VMD One of the most difficult decisions facing both the dog owner and the veterinarian is what constitutes a bona fide emergency. This is not a problem when the patient is in the office, but faced with a call from a distraught client, the veterinarian is forced to make a judgment call and, if the condition is not clear-cut, an assumption of emergency is usually made. Fortunately, there are guidelines for determining an emergency and arranging for medical care, so pre-planning for problems can often save time and grief. There are many situations that are clear-cut to both the owner and the veterinarian, and these require no question of judgment.
Traumatic injury is always an emergency.
Even accidents in which the patient does not appear to be hurt should receive immediate attention. The patient may seem to be alert, yet go into shock hours later. And despite having no visible fractures or lacerations, there may be internal injuries, slow bleeding or a ruptured bladder that becomes obvious only as time goes by. Hemorrhage is another obvious emergency. Every attempt should be made to find the source of bleeding, and a compression bandage applied to prevent severe blood loss.