Posts in Category: Pet Emergencies & First Aid

Not being able to urinate is a serious issue. If you are wondering if a blocked cat is an emergency, Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital wants you to know that the answer is a resounding yes! Do you know the signs of a blocked cat?

If your pet was critically injured and needed to be hospitalized tomorrow, would you be able to afford the bill?

We all want to do the very best we can for our pets, and we are fortunate that today, we have access to ever advancing veterinary medicine. From cancer treatment, to blood transfusions, to laser therapy and advanced surgical procedures, it’s now possible to treat almost all pet injuries and illnesses.

This advanced care comes with a cost, however. Standard pet care costs already average $1800 per year, making it easy to see how a pet accident, illness, or emergency can put a financial strain on many families.   

That’s where pet insurance comes in. Just as human health insurance is designed to bridge the gap between needed cost and care, pet insurance can offset the financial burden of unexpected injury or illness to our pets. The big question is – is pet insurance right for you? It’s an individual decision, but it’s important to weigh the costs and benefits for your own situation. Here, Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital shows you how.

When our pets are injured or seriously ill, it seems like nothing else matters. But sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish between pet emergencies and other health conditions that can wait for a scheduled appointment. Certain situations indicate true pet emergencies, and our team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital has put together a list of 10 to keep in mind.

When pet upset stomach problems strike, it can be unpleasant to say the least. While the outcomes of vomiting, diarrhea, and not eating may be the same, though, there are many potential causes of pet gastrointestinal problems. Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital is here to help you understand what those are, what to do, and when to worry. 

Pet owners never want to face a pet health crisis without the right stuff. Putting together a pet first-aid kit is just one way you can set your pet up for a better result from a sudden injury or illness, and can even save you precious time en route to a veterinary hospital

Does it feel like stressful, scary situations often happen after office hours? That’s how we feel sometimes. It’s tough to know when to drive your pet to a 24-hour emergency animal hospital and when to wait until your veterinary office opens its doors during normal business hours. You want your pet to feel better now. 

At Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital, we offer urgent and emergency care seven days a week during our normal business hours. If your pet needs emergency care outside of our office hours, we’ll refer you to one of two 24-hour animal hospitals nearby. Here are a few tips to help you decide what type of care your pet needs: 

Most dogs love to eat. Changes in appetite can be concerning and may be your first clue that something is not right with your pet’s health. Sometimes, though, there are other reasons for Bella skipping breakfast. Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital can help you sort out whether you have cause for concern the next time your dog is not eating.

Dogs with flat noses are commonly referred to as brachycephalic dogs. The term “cephalic” refers to the head, while the term “brachy” means short. Brachycephalic dogs have shorter skull bones, which give their face and nose a pushed-in appearance.

The anatomy of the face and nose, as well as its relationship to other soft tissue structures, are altered as a result of the shorter face and nose bones. Some of these changes may result in physical issues for these types of dogs.

Do you have pet medications hanging out in your medicine cabinet that you are debating keeping or tossing? It can be a hard decision to make. On one hand, keeping leftover medication could save you some money or a vet visit. On the other hand, though, should you really be giving expired pet medications? Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital is here to shed a little light on the topic. 

If there is one thing on which we can all agree, it’s that no pet owner ever wants to utter the words “pet” and “emergency” in the same sentence. Sometimes, though, our furry friends become sick or injured in a critical way, making the need for emergency pet care inevitable. 

As your pet’s advocate, it is important for you to be able to recognize the signs of a pet emergency, how to help a pet in distress, and to discern when veterinary care can wait for a scheduled appointment. You might be asking yourself, “what should I do if my pet has an emergency,” and the team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital is here to help.