Post by DogGoneGood on Nov 10, 2009 17:09:11 GMT -5
Is This An Emergency?
By Karla S. Rugh, D.V.M., Ph.D.
DOGS * U.S.A. 2006 Annual
Canadian Edition
To your puppy, the world is one big playground to be explored and experienced. Unfortunately, all that exploring and experiencing sometimes gives rise to another e-word: emergency. Emergencies don’t come with warning flags, so it’s not always easy to determine whether your puppy needs a hug or a hospital. Read on for a list of common emergency signs and situations that warrant immediate veterinary attention.
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Loss of consciousness can accompany injury, illness or toxicity. It’s always a serious sign. If your puppy loses consciousness, seek immediate veterinary care. You should also consult your veterinarian if your pup exhibits other changes in demeanor, such as seizures or an abrupt personality change. Depending on the cause, these may or may not require emergency treatment. Your vet will advise you on the best course of action.
PARALYSIS
Paralysis is more often caused by an injury to the back or neck. Rarely, a puppy may seem to be paralyzed after a seizure. Certain toxic substances can cause collapse and loss of consciousness that resembles paralysis. If your puppy shows any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.
UNCONTROLLABLE BLEEDING
Most bleeding can be controlled by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or gauze pad. If your puppy is still bleeding after you’ve applied continuous pressure for five minutes, repeat for another five minutes. Contact your veterinarian if the bleeding continues; if the bleeding stops, then starts again; or if you think your puppy’s wound may need stitches.
INTRACTABLE PAIN
Injuries hurt, and so do some illnesses. Your puppy may respond by crying, hiding, refusing to move or even acting aggressively when handled. Comfort your little buddy with sympathy and cuddles, but contact your veterinarian if the signs of pain don’t subside after about 20 to 30 minutes.
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS
Signs of respiratory distress include gasping, restlessness, blue-tinged gums or tongue, and collapse. Coughing is usually not an emergency unless it’s accompanied by the other symptoms.
PERSISTENT VOMITING OR DIARRHEA
An isolated episode of vomiting or diarrhea probably isn’t anything to worry about, but repeated episodes can indicate a serious problem. Contact your veterinarian if your puppy vomits or has diarrhea more than three times in 24 hours, vomits or passes blood, or shows other signs of illness.
SEVERE ABDOMINAL SWELLING
This sign, especially if accompanied by non-productive vomiting, could mean your puppy has bloat (gastric dilation-volvulus; GDV), a life-threatening disorder characterized by excessive accumulation of gas in the stomach (dilation) and twisting of the stomach (volvulus). The disorder is most common in deep-chested breeds, but can occur in any dog. It worsens rapidly, leading to shock and death if untreated. Puppies are more often afflicted with dilation without the twisting of the stomach, which is usually relieved by vomiting. Because gastric dilation can be difficult to distinguish from full-blown GDV, consult your veterinarian immediately if your puppy shows any signs of stomach swelling.
BROKEN BONE
Some fractures, such as those of the paws, rubs, tail and skull, can be difficult to detect. A fracture of one of the long bones in a leg is usually accompanied by more obvious signs: your puppy will refuse to bear weight on the leg, which may hang at an odd angle or appear to have an extra joint. Contact your veterinarian if you think your puppy has a fracture – it may need emergency treatment to stabilize the break (to keep the broken bone ends from damaging muscles and other tissue) and relieve pain. Your veterinarian will also evaluate any other injuries and treat them, if necessary.
INABILITY TO URINATE
Urinary-tract obstruction, which is fortunately rare in puppies, requires immediate medical attention. Urinary-tract obstruction usually has the same symptoms as a bladder infection, which causes your pup to strain and frequently release tiny amounts of urine. However, if your puppy is obstructed, it may not be able to urinate at all. Always play it safe when your puppy is straining to urinate and consult your veterinarian immediately.
EYE INJURIES
Eyes are delicate structures and it’s often difficult to determine whether an injury is serious or not. If your puppy injures its eye or the structures around it, contact your veterinarian immediately – it could save your puppy’s eyesight.
