What to do if ?

We’re here to help. Here’s what we recommend:

1. My Dog is Bleeding

Pressure and ice applied to small bleeds may control it; then, consult with City Dog

Possible causes include puncture wounds and lacerations, ruptured cysts or tumors, broken nails, etc. Bleeding from the mouth or other body orifices is handled differently and may be much more serious.

We may recommend wound cleaning and repair for bleeding externally. Sedated mouth exam or evaluation of the urogenital or gastrointestinal tract may be needed if bleeding is coming from there.

2. My Dog Has a Bloody nose

Try to calm your dog, elevate head and possibly apply ice. Then consult with City Dog Vet

We may need to apply topical medications, sedate patient or place stitches

Possible causes: dry air, sneezing, nasal foreign body, nasal tumor, clotting problems, and sometimes others

3. My Dog is Vomiting

Remove access to food and water. Consult with us at City Dog Vet

In some cases, fasting and bland food will resolve simple problems.

In some cases, medications are needed to control symptoms and tests are needed to understand why it is happening

Possible causes: dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, problems with internal organs, allergic reaction, bowel obstruction, and sometimes others

4. My Dog has Diarrhea

Remove access to food; make or acquire bland food diet. Consult with City Dog Vet

If it persists, other therapy may be needed including fluids and medications

Possible causes include dietary indiscretion, any abdominal organ disease, inflammatory bowel disease, allergic reaction, intestinal parasites, and sometimes others

5. My Dog has Excessive Panting

Consult with CityDog Vet right away

This can indicate pain or certain medical conditions, as well as fever or overheating

An evaluation may include physical exam, radiographs and bloodwork

6. My dog had a first observed seizure

Stay away from mouth, teeth and claws. Consult with City Dog Vet

In many cases, diagnostics are needed and may include evaluation of bloodwork, blood pressure, etc. In young dogs who return to normal, epilepsy is likely. In older dogs or those who do not return to normal, more serious diseases are possible causes including toxins, liver disease, and disease affecting brain. In some of these situations, medications to control seizures are indicated. Advanced diagnostics, like evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid or imaging the brain (MRI or CT) may be recommended or discussed.

7. My dog seemed to pass out (Fainting/syncope)

Take note of what was happening before and after, look for patterns. Consult with CityDog Vet

These events can look like seizures but are mostly related to heart rhythm or blood pressure issues and have much different causes, treatments and prognosis.

Possible causes include very slow heart rates or intermittent irregular rhythms associated with heart disease or electrolyte imbalances; or secondary to brief slowdown in heart rate associated with cough or choking.

8. Ate something inappropriate or dangerous

Consult with City Dog Vet right away

Recommendations will vary depending on what you know, suspect or observe. In some cases, early intervention may be recommended. This can include inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal or IV fluid diuresis to flush the system. In some cases, surgical or endoscopic retrieval of a foreign body before it causes an obstruction would be recommended. When it is a known hazard, like human medications, chemicals, artificial sweetener xylitol, THC edibles, sharp bones, metal, batteries, there may be very specific recommendations

9. My dog ate some medication

Grab the bottle and consult with us at City Dog Vet

The brand name or, better, the generic name will be helpful. A description of the pill or capsule will not be very helpful. It helps if you know your dog’s approximate weight.

We may recommend you consult with ASPCA and bring your dog in for treatments (inducing vomiting, fluid therapy, other). Other recommendations (monitoring, bloodwork, specific medications) will very much depend on what, and how much, was consumed relative to your dog’s weight. Call us.

10. My Dog is off balance, dizzy, can’t walk right

Protect from hazards such as stairs and slippery surfaces, and Consult with City Dog Vet

We may recommend coming in for diagnostics/tests and comfort medications, and other treatment as needed

Possible causes include unobserved ingestion of toxins, serious organ disease, brain disease, abnormal blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar levels, inner ear disease and a dramatic but benign condition called old dog vestibular syndrome

11. My Dog has difficulty rising and/or is dragging a limb

Consult with CityDog Vet

This suggests pain or weakness affecting hips and muscles

Possible causes include injury, disc disease, flare up chronic arthritis, etc

We may recommend evaluation to include radiographs and bloodwork to start, and suggest comfort medications as appropriate

12. My Dog has pale mucous membranes

Consult with CityDog Vet

Possible causes include loss of blood, lung or airway disease, blood pressure issues.

