A dog getting emergency care.

Following any sudden changes in a pet’s behavior or appearance, it’s normal to take a minute to see whether or not symptoms will improve. Unfortunately, because many illnesses or injuries require immediate veterinary intervention, every passing moment counts. With a rapid response and accurate diagnostics, emergency veterinary care is designed to support any health crisis. 

Why It Matters

For everyday issues affecting pets, same-day or urgent care visits provide an excellent service. In addition, routine wellness exams can go a long way to prevent certain disorders that ultimately lead to a health crisis. 

Quick thinking and decisive action significantly decrease the potentially dire outcomes related to emergency illness or injury. Without immediate intervention, a pet’s condition can rapidly deteriorate and cause unnecessary pain and suffering. 

The Cutting Edge

Providing emergency veterinary care can mean the difference between life and death. Emergency veterinary care can also prevent a minor condition from turning into a serious health issue. 

Consequently, it’s crucial to seek help in a place that is not only current with health and safety protocols, but carefully outfitted with the latest veterinary technology. As a result of various diagnostic tools, including CT scans, digital radiography, endoscopy, and ultrasounds, we can work to stabilize a pet’s condition while achieving accurate, rapid results in real time. 

When Your Pet Needs It

Pet emergencies have a tendency to occur when you least expect them, sometimes even in the middle of the night. If your pet is hiding, crying out in pain, bleeding, or suffering from other trauma, everyone’s fear and stress go into overdrive. 

To help counter some of this, it’s a good idea to have some of the following on hand:

  • A pet first-aid kit 
  • A blanket to keep them warm, apply pressure to open wounds, or lift them up
  • Pet carrier
  • The name, number, and location of 1-2 emergency veterinary hospitals (we are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays)
  • A list of close friends or family members who can help you with transporting your pet to the hospital
  • Hard copies of your pet’s medical records
  • A list of their prescriptions and/or allergies

It’s a difficult thing to do, but the ability to stay calm will help inform your choices. Please call us at (757) 703-0199 so we may prepare for your arrival or provide information regarding the following pet emergency symptoms:

  • Uncontrollable bleeding, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Collapse
  • Seizures
  • Respiratory distress (rapid or shallow breathing)
  • Pale gums
  • Straining to urinate or defecate
  • Hiding, aggression, lethargy, or restlessness 
  • Obvious trauma to the eye
  • Known or suspected ingestion of poison

Critical Pet Care

Because some pet illnesses or injuries yield subtle symptoms, it can be difficult to know if your pet needs emergency care. If you are ever in doubt regarding your pet’s health and wellness, we aim to provide you with peace of mind. 

At Coastal Animal Referral Emergency, our caring, compassionate and experienced team members want to get to the root of whatever’s troubling your pet. Please reach out to us anytime at (757) 703-0199, and we’ll do our best to deliver the best possible emergency care to your pet. 

Tags: | | |
Posted in: Emergency Care | Pet Safety and Emergencies | Pet Wellness and Preventive Care
Previous: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Pets