When Your Pet’s Limp Requires Emergency Care
Usually, veterinary treatment for your pet’s lameness can wait until the following business day. However, if you are limping, you should go right away to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
Lameness signs in pets that require emergency care
If your four-legged friend shows any of the following signs, head to the emergency room:
- Dragging a limb
- Not bearing weight on a limb
- Extreme lethargy
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Excessive swelling
- Excessive vocalization
- Abrupt worsening of a limp
If your pet has minor lameness, as well as worrying signs like vomiting or diarrhea, they may require emergency treatment for the primary cause, and not necessarily the limp.
Lameness causes in pets that require emergency care
Pets can fall lame for a multitude of reasons, some of which need immediate treatment. While a muscle sprain or strain is concerning, you do not need to rush to the nearest emergency hospital. However, certain conditions do require urgent care, including:
- 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
Even though some of these circumstances might not seem to cause much harm, they could cause internal problems that need to be treated. For instance, you might believe that your pet who was hit by a car and only has minor limping and road rash is fine, but a thorough examination may reveal damage to their liver, spleen, kidneys, or bladder, necessitating intensive hospitalization.
An additional scenario that frequently necessitates emergency care is a pet that has been bitten by another animal. Small holes are left by punctures, but the wounds spread infection very quickly. Furthermore, a pet that grabs and shakes your animal can seriously harm the underlying tissues, which can quickly escalate into a serious issue.
It can be challenging to decide whether your four-legged pet now has three legs needs emergency care. Therefore, give your veterinary staff a call to discuss your pet’s condition so they can let you know if they require emergency care.