Emergency Vet
Conway

Our pets are pretty good at letting us know when they’re hungry or want a walk, or when they don’t feel well — but it can be hard to tell which is which. It’s important to know the signs of a true emergency so that you can get your pet the immediate and compassionate medical care that they need from our emergency vet in Conway.

Most cases of vomiting and diarrhea in dogs are due to an upset stomach. Perhaps they ate something they shouldn’t have while playing in the yard or on a walk.

If your furry companion isn’t feeling better the next day, watch for the following symptoms:

• Vomiting that lasts more than 24 hours
• Diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours
• Bloody diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Your pet is lethargic or seems weak
• Your pet appears to be in pain

A dog bite wound may appear to be nothing more than a little nick. However, that bite could’ve caused serious damage beneath the skin. It’s possible that your pet’s muscle, skin, and fat were torn apart by the bite. Those tears can create an air pocket beneath the skin where an infection can develop. Bites can be hard to detect depending on the fur thickness of your dog. And bites usually come in pairs. Bite wounds to the chest or abdominal cavities have the potential to be life-threatening.

Pets can suffer poisoning in a variety of ways. Dogs can eat foods that are dangerous to them such as grapes, raisins, or chocolate. Cats can consume lilies. Both dogs and cats can swallow rat poison, human medications, pesticides, bleaches, essential oils, or toilet cleaning tablets. Become familiar with substances around your home that may harm your pet. The faster you get your pet medical treatment from our emergency vet in Conway, the better the chance the poison can be treated. The longer you wait, the more apt the poison is absorbed into the digestive system.

Seizures are electrical disturbances in the brain that are sudden and uncontrolled. They can occur singly or in multiples. A seizure can happen at any time and at any frequency.

There are two types of seizures: intracranial and extracranial. Intracranial seizures are triggered by issues such as epilepsy, brain tumors, and swelling of the brain. Extra-cranial seizures are triggered by other health issues such as low blood sugar or electrolyte disorders. An epileptic seizure is the most common type suffered by dogs and cats.

Seizure symptoms include the following:

• Uncontrollable shaking and tremors
• Loss of consciousness
• Leg paddling
• Loss of urinary or bowel control

Any seizure can be life-threatening for your pet. Seek immediate medical attention.

Urinary issues are something you might not expect your pet to have. You walk your dog multiple times each day or set up a private litter box for your cat. So you might not give it much thought. But pay close attention to make sure your pet is urinating. If your pet isn’t urinating or is straining to do so, there might be a medical issue at play that goes beyond a urinary tract infection.

Straining to urinate can be a sign of crystals in the bladder. Blood clots, cancer, and inflammation can all cause urination difficulties. The inability to pass any urine for longer than 12 hours is potentially life-threatening and needs immediate medical assistance from our emergency vet in Conway.

Ocular issues are such that they can lead to loss of an eye or blindness if left untreated.

Symptoms of eye issues include:

• Eye redness
• Discharge
• Swelling
• Squinting
• Chronic eye pawing
• Excessive tearing

Insect stings are a medical concern most common during the summer months but can happen any time of year. An unfortunate sting in the wrong place can make your pet very itchy.

Signs that your pet has been stung include swelling around the face or a case of hives. Severe allergic reactions to a sting can cause the airway to swell. That will affect your pet’s breathing. But severe reactions are mostly associated with multiple stings.

Follow these steps if your pet gets stung:

• Use some tweezers to remove the stinger
• Mix water and baking soda into a paste to apply to the sting site
• Relieve pain and swelling with an ice pack
• Ask your vet if it’s OK to administer an oral antihistamine
• Give your pet some fresh water and carefully observe them

Call your emergency vet in Conway immediately if you notice a dramatic swelling increase or if your pet goes into anaphylactic shock.