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Emergency Care
During regular hospital hours, American Pet Hospital is fully equipped to provide your pet with emergency care, including:
- Emergency stabilization
- Laboratory testing and x-rays
- IV fluid therapy, pain control, infection treatments
- Wound and fracture care
- Treatment for poisonings or seizures
- Referrals to specialty facilities
We understand that a medical emergency can be a frightening experience for you and your family and since our hospital staff members are also pet owners we understand the love you have for your pet. Every patient seen at American Pet Hospital receives the utmost veterinary care and attention from the time he or she comes into the hospital until the time he or she leaves. Our hospital is staffed at all times by skilled doctors and technicians, capable of handling the most complicated and demanding emergencies offering our clients and patients quality patient care and client satisfaction. We stand by our commitment to provide you and your pet with the most advanced veterinary medical diagnostics and treatment in a caring, compassionate atmosphere.
American Pet Hospital offers the best in medical technology to our patients. Our advanced technology gives our doctors and highly trained staff members the necessary tools to provide the best possible care. Oxygen support, blood pressure monitoring, transfusions, ECG, incubators, radiology and fully-equipped surgery suites with complete anesthetic monitoring capabilities are ready for providing the best care and diagnostics for your pet. Our complete in-house laboratory can provide diagnostic laboratory test results in just a few minutes. This allows us to treat your sick or injured pet as quickly as possible. Having an in-house lab also means that our patients can be routinely monitored throughout their stay allowing for immediate treatment adjustments as needed.
The following are some indications and situations when you should seek veterinary emergency care:
- Hit by car
- Unconsciousness
- Physical trauma
- Foaming from mouth
- Unresponsiveness
- Blue, purple or pale gums
- Cat exhibiting open-mouth breathing
- Cat straining to urinate
- Bleeding heavily
- Profuse vomiting or diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Ingestion of toxins, medications or any suspect substance
Emergency Surgical Procedures We Provide:
- Cesarean section
- Endoscopy: foreign body retrieval
- Enterotomy / Gastrotomy
- Exploratory laparotomy
- Gastric dilatation volvulus (Bloat)
- Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Removal
- Hemoabdomen/Acute Abdomen Treatment
- Intestinal Resection/Anastomosis
- Laceration / Wound repair
- Proptosis / Prolapse Repair
- Pyometra
- Splenectomy
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Is This An Emergency?
Many diseases can have similar signs, but vary in severity.
Is it an emergency? This certainly can be a challenging question to answer and especially since our team cannot make a diagnosis over the phone. Many diseases can have similar signs but vary in severity. The following list is signs or conditions that would typically be associated with potentially serious conditions.
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Definite Emergencies
In critical emergencies, every second counts. Please let us know as quickly as you can so we can be as prepared as possible for your pet’s arrival.
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Pet First Aid Kits
Do you have a first aid kit for your pet? Taking the motto from the Boy Scouts, it’s best to “be prepared.”
Many pets now travel almost everywhere with their owners. They go hiking, camping, hunting and on road trips now more than ever. These pets are sometimes hours away from veterinary care. A first aid kit can help to treat your pet prior to getting them in to see a veterinarian.A lot of injuries and emergency situations may even occur in places that your dog goes every day. Injuries can occur in places like the back yard, dog parks and the busy streets that we live on.
Building Your Pet First Aid Kit
Here are the things that you should have in a first aid kit for your pet. These may be things that you already have in your personal first aid kit.
- Phone numbers for your veterinarian and the local emergency or after-hours hospital – These are the most important things to have on hand. Your veterinarian can help talk you through any treatment that your pet may need. It also allows the veterinary hospital to know that you are coming in for an emergency. If they know you are coming they can be better prepared to treat your pet once you arrive.
- Rolled gauze – can be used to wrap wounds or as a muzzle, if needed.
- Clean non stick bandages, towels or strips of clean cloth – used to clean wounds and control bleeding (*do not use human adhesive bandages, i.e., Band-Aids® on pets).
- An elastic bandage – can be used as a wrap to control bleeding or to stabilize an injured leg.
- Tape – used to hold bandages or wraps in place.
- Scissors – to cut bandages to the correct size.
- Leash – to transport pets if they can walk. If they can’t walk, you can use a large towel or blanket as a stretcher.
- Muzzle – many pets may become more aggressive when they are scared or in pain. If needed, you can use gauze, rope, a necktie or a small towel.
- Milk of magnesia or activated charcoal – to absorb poison. Always contact your veterinarian or local poison control center before treating a pet for poison.
- Digital (fever) thermometer – to check your pet’s temperature. Do not insert it into your pet’s mouth; the temperature must be taken rectally.
- Eye dropper – to give oral treatments or flush wounds.
- Hydrogen peroxide – can be used to induce vomiting if needed. It is very important that you do not make your pet vomit unless directed by a veterinarian. Many toxins can cause worse damage if the pet vomits.
- Diphenhydramine – can be used to treat some allergic reactions. Do not administer unless directed by your veterinarian. The doctor can tell you the dose and how to administer if needed.
Treating an Injured Pet
When you approach a pet that has been injured, remember that he or she is most likely scared and in pain. This can cause even the most mild mannered pets to try and bite. Make sure that you do not get injured trying to help your pet. First aid should always be followed up by immediate veterinary care.
First aid is not designed to replace veterinary care; only to augment it to give your pet the best chance of a full recovery. Many injuries and toxin ingestions can become severe or even life-threatening if not treated as soon as possible.
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Hours: Mon-Fri: 7:00am - 10:00pm |
Saturday: 9:00am - 10:00pm |
Sunday: 10:00am - 10:00pm