Puppy and Kitten Awareness

By nature, puppies and kittens are curious and playful. Their spirit and energy makes puppies and kittens wonderful to own but can also lead them to danger. Injuries, ingestion of toxic substances and other problems can all lead to medical emergencies for young animals. It is always important to focus on pet owner education. Knowing the potential emergencies that can affect kittens and puppies can help your pet avoid a medical emergency.

Common Problems Affecting Kittens and Puppies

• Ingestion of toxic substances. There are a variety of toxic substances found in the house that can cause serious illnesses for puppies and kittens. Everyday substances and food items like antifreeze, chocolates and onions can poison pets. To prevent problems, avoid feeding your pet anything not approved by the vet, and keep all household chemicals out of your pet’s reach.
• Car accidents. Car accidents are a common problem for puppies and kittens. Keeping your puppy or kitten inside or on a leash can help prevent accidents.
• Ingestion of objects. Baby animals are just like baby humans: they like to chew things. This can lead to intestinal problems like blockages and punctures. Keeping your small chewable items off of the floor can help protect your pet from this kind of problem.
• Trouble breathing. Pets can have trouble breathing for a variety of reasons. Young pets may have trouble breathing because of an allergic reaction, or because they’re choking. Trouble breathing is a serious medical emergency. If your pet is struggling to breathe, take your pet to the veterinarian right away.

Watch for Signs of Pet Distress

If your pet experiences a medical emergency, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs of illness or medical distress. Watch your pet for changes in behavior like lethargy, disinterest in eating, blood in the stool, difficulty urinating or defecating, fever, confusion and lack of coordination.

If your pet experiences one of these problems, acting quickly could save your puppy or kitten’s life. Keep the phone number for an emergency veterinarian plugged into your phone. Post information for an emergency vet on your fridge to make it easy to contact the vet right away.

Know Who To Contact In A Medical Emergency

At Animal Emergency Care of Braselton, we help pets stay healthy. As your pet’s emergency vet in Braselton, we can give your pet the treatment he or she needs to recover from an injury, illness or accidental poisoning. For more info, call us today at (470) 209-7222.