<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT face=Verdana> <P align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT size=7><FONT face=BinnerD color=#ffff00><FONT size=7>Sunnyside&nbsp;<BR>Veterinary&nbsp;<BR>Clinic, P.A.</FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></SPAN>

Sunnyside 
Veterinary 
Clinic, P.A.

How to Tell if it is an
Emergency

So you think you might have an
emergency, and you are wondering
if you need to have an emergency exam.....


The first thing to remember is that it is impossible, illegal, unethical, and probably immoral to diagnose over the phone (at least it is not fattening).  To make a diagnosis, the doctor needs to take the history, make observations, collect data, take measurements, form impressions, and then put it all together to decide what the problem is.  It takes nearly all the senses:  sight, touch, smell, and hearing to get all the information we need.  Often it also takes labwork.  Medicine is both an art and a science, and neither art nor science happen over the telephone.

The Point:  I can't tell you if your pet is going to be okay until tomorrow or not over the phone.  I need to examine the patient first.   If you had a terrible stomach ache, and you called your doctor and he told you to just take two aspirin and call him in the morning, would you feel that you had gotten a good diagnosis?  Would you still worry that maybe you have appendicitis?  Would you feel any better than you did before you called?

So When is it an Emergency?
Below is a list of problems that may very well be serious and need immediate attention.   While this is not an exhaustive list, it may get you started.

Vomiting:  A little vomiting is not cause to panic, but if your pet has been vomiting more than 12 to 24 hours, vomits very frequently, vomits up anything unusual, or seems quite sick, an emergency exam is best.

Hit by Car:  Any animal that is hit by a car needs to be examined immediately.  Internal injury is common, and being internal, you can't see it from the outside.

Broken Limbs:  If your pet suddenly starts limping, and the affected leg appears crooked, it may be broken.  This needs immediate attention.

Bleeding:  If you pet is bleeding and you can't control it with a wrap or bandage, the pet needs to be seen.

Diarrhea:  If your pet has diarrhea and seems quite sick, an emergency exam is in order.  if your pet has diarrhea, but seems well and happy, tomorrow will probably be fine.