Dog Emergency Care - What to do in an Emergency Situation with your Dog

Name: Veterinary Services
Brand: Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What should I do if my dog is having an emergency?

You first need to contact your veterinarian if they're open and then you may need to go to the emergency clinic.

Dr. Amanda German
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What is considered a dog emergency?

There's a lot of different things that could be considered an emergency. If they're going into shock or they collapse, they're limping, they get hit by a car, they ingest something they're not supposed to, severe vomiting, diarrhea or even bloody vomit or bloody diarrhea, things like that, severe coughing and hacking where they can't catch their breath or trouble breathing, any of those kind of respiratory signs, anything like that can be considered an emergency.

Is it best to call an emergency hospital first before coming in?

It's always best so that they know what to expect when you get there.

Should I give my dog first aid at home and what should you have in your first aid kit?

I would definitely not do much first aid at home. I would get them to the emergency clinic as soon as possible but if you have an open gushing wound of course go ahead and wrap it. You can use just a little bit of light gauze or even a towel and just wrap it with a little bit of tape.

How do you perform CPR on a dog in an emergency situation?

Usually I'm going to let the emergency clinic handle that or your regular veterinary team may be able to also assist with that.

How will a veterinarian treat my dog in an emergency situation?

They're going to take them to the back and immediately start assessing them to make sure that they're breathing okay and that their circulatory system so their heart rate and everything is working appropriately too.

Why is prompt treatment in an emergency so important to my dog's health?

Well if they aren't treated quickly then it can continue to get worse and they can potentially die.

Who do I contact if my pet may be poisoned?

You're going to want to contact the Pet Poison Hotline so that way they can go ahead and tell you what needs to be done and let your veterinarian know what to do.

If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram

Dog Emergency Care - FAQs

Dr. Amanda German
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

What are some common dog emergencies?

Some common dog emergencies include limping and lameness, vomiting and diarrhea, toxin ingestion or even over medication ingestion, collapse, respiratory distress, and the like.

What are the early symptoms that a dog is in distress?

Early symptoms of distress in a dog can range from coughing and hacking, trouble breathing, color changes, or even collapse.

How do I know if I should take my dog in for emergency care?

If you consider it a potential emergency, you should take your dog in for care immediately.

What are the signs of shock in a dog?

Shock in a dog can be indicated by pale mucous membranes. If you lift their gums up and you see it's nice and pink, that's usually not shock. It's going to be a pale color or really, really bright red and they're going to be panting and having some respiratory distress.

What should be done in a dog emergency?

In a dog emergency, you need to take them immediately to the emergency clinic.

Where do I take my dog if an emergency happens after hours?

We usually recommend the veterinary emergency clinic of Central Florida for after-hours emergencies.

Should I call my veterinarian in an emergency situation with my dog?

You most certainly can, but they may not be able to get you in, so you're going to need to go to the emergency clinic at that point.

What's the difference between an urgent pet situation and a true emergency?

An urgent pet situation would be things like a urinary tract infection or an ear infection that's happening overnight that you can't get into your regular vet for. A true emergency would be situations like profuse bleeding, several days of severe vomiting and diarrhea with blood in it, or limping due to a car accident or dragging their legs. Those are true emergencies.