Emergencies can and will happen. The following sections provide important front line care information for various emergencies. In all emergency situations, it is important that YOU REMAIN CALM. Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to insure the well being of your companion.
Be very aware that an animal in pain, even your own pet, may try to bite you. Try to wrap the animal in a blanket or wear protective clothing when approaching an animal that is in obvious pain. You don't want to end up in the hospital as well.
Causes:
- Vaccines
- Medications
Symptoms:
- Shock
- Collapse
- Swollen face and ears
- Hives
Care:
- Contact Veterinarian immediately
Causes:
- Bees
- Wasps
- Spiders
- Scorpions
Symptoms:
- Pawing at site of bite
- Site hot
- Site swollen
- Site Red
Care:
- Administer antihistimines
- Apply cold compress
- Contact veterinarian
Care:
- Apply firm pressure at arterial pressure points
- Keep warm and quiet
- Transport to clinic as quickly as possible
Causes:
- Chemical
- Electrical
- Fire
Symptoms:
- Burned or singed Hair
- Red, blistered area
Care:
- Chemical Burn - flush with cold water
- Contact veterinarian immediately
Causes:
- Chest Trauma
- Drugs
- Poisons
- Toxins
- Bloat
Symptoms:
- Collapse
- Weak Pulse
- Irregular Pulse
- Absent Pulse
- Blue gums
Care:
- Clear any obstuctions in throat
- Place dog on its side
- Place one palm behind left elbow and other palm behind right elbow
- Press upper palm down hard, release quickly
- Repeat every second - have assistant administer mouth to mouth respiration
- Transport dog to clinic ASAP
Causes:
- Infection
- Gastrointestinal parasites
- Change in water
- Change in diet
Care:
- No food for 24 hours ( 12 hours if puppy )
- Encourage fluids such as Pedialyte ( 1 pint per day in small amounts)
- Give Kaopectate or Immodium - contact veterinarian for dosage amounts
- After 12-24 hours begin boiled rice with equal amount chicken - avoid broth or grease
- Take dog to veterinarian to identify and treat parasites or infection.
Symptoms:
- Puncture wound
- Tear wound
Care:
- Clip hair around wound
- Clean and disinfect wound
- Clean and disinfect at least twice a day
- Major - transport to emergency clinic
Causes:
- Insects
- Foreign Objects
Symptoms:
- Shaking head
- Digging at ear with paw
- Red, inflamed ear canal
- Bad smelling ears
- Discharge of pus
Care:
- Contact Veterinarian for treatment.
Symptoms:
- Lameness
- Swelling
- Dog places no weight on limb
Care:
- Muzzle dog before handling
- Cover open wounds (compound fracture) with gauze
- Immobilize limb with splint
- Transport to emergency clinic
Causes:
- Confinement in closed crate or car
- Overexertion on hot day
Symptoms:
- Sudden collapse
- Heavy gasping
- Panting
- Foaming at the mouth
- Excessive drooling
- Blank, staring expression
- Twitching muscles
- Brick red gums
- Temperature over 104°
Care:
- Wet down or immerse in cold water
- Use frozen vegetables or ice cubes to cool down dog
- Give sips of cool water
- Contact veterinarian ASAP
Symptoms:
- Shock
- Collapse
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Bleeding from mouth, rectum, or bladder
Care:
- Keep warm
- Immobilize
- Transport to emergency clinic ASAP
Causes:
- Insecticide
- Fertilizer
- Antifreeze
- Ornamental plants
Symptoms:
- Excessive drooling
- Vomitting with diarrhea
- Tremors
- Staggering
- Seizures
- Depression
- Weakness
- Collapse
Care:
- Identify toxic agent if possible, amount ingested, and time ingested
- Contact poison control center for treatment
- DO NOT induce vomitting unless instructed to do so
- Transport to clinic if necessary
Causes:
- Drowning
- Asphyxiation
- Foreign objects blocking airway
- Cardiac Arrest
Symptoms:
- Very slow breathing
- Gasping
- Absent breath
- Bluish gums
- Dark red gums
Care:
- Remove collar
- Check for foreign objects in airway - remove
- If drowning:
- Grab rear legs
- Hold dog upside down for 15-30 seconds
- Lay dog on side
- Extend head and neck
- Grasp tongue with cloth and pull to clear airway
- Hold dog's mouth and lips closed
- Place your mouth over dog's nose
- Blow firmly for 3 seconds
- Relax 2 seconds
- Repeat
- Transport to clinic ASAP
Causes:
- Blood loss
- Trauma
- Hypothermia
- Hyperthermia
- Bloat
- Poison
Symtoms:
- Collapse
- Pale gums
- Weak, rapid pulse
Care:
- Keep warm and quiet
- Transport to clinic ASAP
Symptoms:
- Paired puncture wounds - typically on face or leg
- Shock
Care:
- Ice pack on wounds
- Give steroid injection
- DO NOT incise and suck wound
- Transport to clinic ASAP
Causes:
- Food change
- Fatty foods
- Eating garbage
- Parasites
- Infection
- Often accompanied by fever, diarrhea, and dehydration
Care:
- No food for 24 hours ( 12 hours if puppy)
- No water for 4-6 hours then small sips or ice cubes
- If vomitting ceases after 12-24 hours, offer small amounts of boiled rice with chicken (no broth or grease)
- Contact Veterinarian