Pet Emergency Guide

Pet Emergency: How To Care For Your Pets

If your pets experience a health emergency, what do you do? Here are some of the common situations that can happen to your pets, as well as the possible signs and causes for each condition. Read on to learn how to address the situations expertly to keep your pets safe.

Allergic reactions 

Often, allergic reactions are caused by stings, bites, and environmental allergies, as well as medicine and vaccines. Common symptoms of allergies include hives, scratching, diarrhea, vomiting, eye puffiness, collapse, and trouble breathing. 

So, if your pet has an allergic reaction, visit the vet immediately and request for a dose of oral antihistamine. But if the pet has been stung by an insect, use a tweezer to remove the sting and then apply baking soda on the wound.

Seizures

Seizures are usually caused by liver disease, low blood sugar, brain disease, toxic ingestion, and idiopathic epilepsy. Symptoms include uncontrollable shaking, mobility issues, loss of urinary or bowel controls, and overall unresponsiveness. 

When your pet has a seizure, visit the vet immediately. Avoid restraining the pet and keep your hands from the mouth. Keep away all foreign objects that might harm your pet.

Poisoning

Your pet is also vulnerable to poisoning that might be caused by antifreeze, flea products, pain relievers, sweeteners, cannabis, grapes, and alcoholic beverages. Signs include disorientation, seizures, tremors, vomiting, and excessive salivation. Treatment should be administered immediately by a certified vet. And if you know the package or product that caused the poisoning, carry it with you to the vet.

Cardiac arrest 

Pets also suffer from cardiac failure or aortic thromboembolism. Symptoms include vomiting, bloated abdomen, respiratory distress, rapid heart rate, gray or blue gum color, collapse and weakness. If your pet experiences cardiac arrest, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. More importantly, limit the pet’s activity.

Choking

Your pet might accidentally swallow a foreign object such as a toy that results in asthma and trachea collapse. Symptoms include drooling, forceful coughing, salivation, retching/gagging, and restlessness. Try to remove the foreign object and remove the collar from the neck. But if you are unable to remove the obstruction, visit the vet immediately.

Overheating 

Exposure to heat over a prolonged time can cause health problems for your dog. Thick coat dog breeds and obese dogs are more vulnerable to overheating. Symptoms include disorientation, lethargy, salivation and excessive panting. Move the dog from direct heat or sun and keep it calm. Gently apply cool water to relax the dog.

Conclusion

If you’re unable to deal with the pet’s emergency, you need to visit the vet immediately to prevent the condition from worsening.

References: Pet Emergency Education, AVMA, Harlingen Veterinary Clinic