Trauma: Such as a fall, being hit by a car, etc.  We advise you call us and have your pet examined in any case of trauma.  The greater the impact, the greater the danger could be to your pet.  For your pet's health and your peace of mind, have your pet looked at even if there appears to be no damage from an accident.

Limping: Sudden limping is very common in pets.  Often there is no history of trauma, or the pet was confined to the home or out playing and simply "let out a yelp" and started limping.  In these cases, we advise watching the pet for 12-24 hours.  In many cases there has been a minor bruising or sprain (a soft tissue injury) and within a day the limping resolves.  Call us if the limping worsens or persists after 36 hours, if there is known trauma, or if any wounds are seen on the leg.  In these cases, an examination and possibly x-rays are advised.

Toxin Ingestion: Call the vet immediately if your pet ingests rat or mouse bait or anti-freeze.  These are the most deadly toxins we encounter with pets - never wait to seek treatment.  Keep in mind that cats can be poisoned if they ingest a mouse which has eaten mouse bait.  Also call if your pet ingests human medication or gets into large quantities of its own medication.  Chocolate can be toxic in large quantities as can onions and garlic.  Some house plants are also very toxic, including lilies, azalea, philodendron, spider plants, ivy, amaryllis, plant bulbs, holly and mistletoe.  Always call if your pet eats anything that could potentially be toxic and we can advise you regarding treatment.  Often the first course of action is to induce vomiting at home within 30 minutes of toxin ingestion.  This can be done with hydrogen peroxide orally, from 1-4 tablespoons depending on the size of the pet.  This should cause vomiting within 15 minutes.

Wounds/Bleeding: If you pet has puncture wounds or lacerations due to an accident or animal fight, call us.  Sutures and/or antibiotics may be needed.  Any bleeding from the mouth or nose should also be examined.  Blood in the stool is not typically an emergency but can be very alarming to pet owners.  Call us if you notice blood in the stool or bring in a stool sample.  We receive a lot of calls regarding bleeding toe nails due to cutting it too short or a broken nail.  Baking flour can be applied over the broken nail and the area bandaged with a pressure wrap at home (such as an ace bandage) to help clot the blood and stop the bleeding.  Although a nail can bleed profusely, this is not an emergency and the bleeding will stop with time and pressure.

Eye problems: Mild issues such as red or watery eyes should be monitored for 1-2 days as these issues can often resolve.  However, if there is green or yellow eye discharge, swelling around the eye, or the pet holds the eye closed, or you know of an injury to the eye, it should be examined.  Eye issues can rapidly worsen and should not be taken lightly.

Again, this is only a partial listing of the common issues we encounter at our practice.  Always call, as we take seriously all questions regarding your pet's health.  The technician or doctor cap help evaluate the problem and make the appropriate recommendations.