Do you ever need to take a pet to the emergency hospital? NC vets give advice

Part of being a responsible pet owner is knowing how to properly care for your animal.

It’s not just making sure a pet receives sufficient food, water and shelter. It’s also about ensuring the pet has access to medical care.

Many pet owners take their pets to veterinarians for regular checkups and routine procedures or to receive medications and vaccinations.

But sometimes, a trip to a veterinary emergency hospital may be required.

The News & Observer spoke with Dr. Rachel Cocchiaro, a veterinarian at Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital in Durham County, and Dr. Sarah Musulin, the director of emergency services at NC State Veterinary Hospital, to learn what pet owners should know about medical care options.

What’s the difference between urgent and emergency care for pets?

Urgent care is for “somewhat minor” issues or outpatient procedures, Cocchiaro said, including urinary tract infections, ear infections or torn toenails.

Emergency hospitals care for “more seriously ill” pets, she said.

However, there’s overlap, Cocchiaro said. Some general practitioners can accommodate some more severe issues, and urgent care clinics may staff specialists such as critical care nurses and surgeons.

“The biggest limiting factor for a lot of general practices and urgent care is just the ability to provide 24-hour care,” Cocchiaro said.

Emergency veterinary hospitals may staff people who practice emergency veterinary medicine or specialists in emergency care, such as surgeons, anesthesiologists, internal medicine doctors, oncologists and dermatologists.

When should you take your pet to a veterinary emergency hospital?

Musulin, who’s also a clinical associate professor in emergency and critical care, gave examples of conditions or symptoms that should be handled at an emergency hospital:

• Respiratory distress, such as if a pet is having trouble breathing
• Significant trauma, such as being hit by a car
• Intractable gastrointestinal signs, such as profuse vomiting or diarrhea
• Exposure or ingestion of toxins, including human medication, rodenticide and mushrooms
• In cats, if they can’t urinate
• Distended abdomen
• Inability to walk
• Acute onset neurological signs including seizure and collapse

“If you’re worried about your pet, then it’s very reasonable to seek veterinary care,” Musulin said. “And you can call the urgent care clinic or the emergency hospital to get advice on whether or not they think you should go ahead and come in, or it can wait to see your primary care veterinarian.”

Where should you take your dog if bitten by a copperhead?

If your dog or cat is bitten by a venomous copperhead snake, Musulin said, pet owners should seek veterinary care for the animal. While copperhead bites are typically not life-threatening, they can cause local tissue trauma.

“You should see an emergency veterinarian to see how bad of a bite it is, and, at the very least, to address the pain,” Musulin said.

Urgent care clinics, including Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital, can also treat snake bites.

What should pet owners do before going to the emergency hospital?

“I think the most important thing in an emergency situation is to stay calm, but it is important to act quickly,” Cocchiaro said.

An emergency veterinary hospital may be able to provide advice over the phone, so it may be helpful to call ahead before going to a hospital, Musulin said.

She also recommends bringing the pet’s medical records and a list of its medication. Owners should also know

their pet’s medical history and log the pet’s behavior if it becomes sick.

Once at the emergency hospital, Musulin said, veterinary staff will triage just as doctors at a human hospital would, with more critically ill pets being seen and treated before those with less serious concerns.

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

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Renee Umsted is The News & Observer’s Affordability Reporter. She writes about what it costs to live in the Triangle, with a consumer-focused approach. She has a degree in journalism from TCU.