Allergic Reaction
The most common type of allergic reaction results in swelling around the eyes and/or lips. This can occur from an insect sting or even an allergy to a vaccine. Signs of a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) in a dog include extreme lethargy, vomiting and/or diarrhea, and even collapse. Anaphylactic shock in a cat usually looks like difficulty in breathing. It is never normal for you cat to pant (cats do not open-mouth breathe). If you see any of the above signs of allergic reaction, take your pet to Brodie Animal Hospital or an emergency clinic as soon as possible.
Bite Wounds
Some bite wounds cannot be seen. It’s always good to have your pet looked over after a known bite. Puncture wounds over the abdomen or chest could be much more serious than they look. Waiting could result in serious infection or death.
Ears
If an ear infection is left untreated, it lead to irreversible damage to the ear canal and even hearing loss. Also, persistent shaking of the head, due to an itchy ear, can lead to an ear hematoma. An ear hematoma occurs when a blood vessel in the ear bursts and fills up with fluid like a balloon. This is a painful condition that needs treatment as soon as possible.
Eyes
Any green, yellow, or excessive mucoid discharge from the eyes is a problem. It can indicate anything from a viral infection, a problem with tear production, or a corneal scratch. As with our own eyes, it is important to take care of these situations as soon as possible. For example, n untreated corneal scratch can result in permanent damage to the eye or loss of vision. Only an examination of the eye can determine the true nature of the problem.
Hit by Car
Dogs and cats can sometimes seem absolutely fine after being hit by a car. This does not necessarily mean that all is well. Your pet could be suffering from internal injuries and shock. They may seem fine at first, but a couple of hours later are in serious condition. It is best to have them checked out by a veterinarian even if they seem to only be bumped a little by the car.
Inappettance
Your cat can develop life-threatening liver disease if he goes more than two days without eating. If your cat is not eating, bring him in immediately. Dogs can go several days without eating, but it usually is a sign of underlying medical problem.
Urinating
Contrary to popular belief, when cats urinate outside the box, it does not mean that Kitty is mad at you. It could be an indication of a medical problem that can range from a urinary tract infection to diabetes. We highly suggest that if Kitty begins to urinate outside the box that she has always, you should bring her in for an exam and urinalysis.
When kitty is not urinating, or straining to do so, this can indicate a very serious problem and your cat should be brought in as soon as the problem is noticed. Complete urinary blockage, usually seen with male cats, is a medical emergency.
Dogs can also exhibit signs of a urinary tract infection with inappropriate urination. They can also exhibit signs of urinary incontinence. Both of these conditions are treatable.
Vomiting/Diarrhea
Let’s face it, pets — dogs especially — can get into any number of things that can cause gastrointestinal upset. When do you just keep an eye on it and when do you start worrying about it? V&D can be caused by any number of things from dietary indiscretion to the more serious intestinal blockage. If diarrhea occurs once, try giving the intestines a rest by withholding food for 12–24 hours and slowly introduce a bland diet at the end of that period. Always keep water available. If diarrhea or vomiting persists, however, dehydration can occur and the GI upset could be an indication of something other than dietary indiscretion. Waiting two days at this point could be detrimental to your pet. If vomiting occurs shortly after eating or your pet is bringing up undigested food, this could be an indication of an intestinal blockage. You should not wait if this occurs. Call us, and we can assist you in determining whether or not you should bring your pet in, but please don’t wait 4–5 days before doing so. If you do decide to schedule an appointment and come in, and diarrhea has been the problem, please be prepared to bring a stool sample in for us to test for intestinal parasites.