If your dog is acting normal but is pale, it may not be urgent but it is still important. If your dog seems weak or tired, if there is discolored urine, if you notice unexplained bruises or he or she is breathing abnormally, it is an emergency

Diagnostics we will recommend will include key blood tests and possibly x-rays. Treatments may include a variety of medication, depending on suspected cause, and/or transfusion (if anemia is confirmed).

13. My Dog has a distended abdomen

Consult with City Dog Vet. A lot depends on how quickly the distension became apparent and how your dog is acting now. If he or she is distressed and trying to vomit, it is an emergency.

Possible causes include overeating (food bloat), gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat), tumors, bleeding, or fluid accumulating for other reasons

Dignostics that will be recommended right away will include radiographs. Other diagnostics like blood tests and ultrasound may be needed. All of these patients are uncomfortable and will need comfort meds. Many of these patients need surgery, some immediately.

14. My dog has a squinting eye, red eye, and/or is pawing at eye

Prevent rubbing at or around the eye and Consult with CityDog Vet

Possible causes include corneal scratches or ulcers, foreign material, infection/irritation and sometimes very serious conditions such as glaucoma.

We will recommend comfort medications, staining to find damage to cornea, rinsing the eye and possibly testing tear production or eye pressures. There may be topical medications and most these dogs will need to wear a protective collar to prevent further self damage

15. My dog is shaking head, pawing at ear, and/or ear is red, swollen, has a discharge or smells bad

Consult with City Dog Vet before trying to clean the ear

In most cases we will recommend examination to include collecting samples of material in the ear, comfort meds, topical and/or systemic medications as needed. In some cases (ear hematomas), a minor surgical procedure to drain fluid will be recommended.

16. My Dog has Unexplained bruising

Consult with CityDog Vet

Possible causes include unobserved trauma, low platelet counts, or abnormal clotting

We will recommend a physical exam and may suggest diagnostics such as blood counts (checking platelet numbers and checking for anemia) and measuring clotting times.

17. My Dog has Unexplained swelling

Consult with CityDog Vet

Possible causes include abscess, fluid pockets (seromas), reactions to insect/spider bites or sting, tumors, etc

We will recommend a physical exam and possible aspiration of the swelling to remove any fluid, drain abscess or obtain samples for diagnostics.

18. My dog passed Discolored urine

Consult with CityDog Vet and note any other symptoms

Possible causes: urinary tract inflammation or infection (usually associated with abnormal urination posturing or frequency), internal destruction of red cells or muscles, liver disease

We will recommend examination, analysis of urine, blood tests and imaging

19. My Dog was Sprayed by skunk

Rinse eyes if he/she is squinting, find/obtain a suitable product (Skunk Off is one brand, available on line; pet stores will often have them) and prepare to bathe your dog, preferably outside. Consult with CityDog Vet if eyes are red, squinty or cloudy.

Except for a direct hit to your dog’s eyes or bite wounds, there is not too much worry. The smell will permeate everything, so you will want to keep him or her outside while treating. Skunks can carry rabies, a good reason to keep up with Rabies vaccinations for the protection of your dog

20. I Heard a fight, and there are wounds on my dog

Control active bleeding, cover any open wounds with clean cloth and Consult with CityDog Vet

Many bite wounds can be much more extensive than they look and all are at risk of serious infection. Early treatment enhances the chances for good, complication free healing.

We will recommend an exam to assess the damage and plan repairs as needed, as well as medication for comfort and to control potential infection.

