Some answers to frequently asked questions on emergency situations

Is a dog urinating blood an emergency?

Although seeing blood in the urine can be scary or upsetting, it is not always the symptom of an emergency. The most common cause of blood in the urine is a urinary tract infection, which is not an emergency and is very treatable. If your dog can pass urine, even if they pass smaller amounts more frequently, it is unlikely to be an emergency.

However, if your dog is straining and unable to pass any urine, this could be a sign of obstruction like a bladder stone within the urethra. This would be an emergency, and veterinary help should be sought immediately so that the veterinarian can pass a catheter to relieve the pressure if required.

It is important to mention that if you notice blood in your dog’s urine and bleeding or bruising elsewhere, this is an emergency as it could be a sign of a bleeding disorder or rat poisoning. Examples of other emergency symptoms would be bleeding from the gums, nose, or bottom or bruising of the skin or whites of the eyes.

Is a dog vomiting blood an emergency?

While a dog vomiting blood could be a sign of irritation of the lining of the stomach or food pipe (oesophagus), it could also be a sign of a more severe stomach ulcer or bleeding disorder. Therefore, if there is a lot of blood or there is blood in the vomit multiple times, it should be considered an emergency.

As with blood in the urine, if you see bleeding elsewhere and in the vomit, it could be a sign of a bleeding disorder, and you should seek veterinary attention right away.

 Is there an emergency number for pets in Macau?

There is no emergency service for pets in Macau, but you can contact your usual veterinary clinic if you have an emergency, day or night. If your veterinary clinic is closed, their voicemail message and website will have information on contacting their emergency veterinarian. Some veterinary hospitals in Macau have a 24hr service so know your options. 

If you are concerned about what would happen in an emergency, speak to your veterinary clinic who will be able to inform you of their emergency service provider’s details in advance so that you feel prepared.

 Is a dog fever an emergency?

On its own, a high temperature in a dog is not an emergency, although veterinary advice should be sought within twenty-four hours or if there is any deterioration in your dog’s condition. If their breathing, gum colour, hydration, or responsiveness is affected, you should contact your veterinarian right away.

 Is a dog abscess an emergency?

If your dog has an abscess, it is generally not an emergency, but you should contact a veterinary professional within twenty-four hours to arrange for them to be seen. If their condition worsens, or if they are very lethargic, dehydrated, pale, or unresponsive, you should contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.

 Conditions that are commonly mistaken for emergencies

Sometimes, understandably, non-emergency conditions can be mistaken for emergencies by pet parents. The list below gives some examples of these conditions that can seem life-threatening but aren’t.

 Reverse sneezing

Reverse sneezing describes a particular type of snorting behaviour that some dogs are prone to. It can seem serious because it can appear that something is lodged up the nose or that your dog is unable to breathe.

Thankfully, reverse sneezing is harmless. If you are unsure if your dog is reverse sneezing, some videos online show what a reverse sneeze looks and sounds like.

 A seizure

A single seizure that lasts less than five minutes and your dog recovers fully from is not an emergency. You do not need to contact your veterinarian until after the seizure has ended. Instead, time the seizure and take a video for your vet.

If your dog fails to come around fully after a seizure, the seizure lasts more than five minutes, or your dog has more than one seizure, this could be an emergency, and you should speak to your veterinarian promptly.

 Kennel cough

Because kennel cough causes coughing fits that can be lengthy and relentless, the condition is commonly mistaken for being more serious. Luckily, the condition rarely causes anything more than coughing and lethargy and is not usually an emergency unless other symptoms are present.

 Blood in the stools

The lining of the large bowel and rectum are very vascular, meaning that spots of blood in stool are quite common, especially if they have diarrhoea and are straining. However, streaks of blood are not an emergency.

 Conclusion

Remember to keep calm and assess the situation carefully (bearing in mind that animals can lash out in pain or distress). Don’t forget that if you are in doubt, you should call your vet—they’ll be able to help you decide whether you need to rush your dog in or not.

Hope this info helps

Till next time

Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester

Royal Veterinary Centre

Tel: +853 28501099

Emergency: +853 66776611

Email: info@rvcmacau.com