Accidents and illness can occur in a heartbeat. Your dog’s survival may depend on how fast you identify an emergency situation and what you do once you realize that there is a problem.
When asked what the most common dog emergency is, many people will say trauma such as being hit by a car. Ironically, this is not true.
Vomiting is the number one reason why dog owners haul their pet off to the veterinarian’s office or emergency pet center. Vomiting is a common symptom of many illnesses. How do you know if vomiting constitutes an emergency?
A general guideline is that you don’t usually have to panic if a healthy dog has a single episode of vomiting. If this occurs with your dog, you can try withholding food while offering small amounts of water frequently. Chipped ice is a good way to get fluids into your dog without causing additional stomach distress.
Once your dog is able to hold water down, you can begin to feed a light diet. Boiled hamburger and rice or chicken and pasta work well.
Dogs that vomit repeatedly may be in serious trouble. Repeated vomiting can be a sign of a serious illness among puppies, small dogs and older dogs, which are most vulnerable to illness.
If you see any sign of blood in the dog’s vomit, seek medical attention immediately.
If your dog is trying to vomit and cannot or if the dog’s abdomen appears swollen or distended, seek medical attention immediately. This could be an indication of a gastric torsion and the problem will cause death if not surgically taken care of right away.
The second most common canine emergency is diarrhea, which frequently results from dogs eating something they should not consume. Don’t let your dog have access to trash cans. Don’t feed cooked bones. Refrain from giving your dog fatty treats.
It can be difficult to determine why a dog is experiencing diarrhea. It can result from dietary changes or be a sign of a more serious problem.
Parvo is a disease that strikes dogs. Symptoms include both vomiting and diarrhea, which very well may be bloody. This disease can kill, so seek immediate veterinary attention. In fact, do your dog a big favor and have him or her vaccinated for parvo.
The third most common emergency among dogs is loss of appetite. Unfortunately, this symptom can be minor or a very serious sign that something is amiss and it generally means a trip to the veterinarian, who is better equipped to determine the cause.
Being hit by a car is another common emergency. If your dog is hit, seek medical attention whether or not there is a visible problem. One cannot see internal bleeding with the naked eye.
Wounds are a problem that can have you making an emergency run to the vet’s office. If your dog has a wound, do not panic. Start by cleaning it with clear running water. Follow this by applying a clean dressing or towel. Monitor the bleeding. If the bleeding is persistent, apply pressure with a bandage and seek emergency help right away.
No matter the problem, when in doubt seek emergency treatment. It is far better to be safe than sorry.
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- Canine Emergencies
- Common Types of Puppy Sicknesses
- Common Plants Potentially Dangerous to Puppies
- Five Most Common Puppy Diseases
- Hair Loss – Common Causes and Solutions
