

In a pet emergency, those first few minutes are crucial and may require advanced care and know-how on your part to protect your pet and maybe even keep them alive.
Let’s review what classifies as a pet emergency and some first aid preparedness tips you should know for before you call the vet.
What constitutes a pet emergency that needs immediate veterinary attention? According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, here are 13 pet emergencies that you should call your vet or animal urgent care provider about immediately:
If your pet is experiencing any of these life-threatening emergencies, call us immediately at 701-757-3500. If this happens to your pet between 10 PM and 7 AM daily, please call our after-hours referral, Red River Animal Emergency Hospital & Referral Center located in Fargo, ND, at 701-478-9299.
Being prepared for a pet emergency is crucial to keeping your pet safe and helping you stay calm if faced with an urgent health situation. Here are some tools to have on hand and some common urgent care situations to educate yourself on to help keep your pet safe.
Having an emergency first aid kit in your home is not just for humans. Keep an emergency first aid kit handy for your pet’s specific needs separately, too, so that you have everything you need in case of an emergency.
When it comes to poisons and your pet, a good rule of thumb is that if it is hazardous to you, it is also toxic to your pet. However, there are also plenty of human-safe foods and products that are poisonous to your pets, including chocolate, lilies, grapes, Xylitol (found in peanut butter), and these common household items and plants.
If your pet’s eyes have been exposed to a toxin and the label tells you to flush them with water, do this as soon as possible. If their skin has been affected, the label may say to wash with soap and water, and this should be done with pet-safe soap as quickly as possible, while avoiding getting soap into your pet’s eyes, mouth, or nose.
Consuming poisonous substances can be very harmful to your pet and may cause:
If your pet has experienced any of these symptoms, call us at 701-757-3500 or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 right away.
Seizures can be very traumatic for both you and your pet, but it is important to remain calm and keep pets away from anything that may hurt them while they are seizing. Do not try to restrain your pet, as this may cause injury to both them and you.
It is helpful to time the seizure and report the length to your veterinarian for diagnosis. Once the seizure has stopped, make sure to keep your pet warm and try to calm them if possible.
If there is external bleeding, use a clean gauze pad or cloth and apply firm pressure to the wound until it starts to clot. This may take several minutes and checking it often will slow the progression, instead hold pressure for a minimum of three minutes before checking for a clot.
If the bleeding is on an extremity, you should apply a makeshift tourniquet first and follow the steps above. Make sure to get your pet to the veterinarian immediately if there is severe bleeding, as this can quickly become life-threatening.
If your pet is showing symptoms of internal bleeding, keep them warm and calm and go to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
During seasons of warmer weather, it is important to monitor your pet extra closely. Never leave your pet in the car on a warm day, and always limit their exposure to direct sunlight.
If your pet shows signs of heatstroke, move them to a cool spot and place a wet, cold towel around their head and neck. Pouring water on their body, paying particular attention to their abdomen and between the hind legs, can help lower their body temperature as well.
Having to administer first aid to your pet can be a trying experience, but as long as you know what to do and remain as calm as possible, it can mean the difference between life and death.
No matter what you do, immediately visit your veterinarian as soon as you are able to after administering first aid. Call us if you have an emergency at 701-757-3500, or our after-hours and extensive emergency referral in Fargo, Red River Animal Emergency Hospital & Referral Center, at 701-478-9299.
We all know that during this time of year the temperature can get much hotter than what we are used to. When we are playing and having fun outside, we forget that our pets are more susceptible to dehydration, overheating, and heatstroke than we are.
Heat-related illnesses should be taken seriously; it’s crucial to be informed on how easily our pets can get overheated, how to prevent heatstroke, and how to take action if your pet is showing symptoms.
Dogs and cats can overheat quickly, because they have higher body temperatures than we do and are unable to cool down as efficiently. Their bodies are designed for insulation from the cold and not for cooling down in intense heat.
Did you know, on an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a car with windows slightly open could reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and 120 degrees in 30 minutes? Within a short period of time, our pets can experience severe damage to their brain, heart, liver, and nervous system.
Take a look at this video showing veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward capturing what it’s like for a dog to be trapped in a car for only 30 minutes:
Practice these safety tips to make sure your pet doesn’t get overheated:
Do not ever leave your pet in a parked car, not even for a minute with the A/C on. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly. If you see a pet in a parked car, inform the owner or a store attendant immediately. It is also appropriate to call the police or the humane society.
If the humidity level is too high, pets are unable to cool themselves down and their body temperature will rise to dangerous levels. Ideally you would like to aim for 60% humidity in your home, so be aware of levels that exceed this wherever your dog may be.
On hot days, limit exercise to morning or evening hours. Asphalt can get very hot and burn their paws, so walk your pet on the grass when possible.
Whenever your pet is playing outside, make sure there is cold water; even add ice when there’s intense heat and humidity. Also, tree shade and tarps are ideal — not a doghouse; those will not provide relief.
Use a cooling body wrap, vest, or mat to help them release heat, or if they don’t mind baths, it’s beneficial to give them a cool soak.
Monitor your pet closely when they are outside. Overheating and heatstroke symptoms include:
If your pet is showing three or more of these symptoms, they may be experiencing heatstroke and you should immediately contact GVAH or the closest veterinary clinic.
If you have questions or concerns about heat-related illnesses, the staff at GVAH is more than happy to assist you. You may stop in, call our office at 701-757-3500, or email us at info@grandvalleyvet.com.