ELECTRICAL SHOCK
Some puppies seem to be irresistibly drawn to electrical cords. Electrical shock can cause a variety of injuries, ranging from mouth burns to electrocution and cardiac arrest. If your puppy chews through on a cord, contact your veterinarian immediately, even if your puppy seems to be okay. If your pup collapses, you may need to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
EXPOSURE TO TOXINS
You won’t always know when your puppy gets into something harmful, but sometimes you see the deed or the evidence. For example, you see your puppy lap up the antifreeze or your knitting bag has been destroyed and your puppy has yarn fuzzies all over its face. If you know (or even just suspect) your puppy has gotten into a harmful substance, contact your veterinarian or, in the case of possible poisoning, a poison hotline.
Hopefully, your puppy’s exploring and experiencing will never lead to an emergency. If it does, however, recognizing the situation as an emergency will allow you to act quickly to get your puppy the care it needs. That can buy your puppy valuable time – and help turn a potential disaster into a speedy recovery.
EVERY MINUTE COUNTS: CPR
Hopefully, your puppy will never need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but just in case it does, you’ll need to be ready to respond – immediately.
First, determine if your puppy needs CPR. Check for breathing by placing your hand in front of your puppy’s nose and mouth. Check for a heartbeat by listening with your eat on the left side of your puppy’s chest directly behind the elbow.
If your puppy isn’t breathing and has no heartbeat, follow the instructions below in the order given. If your puppy isn’t breathing, but has a heartbeat, follow the instructions below, omitting the heart massage.
• Clear the Airway. Carefully pull your puppy’s tongue forward and look for obstructions in the mouth or throat. If you see an obstruction, remove it with pliers, tweezers or kitchen tongs. Be careful not to push the obstruction further into the throat. If you can’t reach the obstruction, place your hands on both sides of the chest and push firmly and quickly. Repeat until the obstructing object is dislodged.
• Position. Lay your puppy on its right side. Move its head forward to extend the neck, which will straighten the airway and make it easier to get air into the lungs.
• Start rescue breathing. Close your puppy’s mouth. Place your mouth over your puppy’s nose and exhale through your mouth until your puppy’s chest expands. If the chest doesn’t expand, check again for obstructions, then reposition your puppy and try again. Administer 12 to 15 breaths per minute.
• Start heart massage. For small puppies (10 pounds or less): place the thumb and fingers of one hand on either side of the chest then compress the chest by gently squeezing your thumb and fingers together. For larger puppies: place a hand on both sides of the chest directly behind the elbows; support the chest with the lower hand and press down gently with the upper hand. The amount of compression needed depends on the size of your puppy. Depress the chest about 1 inch for a puppy weighing 20 to 30 pounds; if your puppy is larger or smaller than this, adjust the amount of compression accordingly. Compress the chest 100 to 150 times per minute, alternating compressions with breaths.
• Continue. Keep administering breaths and chest compressions until your puppy starts breathing on its own and you can hear a heartbeat. Then call your veterinarian – your puppy will need evaluation and possibly further treatment. If you’re unable to revive your puppy, have someone drive you to the veterinary clinic while you continue CPR.
Note: it’s possible to perform CPR by yourself, but it’s easier if you have someone to help you. If you have an assistant, ask them to call your veterinarian while you start CPR. The assistant can then massage the heart (if necessary) while you take care of rescue breathing.
Unfortunately, CPR is often unsuccessful, even when administered by well-trained veterinary professionals. There’s nothing to lose trying, however, and everything to gain if you’re able to revive your puppy.
| POISON HOTLINES: Angell Poison Control Hotline: (877) 2ANGELL (877 – 226 – 4355) A.S.P.C.A. Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 4ANI-HELP (888 – 425 – 4435) Kansas State University Posion Control Hotline: (785) 532 – 5679 St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center Pet Poison Hotline: (800_ 565 – 5719 University of Georgia Pet Poison Hotline: (404) 542 – 6751 |