21. I Heard or saw my dog get hit by a car, with no obvious wounds

Consult with City Dog Vet to let us know what happened. We may recommend a nearby Emergency Room in some cases. In many cases, we will recommend an examination to assess for internal injuries, bleeding, fractures and dislocations, and skin wounds. Even if there are no visible wounds, an observed or suspected hit by car causes blunt trauma and this can lead to pain, swelling, lameness, internal bleeding and or significant lung injury. The initial adrenalin rush may mask symptoms. Always best to have them evaluated!!

22. My Puppy Bit an electric cord

Consult with CityDog Vet and plan on coming in.

We will recommend an examination to check for potentially serious burn injury to the mouth. Electric shocks can cause serious injuries elsewhere, such as the lungs, and we will check into that concern also

23. My Dog Got too much of a prescribed medication

Consult with CityDog Vet

Depending on the medication an accidental double dose (two owners gave the med) may be of limited concern. The big exception to that is insulin. If a double dose of insulin was given, plan on coming in for hospitalized monitoring and sugar supplemented fluid therapy to avoid a life threatening episode of low blood sugar.

If your dog ate a large amount of a prescibed medication, the consequences may be moderate (diarrhea) to life threatening (organ damage/failure). So, know what the medication was. A massive overdose of common dog non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Rimadyl, Meloxicam, ec) is dangerous. Early intervention allows best outcomes.

24. I want to stay on top of keeping my puppy/dog healthy and as long lived as possible

Consult with City Dog Vet right away

We will discuss wellness plans that include vaccinations, parasite control and medical progress exams for older dogs with chronic health conditions.

25. My Dog has Difficulty breathing and the gums are not pink

If you know there is an object in the mouth, try removing and Consult with City Dog Vet. If you don’t suspect a foreign object, plan on bringing in.

We will provide oxygen and sedation as needed and identify the cause. This may involve bloodwork and xrays, or a deep oral exam to find functional issues, obstructions, or mass lesions. Once the airway/breathing is under control, the urgency diminishes. If a foreign body is found and removed, a very good prognosis is expected. If the cause is related to abnormal larynx function, collapsed trachea, lung disease, or heart disease, there may be much more to do to gain control and improve the situation.

Possible causes: upper airway obsruction, laryngeal dysfunction, tracheal collapse, thoracic disease, airway/lung disease, heart disease

26. My Dog has Abnormal (fast, shallow, open mouth, labored) breathing

Consult with CityDog Vet and plan on coming in

We will assist with comfort, provide oxygen and start diagnostic tests

Possible causes include fever, neruologic disease, pain, anemia, lung or airway disease, thoracic disease, certain intoxications

27. My dog is coughing

Consult with CityDog Vet. Is he or she bringing anything up? dry or wet cough?

We may recommend an examination and diagnostics that include bloodwork and radiographs.

Possible causes include dysfunction of the heart, infections such as Kennel Cough, lung disease including pneumonia, airway diseases, collapsing trachea, and others.

28. My dog got too hot

Perhaps they were playing too hard on a hot humid day, or were trapped in a car. Wet the body fur, including head and ears. Consult with CityDog Vet and plan on coming in.

We will address the challenge of cooling the dog down and protecting organs. A short time of moderate hyerthermia may be of minimal consequence wih no symptoms, diarreha, or vomiting. A bit longer and there can be serious to fatal injury involving brain death, multiple organ failure and loss of clotting ability. Early intervention is needed to save them. Far better to prevent this from happening. Short faced (brachycephalic) dogs are especially at risk.

29. My dog feels warm and is not acting right

Perhaps there is a fever. If possible, take the temp and Consult with CityDog Vet

We will recommend examination and probably bloodwork. Treatment may include fluids and antibiotics, all depending on the cause.

30. My dog broke a nail

Consult with City Dog Vet

These can be painful, or not, and bleed, or not. All depends on where the damage occurred.

We will recommend examination. In many cases, part of the nail will be removed, with local anesthetic or sedation if needed. Bleeding and pain may be controlled with bandaging. The nail will regrow, but may be misshapen. To avoid this, keep nails trimmed. Especially pay attention to nails of dewclaws, which tend to get long from lack of wear.