When to Seek Emergency Veterinary Treatment for Your Pet’s Limp
Usually, veterinary treatment for your pet’s lameness can wait until the following business day. However, if you are limping, you should go right away to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
Lameness signs in pets that require emergency care
If your four-legged friend shows any of the following signs, head to the emergency room:
- Dragging a limb
- Not bearing weight on a limb
- Extreme lethargy
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Excessive swelling
- Excessive vocalization
- Abrupt worsening of a limp
If your pet has minor lameness, as well as worrying signs like vomiting or diarrhea, they may require emergency treatment for the primary cause, and not necessarily the limp.
Lameness causes in pets that require emergency care
Numerous factors can cause pets to become lame, some of which require immediate medical attention. While a muscle strain or sprain should be taken seriously, you do not need to head straight to the nearest emergency room. However, some conditions do necessitate urgent care, including:
- A fractured limb
- Paresis or paralysis of one or more limbs
- A deep or large wound that will not stop bleeding
- A venomous insect or snake bite
- A car accident
- A dog fight
While some of these incidents might not seem to cause much harm, they could actually cause internal problems that need to be treated. A thorough examination may reveal damage to your pet’s liver, spleen, kidneys, or bladder, which could necessitate intensive hospitalization. For instance, you might believe that your pet who was hit by a car and only has some road rash on their legs and a minor limp is fine.
A pet that has been bitten by another animal is another scenario that frequently necessitates emergency care. Punctures only leave tiny holes behind, but the wounds spread infection very quickly. Additionally, a pet that grabs and shakes your pet can seriously harm the underlying tissues and quickly worsen the situation.
It can be challenging to decide whether your four-legged companion needs emergency care once they have only three legs. Give our staff a call to discuss your pet’s condition so that we can determine whether they require emergency care.