What to Do When Your Pet Is Sick
One of the most frightening parts of owning a pet is when they fall sick. Dogs, cats, and other pets can’t tell us how they feel, so they may be unwell for several days before finally showing signs of illness. Even when a pet is displaying signs of discomfort or pain, it isn’t always obvious what the problem is. They may simply seem “off”. A careful owner will pay attention to the normal behavior of their pets, and have a better chance at catching symptoms of an injury or illness as soon as possible. It’s important to know what types of symptoms need to be seen right away by an emergency vet in OKC, and which you can monitor at home for the time being.
When to Go to the Vet
As with people, if your pet is showing signs of blood loss, trouble breathing, or severe injuries, they should be taken to an emergency vet right away. If you know that they ate or drank something poisonous, take them to the vet after calling poison control. However, many times the symptoms will not be so obvious, and you will have to decide whether or not the problem is serious enough to warrant a vet or emergency vet visit. Pay attention if your pet is acting uncoordinated, as this is often a sign that something is wrong with the nervous system and needs immediate attention by a veterinarian. Symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and allergic reactions have to be evaluated on an individual basis. Any of these are normal from time to time and should go away on their own, but if they are prolonged or very severe reactions, they should be seen by a vet to intervene before they become life-threatening.
Bloat
One disease dog owners should be particularly aware of is bloat. Bloat is one of the top killers of dogs, and can strike any dog at any time. Bloat is caused when the stomach enlarges and twists, cutting off the digestive tract. This leads to dehydration, internal injuries, shock, and eventually death. Bloat must be seen by a veterinarian immediately, but the signs are not always obvious or are mistaken for mild discomfort. They can include restlessness, pacing, and unsuccessfully trying to vomit. The dog may have an enlarged stomach which may be sore and tender. Later symptoms will be more obvious as the dog begins to go into shock: the dog will almost certainly have a rapid heart rate, pale gums, difficulty breathing, and eventually difficulty standing at all. If your dog displays these symptoms, you should bring them to an emergency vet in OKC immediately, as this is the only thing that can save their life.
