emergency health problems to list them all. If you have any doubts about whether a situation is an emergency call your veterinarian. He or she can determine the status for you. There may be some first aid measures you can do at home that will suffice until normal office hours.
Remember, if you are in doubt call your veterinarian right away.
Dr. Dan Meakin is the owner of All Creatures Animal Hospital, 1894 Ohio Pike in Amelia. Call (513) 797-PETS.