When To Bring Your Dog to the ER

Alright, raise your hand if you don’t mind getting up at 2 A.M. to bring your dog in to the emergency veterinarian.

Didn’t think so. 

Often times, as a pet owner, it’s hard to know whether your dog’s condition is a true medical emergency or not… or more importantly, if it warrants getting up in the middle of the night to seek medical attention from a veterinary professional you don’t know.

As an emergency critical care veterinary specialist, I’ll be honest in saying that some emergencies can wait to see your regular veterinarian the following morning (like diarrhea, midnight health certificates, itchy skin, urinary tract infections, etc.). However, there are certain situations where it is imperative that your dog go in to the animal ER, as sometimes it can be a potentially fatal problem without treatment.

I’ve seen a lot of emergencies that could have waited, but the pet owners were concerned enough that they didn’t mind the 2 A.M. visit, as it gave them peace of mind. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen some sad cases where pet owners waited too long, only to have animals die as they are being wheeled into the ER. It’s not worth chancing that you wake up to find your dog deceased in the middle of the night. In fact, no dog or cat should ever die at home, but that’s a whole other blog that I’ll elaborate on in the future.

Some signs that warrant you getting up in the middle of the night and getting to an emergency vet ASAP include:

• Difficulty breathing, which may be manifested as blue gums, coughing of foamy, pink frothy liquid, panting constantly, or stretching the head and neck out while breathing
• Constant coughing and inability to rest through the night
• A distended, “bloated” abdomen
• Non-productive retching (which is classic for gastric-dilitation volvulus or “GDV”)
• Anxiety or restlessness (often a sign of pain or a GDV)
• Pale gums (which is often seen with internal bleeding or anemia)
• An elevated heart rate (> 160 beats per minute at home)
• A respiratory rate of > 60 breaths per minute at home while resting
• Crying out in pain
• Jaundiced (yellow gums)
• Not being able to move or walk or dragging of the back legs
• Extreme lethargy
• Any significant amounts of bleeding
• Any trauma
• Any poisoning or toxin ingestion
• Vomiting more than two or three times
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Abnormal odor from your dog
• Fever
• Squinting, bulging, or painful eyeballs
• Straining to urinate, making multiple trips to urinate, squatting to urinate without producing any urine
• Collapse
• Anything that makes you worried
• Tremors or seizures
• Any abnormal behavior that you’re worried about (e.g., acting aloof or particularly clingy)

(Fear not, cat owners, I’ll have a different list for you soon!)
  
While this list isn’t all-inclusive, it gives you a good general idea to work with. When in doubt, call your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian, as the receptionist or veterinary technician may be able to help guide you and “phone triage” you (although they are obviously always going to bear on the side of caution).  Also, keep in mind that the sooner you diagnose and treat a problem, the less expensive it often is.

If you do bring your dog in to the ER, make sure to bring a book or computer; just like a human ER, there is often a several hour wait to be seen, and at 2 a.m., some of your fellow humans are going to be less than appealing conversationalists.

When in doubt, if you’re concerned, bring ‘em in, because you know your dog the best.  The time is a small sacrifice for your dog’s health and your piece of mind.

Originally published on Pet Health Network.

ASPCA Offers Summer Pet Safety Tips

“Summertime is a wonderful time for family and friends to get together and enjoy themselves, often with a beloved pet by their side,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Midwest office. “However, it’s important to consider the hidden (and sometimes not-so-hidden) dangers that can harm our favorite furry companions.”

Hansen suggested these ways to help keep cats and dogs cool during summer heat and safe during summer activities:

• Keep pets away from summer barbecues. The food and drinks served at summer parties can be poisonous to pets. “Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression, comas or even death,” Hansen said. “Similarly, remember that the snacks you serve your friends should not be a treat for your pet.”
• Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh water. Cats and dogs can become dehydrated quickly, so provide access to water, especially when it is hot outdoors.
• Provide shade on sunny days. Make sure your pet has a place to get out of the sun, and keep your cat or dog indoors on extremely hot days. Above all, never leave your pet in a parked car. “On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time,” said Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. “Heatstroke can develop, which is potentially fatal.”
• Keep your pet pest-free. Be sure to use products specifically manufactured for your pet, as products for dogs and cats differ in their chemical composition. Read directions carefully before applying these products.
• Be safe around water. Do not leave your pet unsupervised around pools, lakes and beaches. Do not let your pet drink pool water, as the chlorine and other chemicals can cause stomach upset.
• Beware of “high-rise syndrome.” Pet owners that live in residences with upper floor windows and doors need to keep window screens tightly secured and keep doors closed. “During warmer months, we see an increase in injured animals as a result of high-rise syndrome, which occurs when pets fall out of windows or doors and are seriously or fatally injured,” Murray said.
• Keep pets away from fireworks. “While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma to curious pets, even unused fireworks are hazardous,” Hansen said. “Many types of fireworks contain potentially toxic substances such as potassium nitrate, copper, chlorates, arsenic and other heavy metals.”
  
  

Article originally published by The Cat Channel.

Pet First Aid 101

Did you know that this month is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month? When it comes to caring for your dog or cat, prevention is the best medicine.
So, how do we prevent accidents and emergencies from happening in the first place? Simple steps of prevention like:

• Keeping your dog on a leash or under strict verbal control (to prevent being hit by a car, etc.)
• Keeping your cat indoors (to prevent being attacked by the neighborhood dog, etc.)
• Pet-proofing your house to make sure accidental poisoning doesn’t occur
• Appropriately crate training of your dog
• Making sure your pets are appropriately collared (at all times) and microchipped

Most importantly, monitor your dog or cat carefully for signs of illness. Prevent an emergency situation before it occurs: be aware of any changes in your pet’s health or behavior. If your pet exhibits any of the following signs, seek veterinary attention immediately! As we discussed in a previous blog, the sooner your veterinarian can diagnose the problem, the better your pet’s prognosis is (and the less expensive it is!).

• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss
• Collapse
• Persistent coughing
• Dilated pupils
• Lethargy/weakness
• Blue or pale gums
• Restlessness and panting
• Unproductive retching
• Difficulty breathing
• Abnormal heart rate
• Pain
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination

Stop. Assess. Act.
If your dog or cat does require first aid, the first thing to do is to stop and remain calm. It’s important that you keep calm so you can properly assess the situation and communicate clearly with your veterinarian, emergency veterinarian, or Pet Poison Helpline.

1. Put safety first. Before rushing in to aid an injured pet, take a moment to ensure that it’s safe for you to enter the area.
2. Check the ABCDs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability. Clear your pet’s airway, check for breathing and pulse and assess his level of injury.
3. Administer first aid. Control bleeding, flush burns, immobilize broken limbs, etc.
4. Get to a veterinary hospital ASAP. Program into your cell phone the numbers of your veterinarian, an emergency veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680). Call the veterinary hospital to alert them that you are on the way, so they can be prepared.

Next week, we’ll take about basic vitals that you should know for your dog – so you know what an elevated heart rate is and when it’s abnormal. Stay tuned so you’re prepared!


Originally published by Pet Health Network. 

Our top 10 summer safety tips for dogs

Our pets love summer just as much as we do! It’s the best time of year to be out and about and enjoying all that the season has to offer, from picnics to hikes, swimming, running, or just enjoying a nap in the backyard with your best canine friend.

Warm weather can be dangerous for our pets. It’s hard for pets to keep cool when the sun is beating down, and that’s because animals don’t sweat like people do. You probably knew that dogs cool themselves through panting, but did you know that they sweat through their paws too? When there is only hot air for a dog to breathe, it’s a lot harder for that dog to keep cool. And while cats tend tolerate the heat a little better than dogs, and even prefer it (we’ve all seen a cat stretched out on a sunny windowsill), that doesn’t mean that you should forget about your cat this summer! Read on to learn some important summer safety tips for dogs and cats:

1. Never, ever, EVER leave your pet in a hot car. It can take minutes – yes, MINUTES – for a pet to develop heat stroke and suffocate in a car. Most people don’t realize how hot it gets in parked cars. On a 78 degree day, for instance, temperatures in a car can reach 90 degrees in the shade and top 160 degrees if parked directly in the sun! Your best bet is to leave your pet home on warm days. If you’re driving around with your dog or cat in the car, bring water and a water dish and take your pet with you when you leave the car.

2. Make sure your pet is protected from parasites like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. If not protected, your pet is at risk for heartworm, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and a host of other nasty and dangerous conditions. And don’t forget, many of these diseases can be caught by people, too!

3. Keep the paws in mind. When the sun is cooking, surfaces like asphalt or metal can get really hot! Try to keep your pet off of hot asphalt; not only can it burn paws, but it can also increase body temperature and lead to overheating. Also, it’s not a good idea to drive around with your dog in the bed of a truck – the hot metal can burn paws quickly (and they can fall out or be injured or killed in an accident).

4. Your pet should always have access to fresh water and shade. Our pets, especially dogs, get much thirstier than we do when they get hot, and other than panting and drinking, they really have no way to cool themselves down. Also, get your pet in the shade as often as possible. While dogs and cats like to sunbathe, direct sunlight can overheat them (especially dogs) and cause heat stroke. 

5. If your dog loves to swim, give him his very own "kiddy pool." Dogs who love the water love it even more in the hot months and getting wet keeps them cool. Providing a small, kid-sized pool will also keep them safe.

6. Just because dogs instinctively know how to swim doesn’t mean they’re good swimmers. And if they jump in your swimming pool, they might not be able to get out without help and could easily drown. Make sure your dog can’t get into your swimming pool without you around. And if that’s not possible, make sure he can get out on his own. Read more in our separate article about water safety. 

7. Believe it or not, dogs can sunburn, especially those with short or light-colored coats. And just like for people, sunburns can be painful for a dog and overexposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. Talk to your veterinarian about sunscreens for your pet (don’t assume a sunscreen for people is appropriate for your dog). 

8. If you can’t trust your dog 100% to come when called, keep him on a leash. Summertime means all sorts of exciting sights, scents, critters running around, and new and exciting places to explore. You never want to lose your pet because he she became distracted in an unfamiliar environment and was lost or harmed in an accident. And remember, not every dog is meant to be off-leash; some dogs just can never be fully trusted to come when called. Make sure you understand your dog’s tendencies and err on the side of being overly-cautious. 

9. After a long winter, many dogs put on a few extra pounds. Summer is the perfect time to increase his level of exercise and get in tip-top shape. A pet that maintains a healthy weight throughout his lifetime will live, on average, 2-3 years longer than an overweight pet! Just make sure not to over-exert your dog – give him or her adequate rest and if  your dog is especially overweight, make sure you ease him or her into physical activity.

10. This one’s for the cats: keep your windows screened! We all know cats love windowsills. You may want your house to be ventilated, but you definitely do not want your kitty to fall out!

And perhaps most important, pay attention to your dog and cat – you’ll know when they seem uncomfortable. Summer can be a great time to spend with your dog or cat, but it’s important to keep these tips in mind as the days grow longer! Also, be sure to check out our tips for barbeque and firework safety. And as always, make sure you talk with your veterinarian about any questions or concerns you have about your pets in warm summer weather.

Originally published on Pet Health Network.