When Your Pet Is Sick, Time is of the Essence
The animals we share our lives with have finely tuned survival instincts—for good reason! In the wild, displaying any signs of weakness can make them vulnerable to predators. These inherited self-preservation skills come into play at home when a pet doesn’t feel well. Covering up any symptoms is simply in their nature, but if pet owners are able to recognize signs of illness or injury, they can quickly intervene.
Know What to Look For
Part of the reason we recommend yearly or bi-annual wellness examinations is that regular visits create the opportunity to detect underlying health problems before they get out of hand. This affords pet owners greater peace of mind between visits, and helps to maintain optimal pet health.
However, pets get sick from time to time. It can be difficult to determine when to rush your pet to the vet, or when to wait and see if they improve. At Animal Medical Center, we believe it’s always worth a phone call to discuss your pet’s behavior and symptoms. Our staff is here to help you provide the best care for your pet. We know exactly how it feels to worry about a pet’s condition. We always do our best to fit your sick pet into our schedule so we can promptly address their needs.
Observations of certain changes in your pet’s behavior are the best place to start. A suddenly withdrawn pet is certainly suspicious, but an uncharacteristically clingy or demanding pet could also need your help. Likewise, any shifts in a pet’s eating, drinking, or bathroom habits warrant a closer look.
Please call us at (813) 654-6222 if you see any of these additional warning signs:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Mobility issues
We do our best to accommodate the immediate needs of sick pets, and are often able to see and treat them the same day. Our same-day services typically involve a physical examination potentially followed by diagnostics to figure out the source of their symptoms. Getting to the bottom of a pet’s ailment is essential to effective treatment and quick recovery.
Animal Medical Center proudly offers a range of accurate diagnostics and an in-house lab. This allows a quick turnaround on blood work, urine, and fecal tests. Plus, our digital X-rays and ultrasounds provide greater insight regarding possible internal injury or disease. When we have all the pertinent information, we are able to provide an appropriate course of treatment that may include prescription medications available from our in-house pharmacy.
Common conditions of sick pets include:
- Allergies or skin disorders
- Urinary infections
- Ear infections
- Eye issues
- Pain
When Your Pet Needs More
Unfortunately, pets hide their symptoms too well for too long, and a barrier to rapid care is created. There are times, too, that owners wait too long to address certain problems affecting a pet’s behavior, comfort, and quality of life. Over time, symptoms that were subtle at first develop into a full-blown pet emergency. Please seek veterinary care immediately if your pet shows any of the following:
- Trouble breathing or excessive panting
- Traumatic injury like open wound or broken bone
- Loss of consciousness
- Choking
- Seizure
- Collapse
- Bleeding from any orifice
- Pale gums
- Swollen abdomen that is hard or painful to the touch
- Crying or whining
- Problems urinating or defecating
None of the above are ever considered normal pet behaviors, and require immediate veterinary assistance. If we have the privilege of having an existing relationship with you and your pet, we’ll be better equipped to swiftly address the nature of their emergency. However, Animal Medical Center is able to welcome new patients to our hospital, whenever we are needed.
Referrals When Needed
If your pet’s illness or injury requires specialty care, we may refer them to:
We Are Here For Your Pet
Whether your pet is in exemplary health, or feels a bit “off,” we are passionate about meeting their needs. Give us a call at (813) 654-6222, and our team will do what it takes to get your pet back on the road to health.