What To Expect

Traumatic injury in pets is sudden and severe physical harm resulting from an event, causing various physical and emotional damages that require immediate veterinary care.

Signs of Traumatic Injury

1. Bleeding or other visible wounds
2. Limping
3. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
4. Loss of consciousness or disorientation
5. Pale gums or tongue
6. Rapid heartbeat
7. Swelling or bruising
8. Pain or sensitivity when touched or moved

Examples:

Fights with other animals, stepped-on, vehicular accidents, lacerations from sharp objects, falling from a height, weapons injury.

Toxic ingestion in pets refers to ingesting harmful substances leading to potentially life-threatening symptoms that require urgent veterinary attention to prevent further harm or death.

Signs of Toxic Ingestion

1. Vomiting or diarrhea
2. Loss of appetite
3. Lethargy or weakness
4. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
5. Seizures or tremors
6. Excessive salivation
7. Abnormal behaviour
8. Disorientation
9. Jaundice
10. Unconsciousness or collapse

Examples:

Human Foods: Grapes, some fruit seeds & pits, chocolate & candy (Xylitol), chives, mould, onions, leaves of potatoes or tomatoes, caffeine, walnuts & macadamia nuts, yeast dough.

Medications: painkillers, anti-depressants, cold & allergy medication, vaccines.

Household, Garage & Gardening Products: bleach, disinfectants, insecticide, rodenticide, fertilizer, plant food, herbicide, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, engine oil, pain, varnishes, solvents, batteries.

Digestive emergencies in pets refer to severe conditions affecting the digestive system that require urgent veterinary care to prevent severe consequences or death. These emergencies may result from various causes such as foreign object ingestion, toxic ingestion, gastric torsion, or underlying medical conditions.

Signs of Digestive Emergency

1. Vomiting
2. Diarrhea or constipation
3. Abdominal pain or discomfort
4. Loss of appetite
5. Lethargy or weakness
6. Difficulty breathing
7. Straining to defecate or urinate
8. Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
9. Dehydration
10. Unusual behaviour or agitation

Examples:

Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (Bloat), intestinal blockage, pancreatitis, colitis, peritonitis.

Respiratory distress in pets is a condition characterized by impaired or difficult breathing. It is a medical emergency that a variety of factors, including disease, trauma, or environmental factors can cause. Pets experiencing respiratory distress may exhibit changes in respiratory rate, effort, or pattern, and may have difficulty getting enough oxygen. Prompt veterinary attention is crucial to managing respiratory distress and preventing complications.

Signs of Respiratory Distress

1. Rapid or shallow breathing
2. Open mouth breathing or panting (especially in cats)
3. Wheezing or whistling sound when breathing
4. Bluish or pale gums/tongue
5. Coughing or gagging
6. Lethargy or weakness
7. Use of abdominal muscles to breathe
8. Restlessness or anxiety
9. Standing with elbows pointed out and neck extended

Examples of conditions that cause Respiratory Distress:

Asthma, respiratory infection, heart disease, allergic reaction, heatstroke, trauma.

Urinary emergencies in pets refer to conditions that affect the urinary tract, such as blockages, infections, or other obstructions. These can cause painful or difficult urination, blood in the urine, or a lack of urination. Urinary emergencies require prompt veterinary attention to prevent severe or life-threatening complications.

Signs of Urinary Emergency

1. Straining to urinate or inability to urinate
2. Crying out or showing signs of pain while urinating
3. Increased frequency of urination
4. Urinating small amounts frequently or dribbling urine
5. Blood in the urine
6. Licking the genital area excessively
7. Inappropriate urination (urinating outside of the litter box or designated area)
8. Loss of appetite
9. Lethargy or weakness
10. Vomiting

Examples of conditions that cause urinary emergencies

Urinary obstruction or blockage, urinary tract infection, bladder stones, incontinence, kidney or bladder tumours.

A severe allergic reaction in pets, also known as anaphylaxis, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen. It can cause a range of symptoms, including difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, and collapse. Immediate veterinary attention is required to treat this condition.

Signs of Severe Allergic Reaction

1. Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
2. Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
3. Hives or welts on the skin
4. Vomiting or diarrhea
5. Collapse or loss of consciousness
6. Excessive drooling or panting
7. Pale or blue gums or tongue
8. Rapid heart rate or weak pulse

Examples of potential allergens

Insect bites, peanuts, shellfish, wheat, medications, pollen, mould, chemicals, and cleaning products.

Cardiac distress in pets refers to any condition that affects the heart’s ability to function properly. This can include abnormalities in heart rhythm, congenital heart defects, heart disease, heart failure, or other conditions that affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.

Signs of Severe Allergic Reaction

1. Weakness or lethargy
2. Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
3. Coughing, especially during or after exercise
4. Fainting or collapsing
5. Exercise intolerance or reluctance to move
6. Bluish or gray gums or tongue
7. Loss of appetite or weight loss
8. Abdominal distension or fluid accumulation

Examples of conditions that cause cardiac distress

Congenital heart defects (born with these conditions), heart disease, heartworms, arrhythmias, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, pulmonary hypertension, cardiogenic shock.