Eyes on Your Pet: 5 Signs You Should Take Your Pet to the Emergency Vet Hospital

A family is often described as a group who genuinely loves, trust, cares about, and look out for one another. Usually, this means people of the same bloodline. However, a family can also be friends, including our animal friends that we call our pets. More often than not, our pets become our best friends and some of the living beings we love more than anyone or anything else. They listen without judgement, they know when to cuddle us on a bad day, and they make us laugh when we feel like doing nothing but crying. When a member of our family gets sick, we want nothing more than to do all we can, to make them feel better. That is why we must do everything in our power, to make sure we are aware of all the signs needed to get our pets the quickest treatment we can when they need it the most. We have compiled a list of five signs you need to watch, to know whether you need to take your pet friend to the Vet Emergency Hospital. They are as follows:

• You Notice Their Belly Becomes Larger and Filled with Air: This sign could indicate a severely dangerous condition known as bloat, otherwise known as gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV). A dog’s stomach can fill up with gas and air and remain as such for a long period of time. GDV is bloating combined with the stomach coiling around on itself, which ultimately pinches off the animal’s blood supply and can also cause a snowball effect of other dangers to the dog’s health. GDV can pose a life-threatening condition. Sadly, there is a 30 percent mortality rate associated with GDV. It is imperative you get your pet to an emergency vet hospital or specialist immediately if you believe they have a case of GDV.
• Your Cat Strains or Vocalizes Pain When Trying to Urinate: This occurrence could be a significant or total urinary blockage. Urinary blockage is a dire medical emergency requiring immediate attention and treatment. This situation is seen more and more often and is usually extremely serious in male cats more so than females. If your pet can’t urinate or shows any sign of pain or discomfort doing so, you need to get them as quickly as possible to a veterinary emergency hospital.
• Your Pet’s Gums Become Blue, White or Pale: If your pet’s gums become unnaturally pigmented and are any color other than pink, this is serious cause for concern and attention. Pale or white gums are a symptom of potentisevererious and life-threatening conditions, whereas blue gums are a visible sign of cyanosis, which is the inadequate or non-functioning oxygenated blood as a result of heart or respiratory disease. If your pet’s gums become anything other than a healthy pink color, seek veterinary treatment as soon as possible.
• Your Pet Shows Signs of Obvious Distress: Any sudden or drastic change in your pet’s regular behavior or activity level should be checked out as quickly as possible. Some warning signs of illness, injury or pain include, but are not limited to; constant pacing, panting, crying out, inability to lie down without pain or get comfortable, and hiding consistently. If your pet is doing any of these, please investigate and seek medical attention. You know your pet better than anyone, so be aware at all times of shifts and deviations in their normal behavior or routine.
• You Suspect or Know for a Fact Your Pet Ingested a Toxin or Poison: If your pet swallows anything they shouldn’t ingest, call your vet immediately and seek treatment, or the ASPCA’s 24-7 Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Do not hesitate on this matter. Toxins need to be addressed immediately.

These are just a few situations or circumstances to be aware of when it comes to your beloved pet. Another piece of information you need to know is where your nearest emergency vet hospital is. We have listed a few Emergency Vet Hospitals in the Raleigh area for your convenience:

CityVet, an Urban Animal Hospital

919-307-8843

619 North Person Street

Raleigh, NC 27604

CareFirst Animal Hospital at Oberlin

919-832-3107

1216 Oberlin Road

Raleigh, NC 27608

Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas

919-861-0109

4640 Paragon Park Road

Raleigh, NC 27616