That's why our dedicated team of veterinarians, technicians and support team is always there, ready to care for your pet and give you the most appropriate advice to ensure its well-being and health.
That's why our dedicated team of veterinarians, technicians and support team is always there, ready to care for your pet and give you the most appropriate advice to ensure its well-being and health.
As with humans, an emergency with your pet can happen very quickly! But how do you know when a visit to the veterinarian is necessary? Here is a handy little guide to keep that contains all the answers you will need if the situation were to happen.
“Classic” Emergencies
Here is a list of recurring emergencies for which you can start treatment at home, and do not always require a visit to your veterinarian, depending on the case.
My Pet Has Diarrhea
The first question to ask yourself: could my animal have eaten something unusual such as a toy, a plant, a bone, grass, etc.? If the answer is yes, then a veterinarian must be consulted, since consumption of a foreign body could be the cause.
If the answer is no:
When is it time to consult?
My Pet Is Vomiting
Could my pet have eaten anything unusual such as a toy, plant, bone, grass, etc.? If the answer is yes, then a veterinarian must be consulted, since consumption of a foreign body could be the cause.
If the answer is no:
Warning: prolonged fasting is not recommended for very small breeds of dogs, puppies, and kittens, as there is a risk of hypoglycemia. If you must fast them, apply corn syrup to their gums every 2 hours.
When to consult?
My Pet Isn’t Eating
The first question to ask yourself: is my animal interested in anything other than its food (treats, table food, etc.)?
Before consulting:
When to consult?
If the loss of appetite lasts more than 24-48 hours.
My Pet Limps
Did you see him make a wrong move, fall, hurt his paw? Have you noticed if he has a broken claw?
If so, apply hot and cold alternately and keep the animal at complete rest for at least 24-48 hours.
Caution: Never give Tylenol, Advil, Motrin or Aspirin, as these products are toxic to animals.
When to consult?
My Pet Salivates a Lot
Excessive saliva is called hypersalivation and can be a sign of nausea, mouth injury, toothache, or rabies.
When you notice that your pet is salivating a lot, has he just eaten something that tastes bad (plant, medication, etc.)?
Start by wiping his mouth and offering him some water.
Is his rabies vaccine up to date? Despite the sharp decrease in cases in Quebec, the disease is still present and unvaccinated animals are more at risk.
When to consult?
My Pet Has Red Eyes
Any eye problem deserves a visit to your veterinarian without delay.
Caution: Never administer drops purchased from a human pharmacy. Some products can cause severe allergic reactions.
If you have an Elizabethan collar in your home, put it on your pet as soon as possible. It will prevent him from scratching his eyes and making his problem worse.
My Pet Seems to Have An Ear Infection
Does your pet frequently shake his head? Does he constantly scratch his ears?
Start by cleaning his ears once a day for three days with a drying and antibacterial ear cleaner (available over the counter).
When to consult?
My Pet Scratches A Lot
First step:
When to consult?
If you are unsure about the severity of your pet's symptoms, contact your veterinarian directly. Outside opening hours, you can communicate with one of our teams available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Please note that the advice in this article is provided for guidance only. Nothing beats the diagnosis of a veterinary examination as well as the treatments that will be offered to you.
In veterinary medicine, the primary treatment for exposure to a toxic substance is decontamination. The purpose of decontamination is to prevent further absorption and to remove the toxic substance from the animal's body. In most exposures, there is only a very short window of time to act. Providing a detailed account of events to the veterinarian is important, so that they can determine the type of exposure and substance. The timeline of events also allows the veterinarian to gauge whether decontamination is safe for the patient and whether it will be effective.
Ocular decontamination
Ocular decontamination usually involves flushing the patient's eye extensively to remove the toxic substance. This is often very difficult for the owner to do, as it involves restraining the animal in addition to handling a potentially painful and/or injured eye. Recommended eye rinses are lukewarm water and/or physiological saline (e.g., contact lens solution). In the case of exposure to a corrosive substance, the owner should attempt to rinse the eye before transporting the animal to the veterinary hospital. Rinsing for 15 to 20 minutes with warm water or a contact lens solution will reduce the damage from prolonged contact. The animal should also be prevented from rubbing its eye, either by restraining it or by fitting an Elizabethan collar, and then go immediately to the clinic for an ophthalmologic examination. If in doubt, contact a poison control centre to determine if the substance is corrosive or not. Corrosive injuries can be very serious and can lead to blindness.
