Get The Vet - Your Guide On When To Call

Sometimes it's difficult to judge when you need to tak your pet to see the vet. Here are a few guidelines which may assist you in deciding what to do.

1. Call Immediately:

• Distension of abdomen (bloat), gastric distension or torsion of the stomach generally seen an hour or two after the main meal accompanied by obvious discomfort
• Vomiting, diarrhoea or urination with any amount of blood
• Bleeding that will not stop. Apply pressure to the wound and take the animal to the vet immediately.
• Inability to breathe or noisy respiration - may also be accompanied by gasping and bluish tongue and gums
• Staggering or loss of consciousness, any signs such as tremors, fits, coma, sudden blindness, biting at the air and sudden aggressive personality changes must be treated with the utmost seriousness
• Continuous scratching, biting or self mutilation
• Suspected poisoning
• Any prolonged pain or injury with total lameness or penetrating wound
• Straining continuously to use bowels to no avail or irregular motions

2. Call Same Day:

• Burns to any part of the body - if extensive get immediate attention
• Vomiting and diarrhoea with no blood or unusual contents
• Missing household items! If you suspect your puppy may have swallowed something irregular bring it in as soon as possible
• Difficulty breathing but no distress
• Injuries that may worsen overnight without treatment such as sudden swellings, lacerations or a strange odour that may indicate infection.
• Any unexplained lameness.

3. Safe To Wait Until Tomorrow:

• Vomiting and diarrhoea if mild with no discomfort. Ensure plenty of water is available
• Itching not continuous and not accompanied by bleeding
• Mild lameness
• Loss of appetite or missing one meal

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