Medical Alert
Posted by Anne Corke on 2009-02-28. Filed under Monthly Feature
Medical Alert from Pet Plan Insurance:
Unlike people, your pets can't tell you what's wrong when they're not feeling well. They can't tell you what hurts, or why. Many symptoms are common to both serious medical problems as well as innocent passing sicknesses. It's important to recognize problems that need attention fast and to know what to do when you encounter them.
Problems that need help fast:
The following symptoms could mean your pet's life is in danger. Always call your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of these:
Blood in the stool, bleeding from the mouth or rectum, bloody vomiting or diarrhea. These can be indicative of many problems, including poisoning or internal hemorrhaging.
Continuous diarrhea with no eating or drinking. If it persists, it can cause shock.
Difficulty in breathing, particularly with blue gums. This may be a sign of heart failure.
Abdominal swelling (bloating) with attempts to vomit, especially in large dogs. This is a particularly serious emergency and may require immediate surgery.
Frequent drinking and urinating, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.
Seizures.
What to do:
Keep calm. If you lose your head, you won't be able to help.
Take note of any and all symptoms and be ready to describe them.
Contact a veterinarian immediately.
Stop any bleeding. Shock can occur from loss of blood.
Maintain an airway.
Get your pet to a hospital quickly.
Did you know:
The respiratory rate for dogs is 10 – 30 per minute.
The dog's heart rate at rest is 70 – 160 beats per minute.
The dogs normal temperature ranges from 38.3 – 38.7 C