If the exposure was to an irritating but non-corrosive substance, the owner can simply rinse the eye for 10 to 15 minutes. No ointment or ophthalmic medication should be applied. The eye should be closely monitored for signs of corneal abrasion or ulceration, including itching, redness, discharge, squinting and blepharospasm (eye held shut). Check with your veterinary clinic if any of these signs appear.
Skin decontamination
Skin decontamination is performed to prevent transcutaneous absorption and oral re-exposure to the contaminant (when the animal licks itself). It is essential that the owner and all veterinary personnel be physically protected with rubber gloves, waterproof aprons and face shields. It is important to inform clients of these precautions as soon as they contact the clinic. They should also be instructed to prevent the animal from licking itself during bathing and/or transport to the hospital. For oil-based substances (e.g., "Spot on" products), the animal should be washed with warm water and degreasing dishwashing detergent; it is important to lather and rinse thoroughly and repeatedly.
Animal shampoos, as well as the human kind, are not effective against oil-based substances.
In addition, shampoos with added ingredients (e.g., insecticides, dandruff tar, antibiotics, antifungals, etc.) should not be used to avoid the accumulation of possible toxic effects. A cat exposed to pyrethrins may be treated for uncontrollable tremors before bathing, to prevent worsening of clinical signs and to facilitate bathing (sedation) for staff. For exposure to a caustic or corrosive substance, a gentle rinse with warm water for 15 to 20 minutes prior to the veterinary examination is recommended. The use of pressurized water jets, aggressive scrubbing of the skin, or the application of neutralizing agents should be avoided, as these may cause traumatic tissue damage or severe chemical reactions.
Gastrointestinal decontamination
In veterinary medicine, gastrointestinal decontamination (including induction of vomiting and/or administration of activated charcoal with a laxative) is considered the best practice to limit absorption and prevent extended exposure to potential toxins. However, it is important to consider the risks inherent in inducing vomiting as there are potential contraindications. It is also important to assess whether the benefits outweigh the risks. In all cases, always contact a veterinarian.
By Jo Marshall, TSAC et Justine A. Lee, DMV
What is kennel cough?
Kennel cough in dogs is very similar to the common cold in humans; it’s an infection of the upper respiratory tract. The main symptom is a dry, hacking cough that produces phlegm. This disease is highly contagious between dogs.
What does kennel cough sound like? It is very similar to the sound your dog makes when he is coughing and about to throw up. The cough is also very common and can be almost constant in severe cases. Your dog may also have extra secretions in the nose or eyes, or sneeze more often. Most dogs live quite well with kennel cough and would maintain their usual activities and appetite throughout their recovery.
Kennel cough can be caused by several types of viruses and bacteria. The most common cause is the Bordetella bronchiseptica strain of bacteria. However, kennel cough can be caused by other microorganisms, and your dog is more likely to be infected by the bacteria when his immune system is weakened by an existing viral infection.
Kennel cough has an incubation period of 2 to 14 days, during which time the dog will not show any obvious symptoms but will still be contagious and can spread it to other dogs. Once symptoms begin, kennel cough usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks, although some dogs with medical conditions or older dogs may take up to 6 weeks to recover. There are rare cases where kennel cough can develop into pneumonia, which can be very serious.
How did my dog catch kennel cough?
Dogs can catch kennel cough anytime they are exposed to viruses or bacteria. However, because of its highly contagious nature, it is especially prevalent in kennels, which is why it is commonly called kennel cough.
Kennel cough is airborne, just like the human cold. When an infected dog coughs, droplets containing the bacteria or virus are dispersed into the air and spread to other animals nearby. The disease can also be spread by sharing toys, bowls or other objects with an infected dog. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to keep your dog quarantined if you think that he’s showing signs of kennel cough.
In most cases, kennel cough gets better with time, just like the common cold! No specific treatment is needed. You can take steps to make your dog more comfortable, such as removing his collar and using a humidifier to relieve the cough. The cough is usually more of an annoyance to the family than the dog itself.
Her are a few guidelines:
Make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccinations. If your dog is not properly vaccinated or if you are unsure, contact your veterinarian today.
Vaccine prevention remains your best choice!
