Have you ever posted a photo of your dog on a forum or social media group to ask what other dog owners think of your dog’s physical condition? If you read through the replies to such posts, you most likely see a lot of people telling the OP, or original poster, to take that dog to the vet now. That is because while many pet owners never second guess their dog’s condition and will take their dog to a professional for every cough or sneeze, not everyone can afford it. You should be aware of the most common signs that tell you when it really is time to get your dog professional medical help immediately.
Bloat: The Silent Killer
Bloat is one of the most common and fast killing conditions that your dog will need medical care for. No one is really sure exactly what causes it, and dogs of any size or age can get it. Bloat is when the dog’s stomach flips and becomes entangled in his intestines. As a pet owner, how are you to know what this happens? You don’t exactly have an X ray machine on hand. There are some obvious signs, however, that will help you understand you dog’s situation.
When a dog gets bloat, he can die within a couple hours. It really is that fast and deadly. He will become uncomfortable and restless. He cannot get comfortable lying down, and most likely will walk around slowly as if he is absolutely miserable. He is in a lot of pain. As bloat worsens, he may drool at the mouth more than usual, drink a lot of water and throw it back up, and eventually you will see his stomach bloat out because his digestive tract cannot operate correctly. Get him to the vet as soon as possible. The sooner surgery can take place the more likely your dog will survive.
Cuts, Punctures and Scrapes
As kids, we fall down a lot. We crash our bikes and fall off skate boards. We know that antibiotic creams and gels are readily available to help us heal from these minor injuries, but will your dog benefit from this? Dogs come with more complications than we humans do when it comes to healing.
Dogs can get hurt through play or even a dog fight. A puncture wound can happen from another animal’s teeth, getting stabbed by a stick on the ground or even porcupine quills. Most puncture wounds will not be stitched unless they are severe, and need to heal from the inside out. However, bacteria can begin to grow almost immediately and even a small puncture wound can lead to a dead infection if a veterinarian is not able to clean it properly. All punctures need vet attention.
Cuts and scrapes may heal differently, but they are more likely to already have a great deal of bacterial infections taking place. Cuts also may need stitches, hair trimmed to keep infection out and even a bandage or dressing that only your local licensed veterinarian can provide.
If You Can’t Afford The Vet…?
There are many people now that have fallen on very difficult times. This can push your pet’s healthcare to the back burner and forcing them to suffer because you don’t have the funds to pay for veterinary services. The story is far more common than you think. While the saying, If you can’t afford the vet, you can’t afford the pet, still dominates the judgments of others, keep in mind that there are many wonderful veterinarians out there that trustfully accept payment plans. Also, non profit organizations including local rescues and shelters sometimes include special programs to help people down on their luck to pay for emergency vet services. Never wait to take your pet in, worry about payment later. Your pet’s life is worth it.
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