Have an emergency? Come straight to the hospital.
We are open for emergencies 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
If possible, call us before arriving: (610) 828-3054 so that we can be better prepared to treat your pet.
Do not hesitate if you are unsure if you have an emergency. Better safe than sorry.
Reasons to bring your dog/puppy to the emergency veterinarian:
- Not urinating for 12 hours or more.
- Not eating or drinking for 1 day.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Possible toxin exposure.
- Neurological issues or seizures.
- Limping or lameness.
- Vaccine reaction of hives or trouble breathing.
- Trauma, bite wounds or bleeding.
Are there any emergency tips that I should know?
- ABC!
- A – airway: anything that obstructs the airway prevents oxygen entering the lungs
- Do your best to clear the airway but be careful of your puppy’s teeth
- B – breathing: if your puppy isn’t breathing
- Try gently pumping the chest with the palm of your hand
- Close the muzzle with your hand and blow into the nostrils
- C – cardiac function: if you cannot detect a heartbeat by feeling just below the elbow.
- Try pressing on the chest with your palm - initiating chest compression.
- This is an emergency and you should seek veterinary help immediately
- A – airway: anything that obstructs the airway prevents oxygen entering the lungs
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays for any emergency. If you are not sure if your pet is experiencing an emergency - COME RIGHT IN! Better safe than sorry. There are online courses that offer CPR training for pets . Here is a link to the Red Cross, there is information about pet first aide, CPR training and about CPR procedures for cats and dogs.
- First aid: use caution as your pet may be in pain or extremely frighten and may bite or scratch
- Blood loss: Apply pressure and a dressing if the bleeding is from a small wound.
- If the bleeding persists, this is an emergency.
- Wounds are treated within 4 hours, they can often be sutured close – longer time periods increase risk of infection and complication
- Burns and scalds: Cool the burned area with cold water
- Cover the area with damp towels and contact us.
- Eye injuries: these are always very painful.
- If a foreign body can be seen, it may be possible to remove it by rinsing the eye with eye wash.
- Bring them in as soon as possible.
- Heat stroke: Most commonly occurs in hot weather with dogs left in cars or if a brachycephalic dog is running around in the heat. The dog’s body temperature rises dramatically.
- Signs are excessive panting and distress quickly followed by coma and death.
- Reduce body temperature as quickly as possible with cool water and get to the vet as soon as possible.
- Do not use ice as this may cool the body too quickly and cause a shock type reaction.
- Falls:
- Restrict activity, confine in a small area, smaller dogs/puppies can be confined in a box or carrier and contact us
- If your puppy is vocalizing and unable to walk - confine immediately. This is an emergency, please bring them in immediately.
- Blood loss: Apply pressure and a dressing if the bleeding is from a small wound.
Common Household Poisons
- Certain foods: grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, advocado, onions, chives, milk, raw meats/fish, uncooked eggs, yeast, dough, coffee and alcohol
- Symptoms: mild to moderate GI upset, nausea, vomiting, respiratory irritation, incoordination and at times organ failure
- Contact poison control if you suspect your pet has gotten into any of the foods listed - visit the ASPCA website for a more detail list.
- Symptoms: mild to moderate GI upset, nausea, vomiting, respiratory irritation, incoordination and at times organ failure
- Chocolate: darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is,
- Baker’s Chocolate and Cocoa Powder are the most dangerous
- Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity
- Severe symptoms: increased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors and seizures
- Xylitol – common sugar-free sweetener also called Birch Sugar
- This will decrease blood sugar and cause life-threatening liver failure
- Rodenticides and insecticides
- Symptoms: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pale or brown gums, weakness or lethargy, labored breathing, tremors and/or seizures
- Fresh paint or open containers of paint in non-ventilated areas
- Symptoms: mild GI upset, nausea, vomiting, respiratory irritation and incoordination
- Ice melt products (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium salts, etc)
- Symptoms: GI upset and local dermal irritation
- Antifreeze
- Symptoms: depression, staggering, seizures, increasing drinking and urinating, and vomiting
- Symptoms may seem to get better within a day, but they will worsen to include kidney failure and likely death
- Medicines not meant for kittens or prescribed from your veterinarian
- Symptoms: depression, staggering, seizures, increasing drinking and urinating, and vomiting
- Some plants
- Symptoms: mild to advanced GI upset, nausea, vomiting, respiratory irritation, incoordination and at times organ failure
- Especially Sago Palms, all parts of the sago palm plant are poisonous, but the seeds are the most toxic.
- Contact poison control if you suspect your pet has gotten into any of the plants listed - visit the ASPCA website for a more detail list.
Some serious effects of toxins can be: hemorrhagic (bloody) vomiting or diarrhea, raised sodium levels in the blood, irregular heartbeat, rapid and shallow breathing and hyperthermia. These are all considered emergency and require immediate care.