Chocolate is probably the best known of toxic foods - its toxicity comes from an alkaloid called theobromine. This substance is toxic in cats and dogs with a dose of 100-150 mg / kg; the darker the chocolate, the richer in theobromine, so don’t take any chances and never give chocolate to your pets. The effects of theobromine affect the nervous system and the heart of your cat or dog.
Caffeine is also very toxic at very low doses. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle tremors, fever and even convulsions.
Grapes and raisins are also toxic, which means that a bunch of fresh grapes can be fatal for a dog weighing ten kilos. As raisins have a higher concentration of the toxic agent, the toxic dose is smaller. Each animal’s sensitivity to toxic agents will be different. Grape poisoning can cause kidney failure in your pets.
Because cats and dogs metabolize alcohol poorly, it can cause gastric problems (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) and nervous system disorders (reduced coordination, convulsions, etc.). Ethylic coma can lead to death. Never allow your pet to consume alcohol or food containing alcohol.
Human medication is also toxic to animals and can be one of the causes of emergency consultations. Make sure to store all your medicines out of reach of not only children, but also your pets. Some medications can cause ulcers while others kidney failure.
All pesticides and some shampoos are neurologically toxic to animals. The main ingredient in many poisons for rats and mice, Coumarin (D-Con), disrupts blood’s coagulation abilities and can therefore affect your pet in the same way, even if it eats a mouse that was poisoned. Antifreeze is also dangerous for your cats and dogs. Many animals like the smell and taste of antifreeze, but as this product is very toxic it becomes deadly, even ingested in small amounts.
If your pet has ingested a toxic agent, whether it’s food, medical or other, contact your vet as soon as possible. Make sure you have the following information ready:
If you suspect that your dog or cat has ingested toxic foods or products, contact our teams as soon as possible. A single visit can help you get the best treatments for your pet's recovery.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of common foods that can be toxic or even fatal to your pet:
We are often asked how important is vaccination against rabies, or if vaccination is required or still necessary. Rabies is an infectious disease of viral origin, which is usually transmitted when the saliva of an infected animal comes into contact with blood, following a bite or a scratch. The virus can also come into contact with a mucous membrane (eye, mouth, nose) or skin wound by licking.
Rabies is a fatal and incurable disease to both animals and humans, in 100% of cases. The virus attacks the central nervous system of mammals, causing two presentations:
–Paralytic or dumb: pets often go hide and are more lethargic, while wild animals become less fearful and will approach humans. In both cases, they will eventually be affected by paralysis and die.
–Furious: Affected animals will be extremely agitated, excited, or aggressive. They can bite and attack objects or other animals indiscriminately.
As rabies is an incurable disease, the only effective prevention is vaccination. The vaccine is safe and effective when used according to manufacturers’ recommendations. Thus, a vaccinated pet won’t have a risk of infecting family members if attacked by a potentially rabid animal.
Some precautions can also reduce the risk.
-Limit your contacts with unidentified wild and domestic animals.
-Keep your dogs close to you when walking outside or in high-risk areas.
-If you see an animal acting strangely, report it here.
If bitten, clean the wound with soap and water and quickly contact a doctor. Rabies is a reportable disease: this means that any suspicious bite or animal must be reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada. In humans, treatment is possible if care is undertaken very quickly and before symptoms appear. Otherwise, survival is very unlikely.
As you can see, vaccination is an essential tool in the prevention of this deadly disease. Through the vaccination of domestic and wild animals, we can effectively reduce the incidence of infections.
Marie-Christine Hamelin, Animal Health Technician
Whether you receive a bouquet of flowers as a gift, you have plants at home, or are gardening, if you have a cat or a dog (or even both!), you need to know which plants are dangerous and which ones you can keep!
According to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, here are the plants that are poisonous to your furry friends:
What plants are safe to have?
If you are unsure about a plant ingested by your pet, visit the Animal Poison Control Center website or call them at 1-888-426-4435.
Ingesting a poisonous plant can bring its share of problems, such as
The most extreme cases can lead to the death of the animal, which is why you should never underestimate the quantity ingested and go to the emergency quickly if you think you have seen your animal eat some.
You can go to the emergency department of our three following hospitals at any time:
Do not hesitate to research each of these plants to be able to recognize them visually.
Cindy Rosa-Boisvert, TSA
Hôpital Vétérinaire Ste-Thérèse
