PET EMERGENCIES! Please Read Before Posting!

[Med Help]

Dear Friends,

We are glad that you have come to MedHelp's Ask A Veterinarian forums to find out more about your pet’s health or behavior.  It is our goal to provide you with the highest level of accurate pet health information and guidance to help you understand more about keeping your pets safe, happy and healthy.

The veterinarians here at MedHelp cannot offer emergency help for your pets.   If your pet is experiencing any urgent medical condition, please DO NOT WAIT  for an answer at this forum.   Seek immediate help at your local veterinary office or emergency animal hospital.  Here are a few examples, but by no means a complete list of emergency situations for which you should seek immediate medical assistance for your pet:

• SEIZURES
• FAINTING
• UNABLE TO WALK
• PALE GUMS OR LETHARGY
• SUDDEN COLLAPSE WEAKNESS OR LOSS OF COORDINATION
• EXCESSIVE HEAT OR COLD EXPOSURE
• INGESTION OF ANY POISON OR UNKNOWN TOXIN
• NOT EATING OR DRINKING FOR LONGER THAN TWO DAYS
• HIT BY A CAR OR ANY OTHER MAJOR BODILY INJURY
• UNCONTROLLABLE VOMITING OR DIARRHEA OR DEHYDRATION
• INFECTED WOUNDS
• ABNORMAL BLEEDING
• DIFFICULTY BREATHING
• DIFFICULTY BIRTHING
• EQUINE COLIC
• URINARY BLOCKAGE or DIFFICULTY URINATING
• VENOMOUS BITES

We know that medical terminology can be confusing and even intimidating.  You might even feel as if medical events with your pet are spiraling out of your control.  We want to help you understand the facts about your pet’s health, and help separate truth from fiction about pet care.  Our guidance can often save you time, money and heartache plus improve the communication with your local veterinarian.

There is a lot of bad information on the Internet.  But, you can trust the veterinarians here at MedHelp.  Each of them is a highly trained and experienced practitioner and they are committed to providing pet owners with trustworthy, practical and common sense advice.  

In the Ask the Expert forums, more than one veterinarian might contribute to answering your question.  Like “rounds” at the local hospital, we have found that this group effort often leads to better decision making.

MedHelp International

[Marnan]

My Pit-mix injured her rear right leg on Saturday while playing.  I took her to the Vet on Sunday..he fely her leg down..NO YELPING or indication of pain.  We agreed to give her medication and wait a few days before doing x-rays (financially smart AND no MAJOR indication of broken bone as she was putting 10% of her weight on it).  it is Wednesday and she is still limping..she will 'forget' and occasionally put weight on it. she still limps...it seem to be the 'ankle' right behind the pads of her hind right leg (that joint)..she sits on it, stretches it out, climbs steps - most of the time favoring this leg.  it sometimes looks a little swollen-no a lot and when I felt it, she jumped...only in that spot.  is there a way to tell if her 'ankle' in broken?  fracture, pulled muscle, ect can't do anything about..but I want to know if I can tell if it is BROKEN from here before I take her for x-rays.

[ginger899]

Marnan, so sorry you had to wait so long, your post got 'buried' here, (I never think to look here, just look on this header post as a permanent fixture, and didn't notice you had posted under it.)
The only sure-fire way to tell if a bone is broken underneath all the swelling is to have an x-ray done.
If you have any other questions, it would be best to make a completely fresh post, so that others will see it and pick up quickly on it.
Best wishes

[ginger899]

I forgot to say this before....if you scroll down the page, on the right you can find, under RELATED EXPERT FORUMS : "Ask a Vet(Pet health)" where you can post your question to a vet here.

[drifter0213]

my baby Simba has difficulty urinating-drifter0213

[SFmonsterdark]

I had a pet that had that issue and it turned out to be kidney stones causing the difficulty.

[Jaybay]

Hey folks, I'm really sorry I missed some posts to this thread.  It needs to be a Read Only topic for that reason, but Med Help doesn't have that capability yet.  

For people new to this board and this particular topic, please call your vet first if your dog seems to be in serious condition!  No internet board member can help your dog better than you - his caretaker.

To begin a new topic, just click the "Post a Question" button at the top of the forum page.  You'll get better visibility on the board and more responses by starting a new topic. Thanks!

[bumblebee49]

My 30 yr.old horse had what looks to be some kind of Dermatitis on his underbelly about where the gurth would go. ( he has been riden in 2 yrs ) I work for a small animal vet, so I sent a calu/senti to our lab, waiting for results.
I' m useing surgy scrub 2 x's daily to clean it and Furosone topical until I get results of test back Monday-tuesday. Is  this enough or should I do something more? It is looking about the same as it did 3 days ago just not so wet. It is about 10 in X 5 in and not spreding now. He is still eating grain and grass and drinking normal. Thankyou for any infor you may have!

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

In urgent care situations you will waste valuable time looking for phone numbers and directions to your closest Animal Emergency Clinic.  Do that now and post this information in a place you can find it quickly.  Just as you would your own ER!  Being prepared like this will save you very precious minutes - and in some animal emergencies that can make a real difference.  

[simba126]

hi ginger i have female lebrador (golden ) 1 and half years old she suddenly stop eating dog food ,i start giving her bread with milk she ate it some days.
she eat hairs from her legs ..i use to spray antibiotic on it (pink -spray)

but now she is not eating any thing at all ...no dog food no bread ...and become so so weak ....wat should i do  

[Jaybay]

If you have a specific question, please start a new topic by clicking the green "Post a Question" button at the top left of this page.  More people will see your question and respond than if you add it to this thread.  Woof!  :-D