Does Your Dog Need Emergency Services?

Dog Emergency Services

Just like humans, dogs can also have emergencies. And sometimes it’s difficult to tell because these furry friends don’t talk. As a dog owner, be keen to observe any changes in behavior. A lot can happen when your dog is playing in your backyard or walking in the streets. They can get injured or ingest something poisonous.

If you discover something unusual about your dog, take them to dog emergency services as soon as possible. Delays can cause complications and threaten the life of your beloved pet. So it’s vital to learn some of the problems that can be bothering your canine. Most emergency visits to the vet result from similar issues. Below are some of them.

Problems Breathing

Generally, dogs breathe fast when excited, stressed, running, and when it’s hot. But when a dog is resting, breathing rate should be 20 to 34 breaths per minute. You can tell your dog is struggling to breathe if they pant while resting, make breathing noises, breathe with their mouth, and move their belly up and down when breathing.

Common causes of breathing difficulties in dogs include infection to the respiratory system, heartworm disease, lung inflammation, allergies, high blood pressure, choking, and heart problems. There are many other causes of breathing difficulties. So the best action is to visit the vet for a complete checkup.

Severe Vomiting

Continuous vomiting, sometimes with diarrhea, is an indication of a stomach problem. If the vomit contains blood, the situation is more serious. Possibly, the dog has eaten something poisonous, has an acute gastrointestinal infection, or has an intestinal obstruction. Other times you’ll see your dog attempting to vomit but with nothing coming out. If this happens several times during the day, rush your pet to the vet.

Limping and Swollen Limbs

Your dog may be limping but without any visible injury or bleeding. That could be the result of something blunt hitting your dog. If your canine is whining or yelping, know the injury is severe. It’s better to be safe. Call your vet for a dog emergency service if it doesn’t improve after a few hours.

Severe Bleeding 

Bleeding is usually a sign of physical injury. It can happen if a sharp object bruises your dog or in case a previous wound hasn’t healed. Sometimes it can happen without a physical injury. For instance, you might notice blood coming from the nose or ears.

When your dog starts to bleed, wrap the area with a bandage. Hopefully, the blood will clot. But if the bleeding doesn’t stop, take your dog to the vet. For deep injuries to the head or eyes, your pet needs dog emergency services.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke happens when the dog stays in high temperatures for a long time. Such a situation can arise if you lock your dog outside with no shade, a fire emergency occurs, or when you leave your dog in the car.

Most heat strokes result from leaving the dog in the car on a hot day. If there’s inadequate ventilation, the dog will overheat and start panting. Next, the dog might end up dehydrated and distressed. If the exposure to heat continues, the dog can become unconscious and even die.

If your dog suffers from heatstroke, wash them with cold water. Use a hose pipe for large dogs and a wet towel for small ones. Give them water and rush them to the vet.

Call Dog Emergency Services to Avoid Complications

It’s impossible to predict when your furry friend will have an emergency. Dog emergencies can happen at any time, even at night. Such incidents create an urgent need to see the vet. For this reason, you need a vet whom you can access at all times.

Contact Hebron Veterinary Hospital 

Contact us at (860) 228-4324 or visit our contact page if you need help with your outdoor cat. We are here for you. Also, be sure to give us a call if it’s time for any of your other pet’s regular wellness or preventative care visit. 

Although Hebron Veterinary Hospital is not open 24 hours, we do have a doctor on call during non-business hours.

Emergency Number: 860- 266- 5995

Additional Emergency Veterinary Care