San Diego Dog & Puppy Training  www.SitK9Sit.com

When your dog gets hurt it is an awful feeling.  The simple fact that your dog can’t tell you what the problem is in many cases creates a sense of panic because you don’t exactly know what to do.

When the emergency is obvious like getting hit by a car or injuries from a dog fight its easier to make the decision and get to the vet right away.  When the symptoms aren’t so obvious is when people tend to not know what to do for their ailing dog.

Signs that your dog may be in distress and needs immediate veterinary attention are severe, rapid or heavy panting, wide eyes, temperature above 104 degrees, staggering or weakness.  These are signs of heat stroke or other life threatening causes.

If it seems your dog is having difficulty breathing, get your dog to emergency vet care.  Check your dog’s tongue, if it looks bluish, know that the situation is very serious.

A distended or bloated abdomen with or without vomiting is an indication that something is internally wrong with your dog and should be seen immediately.  Bloat is common in dogs with larger chests and without immediate attention it is highly unlikely that your dog will survive the torsion caused by a turned stomach.

Any sign of seizures, continued vomiting or diarrhea should be checked out by a vet before dehydration and other symptoms set in as a result of waiting too long to seek medical attention.  Dogs have a tendency to eat things they shouldn’t and don’t understand that even though it tastes good the really cool “find” in the garage can actually poison them to the point of death.

Always have a list of 24-hour emergency veterinary clinics in your area located where you can find it easily.  When you are stressed it is easy to forget the obvious.  Make sure you  make a copy of the list for pet sitters or friends who may be watching your dog while you are away.  

Emergency Dog Veterinary Care In North County San Diego:

Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County
2055 Montiel Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
760-466-0600

Dr. Michael Brown -- House Calls
Black Mountain Rd
San Diego, CA 92129
Hours of Operation
M-Su 6:00am-10:00pm
858 -737-3530

VCA North Coast Animal Hospital
414 Encinitas Boulevard
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-645 -6770
Hours of Operation
M-Su 24hrs

All Pets Animal Hospital
285 N. El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-634-2022
 

Black Mt Rd Pet Clinic
13161-1 Black Mt. Rd.
San Diego, CA
858-484-5000
House calls within 10 mile of clinic available

Carlsbad Animal Hospital
2739 State St
Carlsbad, CA 92008
760-729-4432
Open 7 days a Week

California Veterinary Specialists
100 N Rancho Santa Fe Rd
San Marcos, CA 92069
734-4433

Animal Poison Control
800-548-2423

Article by Jt Clough®   www.SitK9Sit.com   www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog