Animal Emergency Service - Illness
Abdominal Pain
Signs:
Whining, listless/restless, lethargic, arching
back, unable to get comfortable, vomiting/
diarrhea, bloated or distended abdomen.
Kim Dodge, DVM
Dr. Dodge with Milo
A graduate of Michigan State University, Dr. Kim Dodge received her B.S. Degree in Zoology in 1995 and her DVM Degree in 1999. Previous to her position at Animal Emergency Service, Dr. Dodge practiced in Indiana and then at a 24-hour emergency and routine care veterinary facility in Connecticut.
Dr. Dodge is co-founder and board member of the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss. She also works to mentor young deaf individuals who are interested in health care related careers.
Dr. Dodge enjoys watching and playing sports, reading fiction and the companionship of her two cats, Omo and Kai.
Bruce Ingersoll, DVM
Dr. Ingersoll, originally from Fulton, NY, received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Richmond. He earned his DVM from Cornell University. Prior to joining Animal Emergency Service, Dr. Ingersoll worked as an Emergency Clinician at the Veterinary Medical Center of Central New York. His hobbies include snowmobiling, volleyball, softball and hiking. Dr. Ingersoll’s pets include his yellow lab, Havana, and his Himalayan cat, Gibson.
Action:
DO NOT give your pet food or water — this
may induce vomiting and make the condition worse. Abdominal
pain can be very serious and is often life threatening if not
addressed. Limit the activity of your pet, carry them if possible.
You can put small pets in a box or carrier. Call a veterinarian
immediately and seek professional help as soon as possible.
Bethany, Animal Care Assistant
and Emergency Coordinator with
Chloe & Charlie
Allergic Reaction
Signs:
Fever, vomiting/diarrhea, hives, scratching, chewing at feet, swollen face or puffiness
around eyes, trouble breathing.
Action:
Call a veterinarian immediately. Allergic reactions should be treated as soon as
possible to prevent shock. An exam by a veterinarian should still be performed on
your pet, even if the reaction gets better. It may be appropriate to give the animal
over-the-counter antihistamine, Diphenhydramine, IF you have spoken to your veterinarian
in advance and have received approval.
Cardiac Emergencies
Signs:
Collapse,weakness, bluish or gray gum color, rapid/slow heart rate.
Action:
Call and seek veterinary care immediately. Such emergencies should not be taken
lightly as they are often life threatening. Limit your pet’s activity, carry them
if possible. If your pet stops breathing or loses consciousness, view the
pet CPR section.
Diarrhea
Action:
A few episodes of diarrhea can be due to stress or change in the animal’s diet.
Make sure that your pet continues to drink water and substitute a bland diet for
12-24
hours. If the diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, seek veterinary care immediately.
If your pet is showing other signs of illness (vomiting/lethargy/weakness) do not
wait 12 to 24 hours, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. If there appears
to be blood in your pet’s diarrhea, seek veterinary attention right away.
Diarrhea can often
be a symptom of more serious illness or disease.
Ear Emergencies
Signs:
Scratching at ears, shaking head, whining, head tilting, swollen/puffy ear flap,
strange odor or discharge from ear(s).
Action:
See your regular veterinarian within 24 hours or call Animal Emergency Service to
discuss your pet’s particular symptoms.
Eye Emergencies
Signs:
Squinting, discharge/tearing, redness, swelling, bleeding, different pupil size.
Action:
If there is an obvious laceration or foreign object in or around the eye, seek veterinary
care immediately. DO NOT try to bandage the laceration or remove the object. If
the source of the irritation is known to be chemical or fine debris/dirt, flush
the eye(s) with sterile saline (or clean water) immediately for 5 to 10 minutes
and then seek veterinary care. Eye injuries and infections can get worse very quickly,
IMMEDIATE diagnosis and treatment is critical in the preservation of your pet’s
eyesight.
Heat Emergencies and Dehydration
Signs:
Panting (excessive), lethargic, unable to stand, uncoordinated movements, vomiting
or diarrhea.
Action:
Move your pet to a cool area as soon as possible, seek shade or the indoors. Keep
them calm and still, DO NOT try to get them to stop panting, this is how your pet
expels heat. If water is near by, encourage your pet to stand or lay down in cool
water. Put small amounts of water on the tongue, or offer them ice cubes to eat.
If not vomiting, your pet should respond rapidly (10 to 15 minutes). If your pet
does not seem to respond to the cooling therapy, if they lose consciousness or have
great difficulty breathing, or the skin on the back of their neck does not spring
back to normal position immediately when pulled, seek veterinary care immediately.
Light colored animals can get sunburned just like people. Encourage them to stay
in the shade and ask your veterinarian for a recommendation on sunblocks for your
pet.
Neurological Emergencies
Signs:
Inability to use limb(s), unable to stand, circling, seizures, head tilt, abnormal
behavior.
Action:
Seek veterinary care as soon as possible, neurologic disease is difficult to treat
and is often very serious. If your pet is unable to walk, carry them to the car.
If they are too big to carry, use a towel (under the abdomen, in front of rear legs)
to support the hind end or use a heavy blanket as a stretcher to carry them to the
car. Professional diagnosis and treatment is recommended as soon as possible.
Respiratory Emergencies
Heather, Customer
Service Representative
Signs:
Collapse,weakness, bluish or gray gum color, rapid or shallow breathing.
Action:
Call and seek veterinary care immediately. Such emergencies should not be taken
lightly as they are often life threatening. Look in your pet’s mouth, look for any
foreign object that may be obstructing the airway. ONLY try to remove the object
(with tweezers or pliers) if it is COMPLETELY stopping your pet from breathing.
If they can still pass some air (wheezing) get them to a veterinary hospital as
soon as possible. Limit your pet’s activity, carry them if possible. If your pet
stops breathing or loses consciousness, view the
pet CPR section.
Melissa, Animal Care
Assistant with
Muenster & Goober
Seizures
Signs:
Shaking (uncontrollably), tremors, strange facial movements, unable to stand, paddling
(swimming action) with paws, loss of bowel or urinary control.
Action:
DO NOT try to restrain your pet during an episode. Move objects away that may cause
injury during the seizure and, if possible, place the animal onto a soft surface,
such as carpeting. CALL a veterinarian immediately. Try to get your pet to the veterinary
hospital as soon as possible.
Urinary Emergencies
Signs:
Frequent urination or straining, blood in urine, difficulty urinating, vomiting.
Action:
Animals can develop urinary blockage and infections just like people. Once you have
detected the signs of a problem,CALL your veterinarian and take your pet in as soon
as possible. The problem most likely has been going on longer than you realized.
DO NOT wait and observe the pet to see how they do.
Vomiting
Linda, Licensed
Veterinary Technician
with Jessie
Action:
Look for signs of foreign material or strange food in the
vomit. When you call the veterinarian, let them know of any recent history of your
pet eating foreign objects or new foods (trash). Rest the stomach for 4-6 hours
by offering no food and water. Then try small amounts of water and bland food every
two hours. If there is no further vomiting, you can return your pet to a normal
diet. If the vomiting persists, or if your pet shows other signs of illness, seek
veterinary care immediately. If your pet has unproductive vomiting, see your veterinarian
immediately.
Animal Emergency Service, 825 White Spruce Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14623
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