Types of emergencies that can occur

There are many possible emergencies ranging from automobile injury to acute (sudden) internal problems such as intestinal blockage.  However, the following is a list of the most serious emergencies and require immediate attention:

•     Any severe difficulty in breathing
•     Cardiac Failure
•     Massive Hemorrhage
•     Profound shock due to any cause
•     Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions)
•     Penetrating wounds of the thorax (chest) and/or abdomen
•     Coma/Loss of consciousness
•     Poisoning
•     Massive bodily injury
•     Seizures
•     Burns/Scalds
•     Heat Stroke
•     Bites/Fight Wounds
•     Continuous vomiting and/or diarrhea
•     Eclampsia (milk fever)
•     Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (watery, bloody diarrhea)
•     Bloat (gastric dilation with or without volvulus (rotation of stomach))

If there is any question whether you have an emergency situation, always call your veterinarian for advise.

What to do while getting veterinary help

The most important thing to do, which is also the hardest, is to stay calm.  Call, or have someone else call, your veterinarian immediately.  Let the hospital know that you have an emergency and give them the details so that they can give you advice.

Keep your pet warm and as quiet as possible.  Try to keep movement to a minimum if there is possible trauma, broken legs, etc.

If you have time, obtain a suitable container, such as a strong cardboard box, and place the animal in it.  Cover the animal with a towel or blanket and place the box in your car.  For large dogs, you can place the dog on a heavy blanket to act as a stretcher.

Most importantly, you must drive safely and carefully to your veterinarian.  Better yet, see if someone who can drive you while you sit in the back with your pet.

Emergency situations and actions you can take

Automobile injury - Make sure your pet has a clear airway.  However, avoid putting your hands in the mouth if the pet is conscious (we do not want you to be injured).  Cover wounds with the cleanest material available.  Get to an animal hospital as soon as possible.

Bleeding/Hemorrhage - If bleeding is severe and on a limb, apply a tourniquet above the wound just tight enough to significantly reduce blood flow.  Do not leave it on for more than 20 minutes.  Apply a pad of cotton or wool over some gauze dressing to the wound.  Bandage it firmly in place.  If no bandage material is available, simply apply direct pressure over the injury with your hand.

Seizures - Prevent your pet from injuring itself (keep it away from stairs etc.).  However, also be careful to avoid injury to yourself.  Do not put your hand or fingers in its mouth.  After the seizure, keep your pet in a quiet room until you can get to a veterinarian.  If a seizure is lasting more than 3-5 minutes, you need to bring the pet to your veterinarian.

Burns/Scalds -  Cool the area with cool (not ice cold) water either by keeping it under running water or covering it with wet towels.  Cover the area with the cleanest material possible.

Eclampsia - This condition is usually seen in bitches 3-5 weeks after whelping and usually in smaller breeds.  It is characterized by excessive panting, wild eyes, muscle spasms, weakness and seizures.  Remove the dog from her puppies to prevent further nursing.  The condition is brought on by reduced levels of calcium in the bitch, such as is seen with nursing.  Call your veterinarian immediately.  This can be treated but is fatal is not treated immediately.

Heat stroke - Dogs left in a car summer or dogs with no refuge while in the yard can get this condition.  Place your dog in a tub of cool (not cold) water.  When you are ready to transport your pet to the hospital, wrap it in a cool, wet towel and drive to your veterinarian's hospital.

Bites/Fight wounds -  Clean with cool water and call your veterinarian for further advice and an appointment.

Poisons -  Call your veterinarian immediately with the name of the product.  He/She may direct you to induce vomiting using 1 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide or a tsp. of salt placed in the mouth.  Some products (corrosive material such as strong acids, alkali or petroleum based products) should never be vomited up, thus consult with your veterinarian.  The product in still on the skin, wash is profusely (wear gloves to protect yourself).  Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately and preferably with the product container.

Eye injury -  If the cornea is penetrated or perforated, it will be very painful.  Try to prevent your pet from scratching at its eye.  If the eyeball is out of the socket, keep it moist with saline solution (e.g. contact lens solution) and protect it from further injury.  Seek veterinarian help immediately.

Shock -  Keep your pet warm and quiet.  Seek veterinarian help immediately.

What is shock?

Shock has many definitions.  It is a complex body reaction to a number of situations.  These include, but are not limited to, sudden loss of blood (hemorrhage), heart failure, other causes of decreased circulation (e.g. severe and sudden allergic reaction, heat stroke), severe trauma (dog fights, hit by car), and overwhelming infection.  If not treated promptly and effectively, shock may cause irreversible injury to body cells and be fatal.

Signs include rapid breathing, which may or may not be noisy, rapid heart rate with a weak pulse, pale or white mucous membranes (gums, lips), severe depression (listlessness), and cool extremities.

Shock is a serious problem in and of itself.  You should seek veterinary help immediately so that the shock can be treated as well as whatever is causing the shock.

Quick summary

These are just general guidelines for you to have in case of an emergency.  As with any situation, please call your veterinarian immediately if you have questions or concerns.  It is also very handy to know if your veterinarian sees emergencies after work hours.  If he/she does not, always have the number of an emergency clinic available so that you are not wasting time trying to find one during an emergency.

You may want to stock your house or car with emergency supplies such as bandaging material, saline solution, emergency phone numbers etc.

It also seems to be Murphy's Law that emergencies pop up when owners are out of town.  Always leave the name and number of your veterinarian with your boarding kennel or pet sitter.  Always leave a number where you can be reached, if you are going to be reachable.  You can also call your veterinarian and advise them that you will be out of town, and in case an emergency arises, the veterinarian has permission to treat your pet.  If you have financial limitations, let the pet sitter or veterinarian know how much can be spent in case of an emergency situation.

By having a plan before an emergency arises, you will be better prepared to help your pet should the occasion arise.

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