Knowing what to do in an emergency can make all the difference for your dog. At Bellamy-Lawrence Animal Hospital, we treat pets for the following types of emergencies:
• Poisoning. It’s not uncommon for a dog to mistakenly ingest something that makes them very sick (see our blog post on foods never to give your dog). If you suspect your pup has consumed something that might be toxic, call a vet right away! Don’t try to induce vomiting. If you know what your dog has eaten, make a note of it. If it’s something chemical like a cleaning product, you can take the bottle with you so the vet will know exactly what your pooch has consumed. • Seizures. If your dog experiences uncontrollable shaking or loses consciousness, it may be having a seizure. Other signs include losing urinary or bowel control and paddling with the legs. For short seizures, the best thing to do is to make your dog comfortable. Start by wrapping him or her in a blanket. If the seizure continues, turn off the lights and any music to achieve the darkest and quietest environment possible. If the seizure lasts for longer than four minutes, or if your pet has multiple seizures in a twenty-four hour period, call for medical intervention. Bring your dog to see our emergency vet in Toronto as soon as possible. • Choking. There are a few possible indicators that your dog is choking. Your pooch may paw at its mouth, retch or pace back and forth. If you suspect your dog is choking, it’s important to be careful when inspecting its mouth so that the dog doesn’t bite you in a panic. If you can safely do so, open your dog’s mouth and see if there is an object inside obstructing the airway. If you see something, you can try to remove it, but if you don’t see anything, don’t risk putting your hand in! Instead, call a vet for instructions. • Injuries. Dogs get injured for all kinds of reasons: household mishaps, car accidents and encounters with other animals are all fairly common. If your dog is bleeding, apply pressure to the wound with a towel and call our pet surgery in Toronto. After an accident, serious injuries may not be immediately apparent. We suggest bringing in your pet to be checked after any serious trauma, even if they outwardly appear to be fine. We hope you never have to deal with any of these emergencies, but if you do, you’re now a little bit more prepared. Emergency vet in Toronto If you ever require an emergency vet in the GTA, or you need to book a pet surgery in Toronto, call us right away to make an appointment. At Bellamy-Lawrence Animal Hospital, our caring team of vets and animal health technicians are here to help!