25/06/2024
What's Up, Doc?
There are many reasons we take our little furry ones to the Vet. Sometimes, we aren't sure whether it is an emergency that requires immediate attention. Many minor problems, like ear and bladder infections, hot spots, and even broken toenails, require medical intervention but are not life-threatening.
However, there are medical emergencies where no mucking around should be allowed. Here are some symptoms to look out for that indicate a visit to the Vet is vital.
a). Difficulty breathing: This is an emergency; three minutes without breathing, and unfortunately, it is all over. So, if your pup is having trouble breathing, making loud noises, puffing their lips or in general just breathing funny, it is time to go to the vet.
b). Symptoms of Bloat include panting and restlessness, unsuccessful attempts to vomit, and abdominal distention. Some dogs exhibit all of these symptoms, while others may only pant and act restless. If the pooch is indicating any of these symptoms for bloat, an urgent trip to the surgery is vital.
c). Collapse or profound weakness: These symptoms are not to be played around with as they could indicate internal bleeding, anaphylactic shock, poisonings, organ failure or Addison's disease.
d). Seizures: Although one seizure is probably not life-threatening, seizures often come in clusters, which can worsen progressively. Seizures caused by toxins can cause fatal reactions.
e). Profuse bleeding or major known trauma: Heavy bleeding is a no-brainer. Some dogs who have been hit by a car, involved in a serious fight with a larger dog, or have fallen from a height can appear all alright at first despite suffering major internal injuries that require immediate professional care.
f). Protracted vomiting and/or diarrhea: If Fido is suffering from loose stools or vomiting for a few hours or a day, they require their stomach to be rested and fed bland food of chicken and mashed pumpkin. However, if the vomiting and diarrhea persist, they can dehydrate, which can become life-threatening. The symptoms can also point to other serious problems, such as gastrointestinal obstruction.
g). Struggling to urinate: This may signify a bladder infection or a more severe condition of urinary tract obstruction caused by bladder stones. While a Bladder infection is excruciating but not life-threatening, bladder stones are very urgent indeed.
h). Not eating or drinking: Some dogs are food-oriented, and others are not so; you know your dog. It is not unusual for dogs to intermittently pass up a meal here or there. However, dogs who go longer than a day without eating almost always are sick and run the risk of dehydration due to not getting fluid from not drinking enough water or from their food.
i). Coughing: This can be a symptom of numerous diseases, from pneumonia to exposure to rat bait, kennel cough, or the presence of a tick.
j). Loss of use of rear legs: Usually, a paralysis tick is the first thing we think of when we notice the loss of use of the back legs. Another point to consider is it can be a sign of injury to the spinal cord.
k). Severe pain: It goes without saying that if your dog is exhibiting symptoms of severe pain, e.g., panting, restlessness, vocalizing, or badly limping, the vet is the place to head.
l). Known exposure to dangerous poisons: There are too many different poisonous things around your dog can come into contact to list here. The advice is that if you catch your pooch eating something that can make them ill, don't wait until they show signs of poisoning. Take a sample of the product you are concerned about with you; this will give the Vet a much easier job determining treatment if needed.
One of the first indications of problems is the colour of their gums, which should be pink and moist. If you press gently with a finger, the area should go white and then return to pink in a second or two. If the gums are pale, grey, blue or red, this indicates your dog is not well and requires medical intervention.
Remember, the Vet has a phone, so if in doubt, a call to the surgery can guide you as to whether you should head in their direction now or an appointment in the near future would be needed.
