AWC - Emergency


	Ten signs that warrant an immediate trip to the clinic .
	Most people want to give their pets the best care, but don't want to run to their veterinarian at every sign of trouble. Sometimes, though, the conscientious person can't distinguish between a true emergency and a condition that's less urgent and can wait for a regular trip to the clinic the next day or so. Veterinarians generally prefer that people err on the side of caution, being safe rather than sorry. Here are ten signs to help pet owners determine what should prompt an immediate trip to the clinic.



1	Abdominal distention. The dog whose belly expands so much over a one-day period that it looks as though it's been pumped full of air needs immediate attention. Possible causes include hollow organ or abscess rupture, gastric dilatation with or without bloat and large scale leakage of blood or lymph fluid into the abdominal cavity.

2	Difficult birthing. If your pregnant female pet has great difficulty giving birth, she needs to see a veterinarian. Difficulty is defined in two ways: very strong uterine contractions that persist for more than a half-hour without producing a puppy, and the passing of more than three hours between puppies when it's clear that other puppies remain to be delivered. A female that exhibits signs of great pain - such as excessive vocalization and agitation - also requires immediate attention.

3	Persistent vomiting. A veterinarian needs to see a pet that has vomited many times throughout the day, particularly if the vomitus contains blood or foreign material. Possible causes include ingestion of a foreign object, pancreatic or kidney disease or poisoning.

4	Retching. A pet that is clearly trying to vomit but is not succeeding needs veterinary attention as soon as possible. Such signs are associated with gastric dilatation-volvulus, or the presence of a tumor or foreign body near the opening of the esophagus into the stomach.

5	Significant bleeding. Bleeding that isn't easily stopped with pressure bandaging after 10 - 20 minutes warrants a trip to the veterinary hospital or clinic. The same applies to any bleeding that spurts or pulses, which usually reflects an injury to the artery.

6	Change in gum color. Immediate attention is needed if a pet's normally pink gums rapidly become white, blue, yellow or bright red. White or pale gums may indicate anemia or systemic shock; blue gums result from respiratory problems, yellow gums indicate red blood cell destruction, liver disease, or gall bladder disease; and red gums may mean septic shock or sever infection.

7	Hyperthermia. A pet subjected to excessive environmental heat may develop signs of an elevated body temperature including extreme panting, profound depression, shallow or rapid breathing and bloody vomiting. Such a pet may have heat stroke, and needs immediate attention right away if its life is to be saved.

8	Hypothermia. The pet exposed to excessive cold needs immediate help too. Signs of hypothermia include cold limbs deep shivering, rigid muscles and lethargy. Traumatized, very thin, and metabolically ill pets are prone to this condition.

9	Trouble breathing. If your pet's breathing is labored in any way, an immediate visit to your veterinarian is imperative. The dog could be suffering from one of several respiratory diseases and injuries, including laryngeal paralysis, pneumonia, bruising of the lungs or pulmonary tumors.

10	Sudden collapse. A sudden collapse should prompt an immediate trip tot he animal clinic, whether the pet loses consciousness or not. Possible causes include seizures, fainting, or narcolepsy-cataplexy.


	Not Necessarily Emergencies. Sometimes pets exhibit signs that are alarming to owners and appear to warrant immediate attention, but actually can wait. Here are three such conditions.

1	Reverse sneezing. Occasionally, a pet will start breathing loudly through its nose in a kind of spasm that may seem similar to a human's asthma attack or sever nasal congestion. Such breathing is what veterinarians call "reverse sneezing," and it's generally nothing to worry about. In fact, the condition usually resolves itself after a couple of minutes.

2	Bloody stool. A small amount of fresh blood in a pet's stool is cause for concern - but not an emergency. Such blood generally indicates that the large intestine is inflamed. A visit to the veterinarian which need not be immediate, usually results in a determination of the cause of the inflammation and an effective treatment plan.

3	Bloody urine. Females with excessively dark or blood-tinged urine - especially when accompanied by frequent voiding of small amounts of urine - are often suffering from a urinary tract infection. This condition warrants veterinary attention, but is not an emergency, as it is usually treated with antibiotics. however, a male dog with such signs does need veterinary evaluation as soon as possible, because the animal may have a urinary obstruction.

	The safest way to handle a sick pet. Once you've determined that your pet's problem is an emergency, the next step may be a trip to a veterinarian or emergency clinic. Unfortunately, your pet may not cooperate. That's because the patient will not necessarily recognize the owner, or appreciate what the owner is trying to do. here are some suggestions that may help.

	Keep calm. Be low key in your approach, and offer your fist for the pet to sniff before trying to handle it. In addition, always limit the number of people around an emergency situation. ideally, it will be just you and an assistant. "An audience is usually not a good idea.

	Be gentle. To minimize stress to the patient - and to avoid worsening any muscular or skeletal injuries - handle the pet as little as possible, and be gentle when you do.

	Protect yourself. Put on fireplace gloves or thick leather gloves before handling your patient - and if necessary, muzzle your pet. The animal may deal with pain and stress by biting you, and a dog's bite can seed significant bacterial infections.

	Do some double-teaming. While you transport your pet, have your helper phone the clinic to let the hospital staff know you are on your way.

	Bring records. Unless you're headed to your regular vet, try to take your pet's veterinary records and current medications with you. Such information can help emergency veterinarians who don't know your pet treat it more effectively .A good suggestion is to keep an updated summary of your pet's health history in an easily accessible place at home.