Canine Health Emergency Symptoms
Emergency Care for Dogs, If your Golden Retriever has any of the following symptoms, call your regular vet or emergency veterinary services and tell the receptionist that you’re bringing in your dog, and why:
- Difficulty breathing–noisy respiration, blue tongue, gasping for breath
- Loss of balance, staggering
- Loss of consciousness
- Tremors or convulsions
- Vomiting or diarrhea with blood or violent episodes
- Pain–severe or continuous
- Lameness–can’t bear any weight on the leg
- Bleeding (from any part of the body) that won’t stop–Apply pressure with a clean cloth and GO!
- Abdomen that’s bloated, distended, swollen or painful–with or without vomiting (may be a life-threatening case of dog bloat — a very serious canine health emergency)
- Inability to urinate or move bowels, but continues to try, or has bloody stool or urine, or painful defecation or urination
- Heatstroke symptoms–heavy panting, extreme weakness, body temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees C.)
- Seizure symptoms–tilting of the head, biting at imaginary objects, sudden blindness
- Sudden changes in disposition such as unusual withdrawal or out-of-character aggressiveness
- Penetrating wounds anywhere, but especially in the chest or abdomen, is a serious canine health emergency
- Ingested poison–Bring the container or the commercial or chemical name of the product or a list of ingredients if you have it.
- If you’re dealing with a major canine health emergency that resulted from a vehicle accident or serious fall, you’ll need the help of emergency vets for the following situations:
- Shock–weakness, collapse, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, bewildered appearance, dilated pupils
- Severe bleeding from cuts and wounds
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
Any of the above situations would undoubtedly be considered a canine health emergency, where you
should apply simple first aid procedures (such as putting pressure on a cut that’s bleeding heavily).
Meanwhile, someone can be calling the vet and making arrangements to get the two of you there quickly.
Be aware of any other signs that look serious, which could be the beginning of a canine health emergency. These may include:
- Frostbite
- Hypothermia
- Eye problems such as glaucoma
- Severe itching with self-mutilation
- Severe hives or rash
- The bottom line here is that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Don’t just worry and wonder if this could be a canine health emergency. Call your vet and ask!
