Emergencies
During our regular business hours, OrtonVets staff and resources are available to help you with any emergencies your pet experiences. If possible, please call in advance so we can prepare for your arrival.
Common Veterinary Emergencies
Here are a few of the most common veterinary emergencies for pets and what you need to know about finding adequate treatment for them.
Vomiting and diarrhea
If vomiting and diarrhea become severe it could signify that your pet is becoming seriously unwell . This is especially true if he also develops other symptoms such as blood in his vomit or feces or seems particularly weak or lethargic.
Breathing problems
Unsurprisingly, any sign of respiratory distress should be treated as an emergency and you should get to your vet immediately. There are a number of different things that can cause breathing problems, including choking on a foreign object, allergic reaction, heart or lung problems.
If your pet starts wheezing, choking, persistently coughing or seems to be struggling to breathe, get in contact with our vet right away for an examination.
Poisoning
Countless animals get taken to their veterinarian with suspected poisoning every week. There are many different substances that are toxic to animals from cleaning products and chemicals, to innocent-looking plants and flowers. There are also many human foods that we inadvertently share with our pets that are actually dangerous for them to eat. Some of the most common perpetrators are : chocolate, garlic, grapes, and raisins.
While many types of poison can be successfully treated, prompt medical intervention is essential. If you suspect that your pet has eaten something he shouldn’t, you must seek immediate professional care.
Seizures
It is not just humans that can be affected by seizures, a frightening and potentially dangerous health problem. These tend to occur due to a sudden neurological change affecting your pet, and symptoms include uncontrollable shaking, tremors, loss of consciousness and bladder and bowel control.
You should ensure your pet is somewhere safe where he cannot hurt himself and time how long the seizure lasts. After it has finished, contact our veterinarian to obtain advice, particularly if your animal has had multiple seizures.
Sharp force trauma
If your pet has sustained an injury that has cause him to bleed profusely, immediate veterinary intervention is required. Sometimes there may be something stuck in the wound, such as glass or a stick.
Do not be tempted to pull it out. Instead, wrap the wound as well as you can around the object before taking your pet to our veterinarian. It will be necessary for us to check that no internal organs have been punctured or damaged by the object penetrating his body.
Eye injuries
Eye problems should never be dealt with by anyone other than a trained professional and they can quickly get worse if left untreated. Whether you believe there to be a foreign body stuck in his eye, or he is experiencing redness, discharge or swelling, get to our vet for treatment.
Failure to urinate
If you have a dog or cat that goes a day without urinating or appears to be trying to urinate and is unable to, then it could indicate a potential blockage. These can be life-threatening and so you should get him checked immediately.
Blood in the urine is also a sign of an underlying health problem so should always be checked out.
For emergencies please call 01733 792 866.
