Signs Your Pet Needs Emergency Care Services
We love our furry friends, but animals will be animals, and sometimes they can get themselves into trouble at the worst possible time. While they may be healthy and tough, sometimes they need our intervention in times of a life-threatening crisis. Other times, our pets may fall seriously ill or be in pain, and they can't tell us what's wrong. If you own a pet, please refer to this helpful post for assistance to determine when your animal companion needs emergency veterinary care and where to go if you need an emergency vet in St. Augustine, FL.
The following are just a few examples. Use them as a guide and never guess when it comes to your pet's health.
Accidents Happen
We wish we could take our pets everywhere, but unfortunately, we can't always be by their sides. Accidents can occur inside and outside the home and they affect all kinds of pets. Indoors, animals may swallow a foreign object, such as a toy, or ingest a toxic substance, such as chocolate or antifreeze. Outdoors, pets may be hit by vehicles and be injured by wild animals or other people's pets. As soon as you become aware that any of these things have happened, you should bring your pet to the vet right away before blood loss, infection, and other complications set in.
Internal Problems, Infections, and More
Infections and internal issues can be silent killers, especially if they go undetected and untreated. Gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV), or stomach torsion, is a common but painful and fatal condition in which a dog's stomach fills with gas and fluid and may become twisted. It comes on quickly and can happen to any dog, usually after eating a lot of food before or after intense exercise. It can also happen if the dog drinks a lot of water right after a meal. If your dog has stomach torsion, it can only be saved by immediate surgery at an emergency veterinary hospital.
Dogs with this condition appear bloated, afraid, restless, and anxious, and may paw or look at their belly or whine when it's touched. They may pace, heave, spit up foam, and have shallow breathing and pale gums. Bloating is often a sign of other problems, including uterine infections (pyometra) in female dogs, internal bleeding, and others. Any time your dog appears bloated, they should be taken to an emergency vet care clinic immediately.
Sometimes, the miracle of birth can become a life-threatening situation for your pet. If you notice your pet having difficulty delivering, you should take them to the vet, where they may receive an emergency C-section to ensure the safety of the mother and offspring.
No pet owner likes to dwell on the unthinkable, but it's best to be prepared. If an accident does occur or you recognize any of the above signs, you owe it to your pet and family to get help before the incident becomes a tragedy. Forever Vets Animal Hospital facilities are open 7 days a week with extended hours and emergency veterinary services available around the clock. Our 8 locations in Baymeadows, Tinseltown, Hunters Creek, Murabella Parkway, Jacksonville Beach, Race Track Road, Nocatee and more bring vet services to you when you and your pet need them most. If you need an emergency vet in St. Augustine, FL, Forever Vets Animal Hospital is here for you and your pet. Serving Jacksonville, Orlando, St. Johns, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Pet Resort at Nocatee and more.
