10 Emergency Signs Dog Owners Should Watch For
Your dog can’t tell you when they need to be rushed to the vet. So, you need to know the signs that there’s something wrong and they need treatment right away.
1. Bloating
Does your dog look bloated? Does their abdomen feel hard or swollen? It could be a sign of gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV). GDV is when the stomach is twisted and filled with air. It needs immediate surgery to correct and could be life-threatening if ignored.
Great Danes are at higher risk of suffering GDV than other dog breeds.
2. Vomiting
It’s not uncommon for dogs to vomit once in awhile, but it should ring alarm bells when they vomit several times in one day.
3. Eating Something They Shouldn’t
Did you catch them in the act of eating something they shouldn’t? Did they eat one of the plants that are toxic to dogs? Did they eat chocolate, garlic or avocado? Did they lap up an alcoholic drink or lick a puddle of household cleaner? Then, you will need to call the vet right away.
4. Not Going to the Bathroom
Have you noticed that your dog isn’t urinating? They could have a bladder infection, a urinary tract infection or bladder stones.
5. Hot Temperature
Do they feel hot to the touch? This could be a fever. You can confirm with a thermometer. If it’s 103 degrees or higher, you should call the vet.
6. Cold Temperature
On the other hand, if your dog’s temperature drops too low, you should also take action. A temperature below 99 degrees is too low. It could mean that they are suffering from hypothermia.
7. Pale Gums
Your dog’s gums should be pink. If they look pale, there is likely something wrong. It could be a sign that they have parasites. It could mean they’re suffering from dehydration. Or they could be suffering from shock.
8. Whining or Shaking
Whining and shaking are only warning signs when you can’t discern a reason for these reactions. It could mean that your dog is in pain and experiencing distress.
9. Squinting
Is your dog squinting? This could be a sign that something is wrong with their eyes. It could be an eye infection, an allergic reaction or an injury. Ignoring the problem could lead to issues like permanent vision damage.
10. Loss of Balance
A sudden loss of balance could be a sign of several serious problems. It could indicate that they’ve ingested something toxic. It could be a tick bite causing paralysis. It could mean there’s an issue with their heart, their spine, their brain or their lungs. Go to the vet.
Handling the Costs of Vet Emergencies
Vet emergencies aren’t exactly cheap. If you’ve signed up for a pet insurance plan, you should have some coverage for your treatments. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to cover the entirety of the treatment costs out of pocket. This will be a good time to dip into your emergency fund and use the savings sitting in there.
What if you don’t have enough savings? In that case, you may need to look for alternative payment methods to cover the emergency expense. You could use a credit card, as long as the balance is far from the limit. Or you could try to apply for a loan online and use the borrowed funds to pay off the expense.
Not all online loans will be accessible to your location. So, look for options that are available in your state of residence. For instance, if you live in Dallas or Austin, look for options to borrow cash in Texas specifically. You don’t want to waste your time filling out applications for loans that aren’t accessible in Texas.
You will do anything to make sure your dog is happy and healthy. So, remember these 10 signs!
