When to Seek Emergency Care for a Limping Pet
The lameness of your pet can typically wait until the following working day for treatment. However, certain ailments combined with limping indicate that you should see the nearest emergency veterinary hospital straight away.
Indications of lameness in animals that demand immediate attention.
Visit the emergency room if your animal pal exhibits any of the following symptoms:
- Dragging a limb
- Not bearing weight on a limb
- Extreme lethargy
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Excessive swelling
- Excessive vocalization
- Abrupt worsening of a limp
Your pet may need emergency treatment for the main reason, not necessarily the limp, if they exhibit slight lameness along with alarming symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
Lameness causes in pets that require emergency care
Numerous conditions can cause pets to become lame, some of which require rapid medical attention. Even if a muscular strain or sprain is worrisome, you don’t have to head straight to the closest emergency room. However, some illnesses do demand immediate attention, such as:
- A fractured limb
- Paresis or paralysis of one or more limbs
- A deep or large wound that will not stop bleeding
- A venomous insect or snake bite
- A car accident
- A dog fight
While some of these incidents might not seem to cause much harm, they could actually cause internal problems that need to be treated. A thorough examination may uncover damage to your pet’s liver, spleen, kidneys, or bladder, which could necessitate intensive hospitalization. For instance, you might believe that your pet who was hit by a car and only has some road rash on their legs and a little limp is fine.
A pet that has been bitten by another animal is another scenario that frequently necessitates emergency care. Punctures only leave tiny holes behind, yet the wounds spread infection very quickly. Additionally, a pet that grips and jerks your pet might seriously harm the underlying tissues and quickly worsen the situation.
It can be challenging to decide whether your four-legged companion needs emergency care. Give our staff a call to discuss your pet’s condition so that we can determine whether they require emergency care.