For most of us, pets are family, and their health and wellbeing is one of your number one priorities. If your cat or dog requires emergency care, it can be a very scary situation to be in, and it is crucial that you have a medical team on hand you can trust with your pet’s welfare.
Here at Woods Avenue Animal Clinic, pets are our passion. We have a system to ensure that you are covered by either our expert team or one of our trusted partners. Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure that your pet can receive the treatment they need as soon as they need it. Located in Oceanside NY.
What Is An Emergency?
For pet parents, any time your pet is sick or in distress, it can feel like an emergency. There are certain conditions, however, which are more severe than others, and which require you to seek immediate veterinary treatment. Some of the most urgent situations include:
- Difficulty breathing
- If your cat or dog is having trouble breathing, you need to seek veterinary care straight away -this can be fatal quickly. You should also seek help if you notice that your pet is breathing quickly, has an increased heart rate, or appears to have increased respiratory effort – this could be a sign of a collapsed or obstructed airway and will require medical attention.
- Pale, grey, lavender or white gums or tongue
- Your pets’ gums can tell you a lot about their overall health, and a change in color should always be treated as a serious. This could be a sign of anemia – a fall in the number of red blood cells transporting oxygen around the body – and this can result in oxygen deprivation, which can be fatal.
- Pale gums could also indicate kidney disease, and this may lead to infections or the build-up of toxins in the body – both of which require treatment.
- Blood loss from trauma can also cause discoloration, as could a parasite infestation caused by ticks or fleas – both can be life-threatening.
- Shock is another possible cause, and this again compromises the delivery of oxygen to the tissues and can cause the circulatory system to fail.
If there are any sudden changes in the color of the gums or tongue, seek a vet immediately.
- Repeated vomiting, diarrhea or unproductive retching
- Any of these symptoms have the potential to develop into something more serious, and so must be treated. Diarrhea and vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration, and this can be fatal if left untreated. These can also all be signs that your dog has ingested something they shouldn’t, and this needs to be checked by a professional.
- Open wounds
- Any open wounds on your pet must be treated as urgent, as they are super susceptible to infection, and this can lead to sepsis and death if allowed to develop.
- Seizures, tremors, and confusion
- If your pet appears to be suffering from disorientation, dizziness, or seizures, get them to a vet as soon as you can. This can be a sign of an underlying issue such as epilepsy, a symptom of poisoning, or a problem with the brain. Your pet will require an examination by a trained, experienced vet to help determine the best course of treatment.
- Difficulty urinating
- If your pet appears to be having problems urinating, including vocalization with urination, a urinary blockage, or unproductive squatting, there could be something more serious going on. These may be the sign of a urinary infection and sometimes can indicate a tumor which requires treatment.
- Non-responsiveness
- If your pet is unconscious and unresponsive, seek help immediately.
How Can We Help?
Here at Woods Avenue Animal Clinic, we are committed to providing the very best care for your pet. We will make sure that you are able to receive the treatment you need, quickly and with minimal stress for pet parents. While we are unable to offer 24-hour services on site, we do have an experienced team on call until 8 pm each night. Consultations can also be carried out via video, and this can be useful if your pet is unable to travel, or you need help out of hours. Our team will also be able to visit you in your home for maximum convenience and comfort for you and your pet.
Though we are unable to offer 24/7 assistance on-site, we work with a select handful of trusted partners, who have the ability to offer you help and support around the clock. We partner with the following teams to offer round the clock advice and assistance to pets and owners:
LIVS – Long Island Veterinary Specialist
- Phone: (516) 501-1700
- Address: 163 South Service Rd. Plainview, NY 11803
- Website: https://www.livs.org/
VMCLI – Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island
- Phone: (631) 587-0800
- Address: 75 Sunrise Hwy North Service Rd, West Islip, NY 11795
- Website: https://vmcli.com/
VERC – Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center of Westbury
- Phone: (516) 420-0000
- Address: 609-5 Cantiague Rock Road, Westbury, NY, 11590
- Website: https://vcahospitals.com/westbury
What To Do In An Emergency
If your pet is displaying any of the symptoms we have described above, or you have a concern about the health and welfare of your pet, the first thing to do is give us a call. Either our team on-site, or one of our partners will be able to assess the situation and advise you on the best course of action. Remember, you should only call 911 if your pet is causing human endangerment, or is blocking traffic.
We Can Help
Here at Woods Avenue Animal Clinic, we make your pets well being our number one priority and offer a personal service. If your pet is sick, the situation is stressful enough without having to deal with confusing automated phones or a major, faceless corporation that seems to prioritize profit. Instead, we take an individual approach and will always use your pet’s own history and medical notes to inform our decision and treatment plan.
Getting in touch is quick and easy, and you can soon be in touch with a qualified, experienced team that boasts over 37 years of experience in the industry. For a personal, compassionate, and pet-centric solution to your emergency, contact us today.
