When Does Your Pet’s Limp Need Emergency Care?
The lameness of your pet can typically wait until the following business day for treatment. However, certain ailments combined with limping indicate that you should visit the nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away.
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
In addition to worrying symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea, your pet may need emergency treatment for the underlying problem rather than just the limp.
Lameness causes in pets that require emergency care
Pets can become lame for a variety of reasons, some of which require prompt medical attention. Although a muscle strain or sprain should be taken seriously, you do not need to head straight to the nearest emergency room. However, some conditions do necessitate urgent care, 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
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.
Another common situation that requires emergency treatment is a pet that has been bitten by another pet. Puncture marks leave only small holes, but the wounds quickly become infected. Additionally, a pet who grabs and shakes your pet can cause a great deal of underlying tissue damage that can rapidly turn into a serious problem.
It can be challenging to decide whether your four-legged pet now has three legs needs emergency care. Therefore, give our staff a call to discuss your pet’s condition so we can let you know if they require emergency care.