Dog Illnesses - Should I Call The Vet?

For many of us, when our dogs are ill, it is often quite difficult to know whether or not dogs illnesses warrant a trip to the emergency room for a dog illness diagnosis.

In an emergency, the first thing you should know is where to take your dog. Many veterinarians offer 24 hour emergency service. Please make sure to ask your vet if this is a service offered by their practice. If your vet does not offer this service, know where your local veterinary emergency hospital is located.

So how do you know if you are facing an emergency? Most veterinarians will tell you that if the owner feels the dogs illnesses are urgent to please call the local emergency clinic and speak to a veterinary staff member. They will review the situation and in most cases, have you bring your dog in to be examined. The following are some common emergency situations and ideas for how to manage them.

Stomach Pain

If your dog is showing signs of abdominal pain, such as tenderness to the touch, standing with his back arched, or refusing food, you should take him to the closest emergency clinic immediately for a dog illness diagnosis. Other signs of abdominal distress can include vomiting, crying, shaking and difficulty breathing. These may be signs of Gastric Torsion. This state can come on suddenly and in most cases affects large, deep chested dogs, but any dog can be affected. This condition must be treated as early as possible. There are other conditions associated with abdominal pain such as constipation, kidney or liver disease, or even a common stomach ache, but it is imperative to have tests done to rule out any other serious problems.

Bleeding Wounds

If your dog gets a cut, you should apply direct pressure with a clean dry bandage to the injury. The bleeding should stop within ten minutes, after which time, you should make an appointment to see your vet as soon as possible. The vet can only give your dog stitches within a small window of time. However, if the bleeding does not end within twenty minutes or the bleeding is from the chest, you should take your dog to the emergency clinic immediately.

Broken Bones Need X-Rays

If your dog has been in an accident where you suspect broken bones, first call your regular vet to see if you can get an appointment quickly. If not, take your dog to the emergency clinic. They will need to take x-rays to determine whether or not bones have been quickly.

Breathing Difficulties

If your dog is having breathing difficulties, take him to the closest emergency office immediately. There are many reasons why your dog may be having breathing problems and many of them are serious.

Auto Accidents

If your dog is hit by a vehicle, it is important to take him to the closest emergency clinic immediately. Even if he is acting normal, he may have internal injuries that need to be taken care of immediately. Wrap your dog in a blanket to help prevent shock, and keep away from his mouth, as many dogs that are in pain will bite (even if they never have before).

Serious Spasms

If your dog has a minor spasm or two, it is a serious problem and you should call your veterinarian at once. However, if your dog has a series of convulsions that last for more than a few minutes, you should place a blanket over your dog, keep away from his mouth and get him to the nearest emergency clinic immediately. There are several reasons why your dog could be having convulsions, including epilepsy, metabolic problems, brain tumors, and poisoning. Fits of seizures are considered to be life threatening in many occurrences.

For any dogs illnesses, if the you feel that your dog should be seen by a veterinarian, contact his office to see how soon you can get in for a dog illness diagnosis. Many veterinarians have technicians available to assess the dogs health problem situation and answer questions to help you determine the seriousness of your dogs condition. If your regular veterinarian is not available, or if you feel that it is an emergency, the best thing to do, if at all possible, is to call the emergency clinic, tell them what is going on, and that you are on the way. This helps the staff prepare for your emergency in advance so the veterinary team is ready to work on your dog when you get there. If you have further questions on what kinds of symptoms are emergency situations, please ask your veterinarian.