How To Tell Your Pet Needs Emergency Care

When you have a dog, medical emergencies are often unavoidable. These emergencies can come in various forms. 

However, sometimes you may wonder whether you should rush your pet to the vet or take a wait-and-see approach.

While there are some instances where you should take a more relaxed approach, there are others where you should move swiftly. Here's a look at some warning signs that you need to take your dog for emergency care.

Severe Bleeding

If your dog encounters severe bleeding, or any type of bleeding that doesn't stop after a few minutes, you should take your pet in for emergency treatment. Consistently oozing blood is never good.

Watch out for bleeding from the mouth, nose, or rectum as this tends to be a sign that something is wrong.

Severe loss of blood can lead to organ failure and can end up being fatal. You need to take your dog to see the vet as quickly as possible.

Breathing Difficulties

If your dog has labored breathing it is often an emergency. If you can visibly see that your pet is struggling to catch its breath, you should take action as soon as possible.

It is indicative of a problem with their respiratory system and it needs to be dealt with swiftly. An inability to breathe can also prove to be fatal if it is not dealt with quickly.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Vomiting and diarrhea will happen occasionally when you have a dog. If your dog seems fine and the incidents are not severe, a wait-and-see approach can be used.

However, if your pet is vomiting severely and has heavy diarrhea for 24 hours, you should seek out emergency care. This is especially important if you notice other forms of illness such as seizures or staggering. 

If your pet seems extremely lethargic as well, it's time to take them to the vet.

Continuous diarrhea can dehydrate your pet and can lead to severe medical issues. Your pet is likely to refuse food and water during this time which can lead to even more weakening of their body. This is why it is so important to get them into emergency care.

When you have a dog you will quickly learn that they will get sick occasionally. However, while many illnesses will pass on their own some illnesses must be taken care of by a vet as quickly as possible. Your quick action can help to resolve the matter swiftly and your pet will be healthy again in no time. If you are concerned that your pet is experiencing a health emergency, take them to a local emergency animal clinic today.


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