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Pre-Surgical Information
Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider
when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help
you make wise decisions.
Click here . . .
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Special LibraryOur Special Library
is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics.
Click here . . .
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Discharge InstructionsClick here for
information on how to care for your pet at home.
Click here . . .
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How to Tell if it is an
Emergency
 So you think you might have an
emergency, and you are wondering
if you need to have an emergency exam.....
The first thing to remember is that it is impossible, illegal,
unethical, and probably immoral to diagnose over the phone (at
least it is not fattening). To make a diagnosis, the
doctor needs to take the history, make observations, collect
data, take measurements, form impressions, and then put it all
together to decide what the problem is. It takes nearly all the
senses: sight, touch, smell, and hearing to get all the
information we need. Often it also takes labwork.
Medicine is both an art and a science, and neither art nor
science happen over the telephone.
The Point: I can't tell you if your pet is going to be
okay until tomorrow or not over the phone. I need to
examine the patient first. If you had a terrible
stomach ache, and you called your doctor and he told you to just
take two aspirin and call him in the morning, would you feel
that you had gotten a good diagnosis? Would you still
worry that maybe you have appendicitis? Would you feel any
better than you did before you called?
So When is it an Emergency?
Below is a list of problems that may very well be serious and
need immediate attention. While this is not an
exhaustive list, it may get you started.
Vomiting: A little vomiting is not cause to panic, but if
your pet has been vomiting more than 12 to 24 hours, vomits very
frequently, vomits up anything unusual, or seems quite sick, an
emergency exam is best.
Hit by Car: Any animal that is hit by a car needs to be
examined immediately. Internal injury is common, and being
internal, you can't see it from the outside.
Broken Limbs: If your pet suddenly starts limping, and the
affected leg appears crooked, it may be broken. This needs
immediate attention.
Bleeding: If you pet is bleeding and you can't control it
with a wrap or bandage, the pet needs to be seen.
Diarrhea: If your pet has diarrhea and seems quite sick,
an emergency exam is in order. If your pet has diarrhea,
but seems well and happy, tomorrow will probably be fine.
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