What signs might help me decide if my dog needs emergency treatment?

You can do some checks quickly at home or on a walk that will help you decide whether your dog’s condition requires immediate veterinary attention.

 Gum colour – your dog’s gums (unless they are black and pigmented) should be salmon pink. If they are pale pink, white, blue/grey, or bright red, you should call a veterinarian right away.

Hydration status – if you lift the skin of your dog’s scruff (at the back of their neck) and then drop it, it should fall straight back into place. If there is a delay, or it doesn’t return to its normal position, this could indicate dehydration and could be an emergency.

Breathing pattern – watch your dog breathing for 15 seconds, then multiply it by 4. If their breathing rate is more than 40 breaths per minute, or if it seems faster than normal, you should speak to your veterinarian immediately. Equally, if the breathing pattern seems unusually shallow or your dog seems to be requiring a lot of effort to breathe, this is an emergency.

Responsiveness – is your dog aware of you calling their name? If they are unconscious, unresponsive, or less responsive than normal, it would be sensible to contact your veterinarian right away.

 What can I do to help in an emergency?

 Stay calm

If you think your dog’s condition might be an emergency, the most important thing to do if you think your dog’s condition might be an emergency is to stay calm. It can be hard to think clearly when stressed or panicked, and there could be an additional risk to you or your dog.

Assess your dog

Ensure you are in a safe place where no further harm can come to your dog or yourself. If your dog is in pain or feeling unwell, they may lash out, so approach them gently and cautiously. Check their gum colour, hydration, breathing pattern, and responsiveness, and assess any blood loss. This will give you an idea of whether it is a true emergency and ensure you have information ready to pass on to your veterinarian.

Once you have determined that your dog needs an emergency assessment by a veterinarian, call them immediately. If you are unsure whether your dog’s condition is an emergency, it is best to contact your veterinarian for advice.

First aid and risk prevention

While awaiting veterinary help, you may be able to apply a clean dressing, towel, or other clean clothing to any wounds if they are bleeding. Even if you have nothing to use to cover the injury, applying pressure with a clean hand can help to slow any bleeding.

 If your dog is having a seizure, ensure that they have space and are clear of any furniture, stairs, or other areas where they could be injured. Often, veterinary advice would be to wait for an episode to end before moving your dog, so you can keep busy by ensuring the area is clear and timing or filming the episode to help your veterinarian later. Do not try to put anything in or near your dog’s mouth during a seizure.

If you think your dog has heatstroke, consider placing them in the car with the air conditioning on, using a hose or buckets of tepid water, or placing cool, wet towels on them to help start reducing their body temperature safely.

What if I wait and see?

It can be tempting to delay seeking veterinary treatment due to fear of what might be wrong or if the timing isn’t good or funds are tight. However, in most veterinary emergencies, prompt treatment means a much better chance of recovery.

For instance, it is easy to see how a ‘wait and see’ approach could prove fatal if your dog is bleeding heavily, and with heatstroke, it is clear why it is vital to start safe cooling methods right away.

In other cases, the risk of waiting can seem less clear. For example, if your dog has a cluster of seizures they will need medication from a veterinarian to bring them out of the cycle of seizures. And your dog’s constant retching and bloat may seem like it can wait an hour or two in case it resolves, but a twisted and bloated stomach (known as Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus) is a condition that is rapidly fatal without intervention.

So, if your dog is showing signs consistent with an emergency, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

 Hope this info helps

 Till next week

 Dr Ruan Bester.

Royal Veterinary Centre

Tel: +853 28501099

Emergency: +853 66776611

Email: info@rvcmacau.com

by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester