Life can always come at us with unexpected situations and circumstances. Anytime we have an emergency, one of the best things to have is to be able to turn to someone you trust. East Valley Animal Clinic wants to be here for you, not only to provide veterinary services to your beloved pet, but also for when the unexpected happens. We are easily accessible to those in the East Valley as we are located in Gilbert, Arizona and have immense knowledge in how to provide appropriate care to your pet emergency situations.
Signs For Emergency Care
Accidents happen and it can be difficult to make rational decisions in the heat of the moment. However, to make good choices in emergency situations, it is helpful to be prepared for the unexpected. The best way to be prepared is to be aware of what signs to pay attention to and to know what to do when you see them. The signs that indicate your pet may need emergency care are:
Rapid Breathing
Difficulty Standing
Loss of Consciousness
Seizures
Excessive Bleeding
Weak or Rapid Pulse
Pale Gums
Body Temperature Change
Being aware of the signs and recognizing them quickly can allow for immediate treatment that could save your pet’s life.
Treatments at Home
When you recognize the signs of an emergency situation, there are a few things you could do at home before you are able to get to our emergency clinic. Some ways to help stabilize your pet prior to getting them to your veterinarian are:
Apply Pressure: If there is external bleeding happening due to a trauma, work to apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding and elevate it if possible.
Remove Blockage: If your pet is choking, use your fingers to sweep their mouth to attempt to remove whatever is blocking their throat.
Heimlich: If you are unable to remove the blockage in their throat, the heimlich maneuver modified for animals can be done. Applying a sharp rap to the chest of your pet should dislodge the object blocking the throat.
CPR: If your pet is not breathing, CPR may be possible to perform. Put your pet on its side if there is no breath, extend the head and neck, and blow once every three seconds into your pet’s nostrils. Three quick firm chest compressions can be done between respirations if there is no heart beat. It is ideal to get specific training by your veterinarian for your pet.
Emergency situations are not ideal, or ever wanted. They should not be planned for, but prepared for. It is good to have the ability to know how to address the unexpected and never use it rather than having the unexpected happening with not knowing what to do at all. East Valley Animal Clinic is here to help in the best of times and when emergency situations occur. Read our next blogs on what to do with specific normal emergency situations that arise.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/30/2017) BLM Nevada (Flickr)