Every day and night, we see a multitude of patients in our ER. Our furry patients come to us in need of care for many things. Some cases are all too familiar and can be avoided. We can share some of our data with you that will give you an idea of the most common cases for a visit to the Veterinary ER.
Toxin Ingestions: Pets are inherently curious creatures and often get into foods and medications if left in reach. We see many pets that have ingested human treats containing chocolate and raisins, human medication and rodent poison.
- chocolate ingestion from candies – there are 3 toxins in chocolate that can cause excitability, heart arrhythmias, and potentially seizures
- raisin ingestion from baked goods with raisins in them – this can cause kidney failure
- Xylitol ingestion from sugar free baked goods and gums – this can cause low blood sugars leading to seizures or liver failure
- Ingestion of human medication, the pet’s medication (overdose) and rodenticide
- Lily ingestion – causes kidney failure, even if they eat the leaf, the water, or the pollen. Some are more toxic than others
- Ethylene glycol toxicity (antifreeze) – starts as wobbliness like they are drunk and then they seem normal, progresses to vomiting, kidney failure and then to seizures
- Asthma Attack – Burning scented candles or use plug-ins which can irritate your pets’ asthma
What should you do in this situation?
Call Animal Poison Control when you are headed to the ER.
ASPCA Poison Control Phone Number: 888-426-4435
You will receive a case number and a call back number. Our ER will need both.
Vomiting & Diarrhea: There are many possible causes of vomiting and diarrhea, some common reasons include dietary indiscretion, eating people food and infection. People food when fed to pets may too greasy, fatty, and spicy which can cause inflammation of the stomach intestines.
Lacerations and Dog Fight Wounds: So many times these injuries start out as innocent play that went a little too far. Control the bleeding and contact the ER.
Hit By Car: Pets do not understand the risk of roads and cars. Some pets are fortunate in that they sustain only mild injuries, however, many pets are severely hurt and some do not survive the trauma. Do your part to help your pet avoid hit by car trauma by keeping them in a fenced yard or on a leash. Keep your kitty inside if possible.
Urinary Tract Obstructions: If your cat or dog is straining to urinate or passing small amounts of urine frequently, it’s time to see the Veterinarian. Bladder Stones or inflammation of their bladder can be very painful and if left untreated can cause the bladder rupture or even something similar to a heart attack.
Difficulty Breathing: Difficulty breathing can be very scary for you and your pet. This is a very common cause for a visit to our office. Difficulty breathing can be a symptom of heart failure, pneumonia, feline asthma and anatomic abnormalities.
Worsening of Underlying Illness: Our pets are living longer and many are being treated for long-term medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and cancer. Many of these cases will find their way to our ER for care.
While we hope your pet does not experience any of these emergencies, we want you to know that we are available to help, 24/7.