Possible
Emergencies...
Breathing Difficulty:
Labored breathing and/or
pale or bluish tongue or gums may indicate heart failure, lung disease, internal
bleeding, or major chemical imbalances
Serious Bleeding:
For heavy bleeding, apply
direct pressure to the wound - seek help immediately!
Major Trauma:
If your pet has fallen,
been hit by a car, or has suffered multiple wounds form an unknown source, you
should seek professional help immediately, even if he/she is acting okay.
Laceration and
Bite Wounds:
Wounds that break the
skin are contaminated and can become infected. Many wounds that seem minor to
the naked eye - a small puncture or bite wound - can often have deeper, more serious
injuries below the skin's surface.
Collapse, Loss
of Consciousness:
Illness or injury may
make a pet too weak to stand. Neurological problems can prevent normal movement
and lead to greater injury if your pet tries to walk.
Seizures:
Collapse and excessive
convulsing, salivating, thrashing. Can last mere seconds to minutes. Keep hands away
from animal mouth, as the animal has NO CONTROL over muscle reaction and can still
bite. Prevent animal from injuring itself by surrounding it by blankets. When
seizure has subsided, call the your veterinarian or
Poisoning:
If you know, or even
suspect this, call immediately for professional direction to deal with
the problem quickly.
Prolonged Vomiting
or Diarrhea:
Many serious illnesses
begin with vomiting and/or diarrhea. Multiple episodes of vomiting or diarrhea
can lead to serious dehydration and even shock.
Infections:
If
your pet develops and infected wound or abscess, or
if he/she suddenly gets worse while on medication for an infection, seek professional
help immediately. Infections can spread and cause toxicity.
Difficulty Urination:
Your pet may appear to
be straining due to constipation, but it could be more serious. Frequent attempts
to urinate that don't produce a normal urine flow could indicate infection or
obstruction -especially in male cats - even neutered males! This can lead to
uremic posioning, bladder
rupture and death.
Eye Problems:
Redness, excessive tearing,
pains, pawing at the eyes, squinting, or eyelid spasms suggest and acute problem.
The symptoms can intensify and cause worse damage if not treated promptly.