In Case of Emergency…

Many of us at one point have had the horrible, stressful, and terrifying experience of witnessing an emergency situation with our pets. For many of us it can be difficult to stay calm and think clearly and quickly of what to do. And sometimes, we may be at a loss at what constitutes as a true veterinary emergency.

Examples of true veterinary emergencies:

• Allergic reactions/anaphylaxis
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Trauma
• Poisoning (common toxins include but are not limited to: chocolate, Xylitol, raisins, grapes, Sago palm, garlic, onion, caffeine, alcohol, macadamia nuts)
• Collapse/unconsciousness
• Heatstroke
• Difficulty breathing
• Straining to urinate (this is especially critical if you have a male dog or cat – urinary blockages can be deadly)
• Vomiting and diarrhea (these could be signs of an underlying dangerous problem like an obstruction – especially if your pet has a habit of eating things they’re not supposed to – and if left untreated, may cause death)
• Severe injury to the eyes
• Seizures
• Inability to move legs/severe lameness
• Bloated or distended stomach (it would be safer to have a doctor make sure your pet’s stomach has not flipped or twisted, especially with large breed dogs)

Keep in mind that while this list has many of the major emergency situations, it is by no means a total illustration of everything that could happen. So if you are unsure if your pet is experiencing an emergency, the best thing for you to do is follow this rule of thumb: If you are concerned about the state of your pet, this at least warrants a call to your vet. And remember one mantra that I often hear our doctors say: “The quicker the treatment, the better the outcome.”

It would also behoove some of us to know that our Rowlett and Heath clinics are not a 24-hour ER. We have had many vet clinics tell their clients that we are an emergency hospital. This is not the case. While we will work our hearts out to stabilize each emergency situation that rushes into our doors, we do not have any staff overnight to monitor crucial cases, we do not have blood for blood transfusions, and we may not be able to squeeze in a surgery on top of the other surgeries and sick appointments and hospitalized patients we have that day (though our doctors do try to work in that one crucial surgery no one was expecting). In certain cases, it would be better for your pet to seek an emergency veterinary clinic. Like you, we just want the best outcome for your beloved family member.

Keep in mind that not all emergency clinics have a doctor on staff or the availability to fit in another case (unfortunately, there has been an influx of urgent cases in many facilities), especially if they are already triaging multiple life-or-death situations. My advice would be – if you have someone else to help you – have an extra person start driving while you call the intended clinic to gauge their availability. And if they don’t have a doctor, or if they say it will be hours before they can even see your pet, you are still already on the road and will be headed to one ER or another.

If you are unfamiliar with the local ER clinics, please see the below list of emergency hospitals below, and research them – some places are a better fit for you and your family than others. And bear in mind that the hours of operation may vary over time. Please call them ahead of time if you suspect you will need their emergency services.

For your everyday veterinary needs, here is the current information for our clinics: