What to do if your Pet is in an Emergency

·         DON’T PANIC

·         Stay calm and assess the situation so you can describe what has happened

·         CALL THE VET

It is important to get veterinary help as soon as possible in an emergency. There is not time to research the symptoms online, you will get a quicker answer and better advice from calling your vet.

All vets will have provisions for 24 HOUR COVER whether that is at your own practice or a dedicated emergency provider locally so familiarise yourself with the procedure for contacting a vet out of hours at your practice. Have the number easily accessible both at home and while you are out in case you have an emergency with your pet whilst on a walk, for instance.

Don’t worry that the vet will think you are worrying unnecessarily, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Ø   Details: The vet will need to know details of the emergency with your pet in order to give you the best advice. For example, if your pet has ingested some human medications or pet medications not meant for it then the name and strength of the medicine as well as how many tablets have been eaten is vital information. Equally if your pet has had a seizure then it’s very useful to know exactly how long they have been seizuring and if they seem to have lost consciousness.

Ø  Learn what is normal: Observing your pet when normal is useful as it can help you detect problems before they become emergencies. Take note of things like how fast and deeply your pet normally breathes and how pink their gums are as changes in these things will be important information to tell the vet.

Ø  First Aid: In many cases there is not very much that you can do at home and the best thing to do is to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible. In some cases such as bleeding wounds you can help by initiating first aid such as applying pressure to the wound. A list of potential emergencies you may encounter with your pet and the first aid measures you can take comes later.

Ø  Human medications: If you feel that your pet is in pain, it is NOT advisable to give them human pain relief such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin as these can be toxic to pets even in quite small doses. If you feel your pet is in pain then call your vet to arrange to be seen.

Ø  Insurance: Emergencies are, by their very nature unexpected and costs can mount quickly so insurance is recommended for ALL pets and is particularly useful in an emergency situation, relieving the some of the stress in what is often a distressing situation.

Specific Pet Emergencies

·         Allergic reactions: These can occur to a number of substances such as medications, plants or to stings from insects. The reaction can vary from mild swelling and an itch to an anaphylactic reaction which can be very dangerous. Call the vet immediately and describe the symptoms accurately and your vet can decide what course of action is most appropriate

·         Bites: These can be sustained from many animals. Dog or cat fights need to be checked as wounds can become infected and may need stitches.         Snake bites can inject toxin into your pet and this can cause very serious disease so if you suspect a snake bite you should call the vet straight away even if your pet is showing no symptoms.

·         Bleeding: If you notice your pet is bleeding from anywhere then place pressure on the area if possible and call the vet. Some bleeding, such as from a torn nail will stop with first aid but if the bleeding is more substantial, veterinary intervention will be needed to stop it.

·         Bloat: There is a condition called Gastric Dilation and Volvulus which occurs in larger breed dogs where the stomach fills with air, distends and twists on itself. This is characterised by an obviously bloated abdomen and retching and is fatal if left but potentially correctable surgically if seen in time so you should call your vet immediately if you see this.

·         Breathing difficulties: If your pet is struggling to breathe, breathing very fast or very deeply with extra effort from the abdomen you should keep them calm, avoid stress and contact the vet straight away. In cats, breathing with their mouths open like a panting dog is a sign of severe respiratory distress. You could also check their gums as a blue tinge to them indicates lack of oxygen.

·         Collapse: There are a large range of potential causes of collapse ranging from severe arthritis to a seizure to a stroke or potentially bleeding. All of these causes need to be seen by a vet as soon as possible and there is little you can do at home.

·         Eye Injury: These need to be examined by a vet as soon as you notice a problem as if injuries are left then the eye may be unsalvageable and need to be removed.

·         Flystrike: This occurs in warmer weather when flies lay eggs on soiled skin and they hatch into maggots. These maggots severely damage the flesh of the animal and they can burrow into a body cavity which can be fatal. If you see this, you need to wash your pet to remove as many maggots as possible and make an appointment for the vet to assess any damage. It can be prevented with fly repellent and daily checks on your pet.

·         Heat Stroke: This occurs in hot weather or in hot environments that an animal cannot escape from such as a locked car. If you suspect heat stroke, remove the pet from the heat source and try and cool them with cold water or a wet towel, changed regularly and call the vet.

·         Inability to pass urine: Straining to pass urine without managing to pass urine can indicate a blockage of the bladder, especially in a male cat and needs to be seen by a vet as an emergency as can be fatal if left for too long.

·         Pain: If you think your pet is in pain for any reason then they need to be examined by a vet and given the appropriate pain relief. Pain can manifest as vocalisation and aggression or withdrawal and depression.

·         Road Traffic Accident (RTA): The outcome of these can vary from mild cuts and abrasions to serious and life threatening injuries. Any animal that has been hit by a car should be immediately checked by a vet to fully assess any injuries that may not be immediately obvious.

·         Seizures: If your pet has a seizure then you should not try and restrain them as you can get bitten. You should clear anything close to them that could injure them and reduce stimuli such as noise and light. Time the seizure. Most seizures will end themselves after a few minutes but if your pet is not coming out of the seizure after about 5 minutes then you should call the vet as they may need veterinary intervention to stop the seizure. Even if the seizure ends of its own accord, you should call the vet for advice about how to proceed.

·         Toxin Ingestion: If your pet eats something which you think could be poisonous or toxic then you need to get them to your vet as quickly as possible. It is important that the vet knows what has been eaten so take any packaging with you. Some but not all poisons can be removed from the stomach by making your pet vomit but this is time dependant and needs to be done within 2-3 hours of your pet eating the toxin.

·         Vomiting: This is not always an emergency but prolonged vomiting can cause dehydration which needs to be corrected. Vomiting may also be an indicator of more serious underlying disease. If your pet has a history of scavenging then they may have a foreign body lodged in their intestines and this needs quick attention and surgery to remove.

·         Whelping: Both cats and dogs can have problems giving birth and this can put both the mum and pups or kittens at risk.  If you have any concerns at all during whelping then contact your vet but especially if more than an hour has passed with the bitch or queen straining without producing a puppy or kitten.