Understanding The Purpose of Veterinarians

As a dog owner it is up to you to understand and know the needs of your pup. Each dog has a different personality and will need a specific nutritional diet. It is also very important that you give your dog the best healthcare possible. You do not want to be put in a position where your dog needs emergency medicine, but it does happen. It can be very difficult when to know if the situation is an emergency, so this article is going to outline just a few different situations that can be cause for a trip to the emergency veterinarian. 

Bloat

One of the biggest problems that dogs can run into is a situation called bloat. This is caused when the intestines of the dog are obstructed in one way or another. Often the obstruction will be due to the intestines being tangled and kinked or swallowing an object that will not digest. This is a potential fatal problem if the dog is not taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible. One of the main symptoms of bloat is restlessness. If you notice that your dog simply can't get comfortable, or looks to be in pain for no reason, your dog could be having bloat problems. You may also notice your dog trying to throw up but unable to do so.

Food

Only you know your dog best, and if it is normal for you dog to skip a meal, then no problem. However, if you notice that your dog's eating habits have changed or that your dog simply does not want to eat, then it is time to take your dog to the veterinarian. This can be due to many different problems including sickness, bloat, and worms or other parasites. You dog obviously needs calories in order to function and it is important that the dog is able to eat those calories on a regular basis. If your dog does not want to eat, do not waste time, take him or her to the veterinarians. 

Trauma

Dogs are an incredibly tough animal, and if your dog takes any type of trauma to the body, it is best to take them to the veterinarian. Whether your dog gets hit by a bicycle, gets into a fight with another dog, or falls off a small ledge, it is best to have your dog checked out. Your dog could have internal bleeding and you may not know about it until it is too late. 

Contact a vet office, such as Apple Valley Animal Hospital, for more help.