Page 36 - Harnett Life Spring 2018

Life with Our Animals and Emergencies

By Dr. Janet L. Batker

We receive a lot of calls at our clinic concerning whether wait too long to bring in a pet with diarrhea, especially if
or not a pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian, and people it is vomiting as well, because dehydration and changes in
ask me all the time what to be really concerned about. We internal chemistry associated with this can make it harder
discuss this at staff meetings as well, because typically to treat and control successfully and can be a sign of an
our phones are answered by our client care team, not the underlying problem. A pet that is listless and laying around
veterinary professionals, and our lay staff needs to be able for a few days must come in. What if they need a blood
to give guidance to pet owners. Let’s say that any eye transfusion. A large dog acutely vomiting and beginning to
problem and any breathing problems constitute at least swell is bloating, and minutes make a difference. If your
an urgency in our book. A seizing or non-responsive pet, pet is hit by a car, bring it right away because shock and
or one who got into something toxic-emergency! Do not trauma to the heart and lungs or bleeding into the abdomen
wait to bring in a male cat that has been observed strain- are immediately life threatening but hidden from view, than
ing to urinate with increased frequency-if his urinary tract the disturbing broken limb. It never hurts to call to obtain
is obstructed it doesn’t take long for the heart to become a veterinarian’s advice concerning a problem, whether it is
disturbed and the kidneys to fail. A pet that has a large during the day or after hours, make sure your pet is estab-
wound that is bleeding needs to be seen right away. Don’t lished as a patient with someone.