You would hope to never be in the situation where you require emergency treatment for your beloved fur child, but it happens, and it happens when you least expect it. Your four-year-old staffie could seem fine one minute on his usual 10km run and the next collapsed from heat stroke and requiring medical attention. Many conditions require emergency treatment and can not wait, and often these emergencies occur after hours.
In Dr Flournoy’s article on Heatstroke in Dogs - Clinical Signs, Treatment, Prognosis, and Prevention he said: “Heatstroke is an acute, life-threatening emergency with a complex pathophysiology—the key clinical features of which include metabolic acidosis, oliguric renal failure, coagulation abnormalities, and neurologic disturbances. Physical examination is marked by excessive panting, hyperemia, hypersalivation, tachycardia, and various neurologic signs.”
Stop Googling - Ask a Real Vet
Content:
How Much Is an Emergency Vet
Emergency treatment can add up fast. When a patient comes in for an emergency the veterinarian often must do tests to determine what the exact cause of the problem is. This can mean x-rays, ultrasound, blood tests and even a CT scan. The cost depends on what tests need to be performed but can start at $700 and escalate quickly depending on the situation.
It can happen that your cat comes home struggling to breathe after an adventure outside. When taking your cat to the veterinarian you would want to be able to do all that is possible to determine the cause or origin of the problem. Some cats develop asthma, but more commonly difficulty breathing is due to trauma.
Even a hernia in the diaphragm can occur. The veterinarian would need to perform x-rays and emergency surgery if this were the case. That can cost thousands of dollars, and you would not want to have to choose between treatment of your cat or euthanasia if there is hope. That is why Petcube Emergency Fund is so important; in this way you can be sure your pet gets the medical attention it needs.
A study done at the Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgery said that: “Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is a protrusion of the abdominal viscera to the thoracic cavity through the disrupted diaphragm. Approximately 85% of the diaphragmatic hernias are of traumatic origin in cats.”
Does Pet Insurance Cover Emergency Visits
When it comes to any insurance it is always imperative that you read the fine print. Of all the pet insurance funds that I know the most basic cover is for emergencies only, then the plans increase in cost and in what is covered. Your veterinarian will usually recommend an insurance that has full coverage, but if you cannot afford that then a basic plan that covers emergencies is worthwhile.
It can happen that you are playing with your dog in the park with not a care in the world, and then their stomach starts to bloat, and they struggle to catch their breath. Gastric torsion can occur to any size dog but is more common with large breed dogs. This condition requires immediate and urgent care by a veterinarian to correct the twisted gut. In times like this you will want to have access to an Emergency Fund that can confirm you have an emergency situation on your hands, and that can pay the vet bill for you.
Dr E Monnet says: “Acute gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome is a medical and surgical condition caused by several pathophysiologic effects occurring secondary to gastric distention and malpositioning. It occurs most commonly in large deep-chested dogs. Gastric dilatation-volvulus should be differentiated from food engorgement. Food engorgement is caused by the overconsumption of food and can result in severe dilation of the stomach.”
Conclusion
When it comes to our pets, we only want to give them the best possible home and care. This does include investing in pet insurance.
Was this article helpful?
Help us make our articles even better
