When to Take your Dog to the Vet

Really, do you know when to take your dog to the vet asap? You don’t want to be one of those owners who would be just shocked to find out that their beloved pet is already dead, do you? If you notice that there is something “off” with your pet, then a vet visit is a must! After all, your beloved pet cannot talk to you.

News flash people: Dogs don’t suddenly “die” at home nor should they. Not unless it is due to a sudden acute internal bleeding (like hemangiosarcoma) or from a pericardial effusion ( the abnormal accumulation of blood around the heart sac), it is something that your vet could have treated.

An educated owner knows where to get his/her resources: the Internet is the most reliable source, though not always. A simple call to your vet or reception to the animal hospital can already help triage your pet’s problem and can help you decide if should you or should you not bring him over for a check up.

When you are in doubt, it is best to take him to the emergency clinic just to be sure. It may be costly but it can help you ease your mind that your pet is in a good condition. No pet should die at home since signs would be shown if he is not feeling good or if in pain. It is not good to let your pet die miserably at home when he could have been treated at the medical center.

When to Take your Dog to the Vet – Does your Pekingese Require a Vet ASAP?

Difficulty in Breathing. Medically coined as Dyspnea, difficulty in breathing can manifest as choking, weak/raspy breathing, wheezing or even respiratory arrest. This may be due to a blockage on his throat, heart/pulmonary disease or allergic reaction. If you see a foreign object lodged on his throat, do not attempt to remove it by yourself especially if you don’t have experience about it. You may cause it to lodge even deeper thus completely blocking your pet’s airway. Do not wait any minute and take him to the vet immediately.
Seizures. Dog seizures are considered as a neurological condition but since it is the culprit to most pet mortality rate, let us discuss it deeper. If your pet has experienced seizure for the first time, he must be seen by a vet immediately. Signs and symptoms may be uncontrollable tremors and shaking paddling with the legs, loss of consciousness, loss of urinary and bowel control. The most common cause of seizures in dogs is epilepsy. So, if your pet has been diagnosed as epileptic, not all seizures are an emergency. You should know which ones require a vet visit. If he has multiple seizures in a 24-hour time span and that every episode lasts for minutes, then he needs immediate vet attention.
Trauma. If your pet has sustained trauma of any kind: fall, getting hit by a car, gunshot wound or he was involved in a dog fight then he needs immediate vet attention.
Neurological Conditions. Neurological problems may come as a form of in-coordination disorientation, lethargy, coma and unresponsiveness. A healthy and normal canine is responsive, alert and bright; thus any notable change in his mental status would require immediate vet attention. Never ignore weakness and lethargy since it can be a sign of a serious illness.
Vomiting and Diarrhea. These are common to dogs and it can be due to a simple gastric upset which may resolve within the next 24 hours. If your pet is okay aside from his gastric upset then you can withhold his meals for 4-6 hours to rest his stomach and be sure to give him lots of water to prevent dehydration. And if you notice additional signs like weakness, pain, lethargy then bring him immediately to the vet. Also, if diarrhea and vomiting that persists more than 24 hours or if you notice blood present already, then bring him to the clinic asap.
Unknown Toxic Exposure. One day you found your garden fertilizer ripped open or a chewed up rat bait on the floor and suspect that your pet dog has eaten it then call the animal poison control for immediate intervention. A vet may ask you to do induce vomiting, you can use hydrogen peroxide for it. It is always safe to let the experts see your pet.
Urinary Issues. If you observe that your pet is not peeing then better see the vet immediately. Urinary blockages can occur, though quite rare in dogs and more often in cats, but it is still life threatening. Bloody urine or difficulty in urination must be seen by the vet as soon as possible.
Abdominal Pain. If you see your pet has distended abdomen or is in pain, then something is wrong surely, so better take him to the vet immediately. Distended abdomen is often accompanied by retching, weakness, dry heaves, difficulty breathing and collapse. Abdominal distention is due to trapped air in the stomach thus causing the stomach to twist on itself. This is a life-threatening condition and the experts call it GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus) or in lay man’s term “bloat.”
Ocular Issues. Eye problems in dogs have a bad habit of deteriorating faster than the other organs of the body. Such problems escalate so fast thus causing blindness if not treated immediately, especially glaucoma. Signs and symptoms of eye disorders include eye discharges, redness, squinting, swelling and constant pawing in the eye area.
Delivery Problems. Whelping brings a lot of problem especially if you have a tiny dog breed and it is her first time. If you see your pet going into labor more than 4 hours and no puppies has gone out, call your vet immediately. She may be experiencing dystocia.

The aforementioned list is not the complete list on when to take your dog to the vet. There are several emergencies that may occur but it is a compilation on what are the common cases seen over the years. If you think there is something wrong with your pet, then help is just a phone call away. Always keep a number of your attending Vet and the poison control center.

Can you think of more cases on when it is an emergency to bring your pet to the vet? If so, do not hesitate to share it wit all of us. Simply enter your suggestion/tips below.