"Does my dog need to go to the vet?"

[frontierrots]

OK I always thought this was self explanatory but I guess not

YOUR dog needs to see a vet soon if

it's had diarrhea for more than 2-3 days;

it's been vomiting several times a day for 2 days

it is urinating in inappropriate indoor places (and is housebroken)

seems overly tired and sluggish for several days

has a limp that has not gotten better in several days

has a fever that is over 102 for more than a day

has a cough or eye/nasal discharge etc for more than a day

Your dog needs to see a vet NOW if

it is bleeding from any orfice (and is not a bitch in heat)

has diarrhea that looks like blood or is blood

is suddenly 3 legged lame

has a broken bone

was hit by a car

fell out of a car or window

sounds like it is choking

faints

has a seizure when it has never had one before

is vomiting and foaming at the mouth

seems uncomfortable and bloated

has a fever over 104

I'm sure there are more but this is a start. Please people have a little common sense. PLEASE

[Judi W]

or of course, you can simply wait and see if it dies or not.

[flyballmom]

Great post Diane. I always thought those were all pretty obvious, but in light of recent posts...maybe not.

Originally Posted by frontierrots

OK I always thought this was self explanatory but I guess not

YOUR dog needs to see a vet soon if

it's had diarrhea for more than 2-3 days;

it's been vomiting several times a day for 2 days

it is urinating in inappropriate indoor places (and is housebroken)

seems overly tired and sluggish for several days

has a limp that has not gotten better in several days

has a fever that is over 102 for more than a day

has a cough or eye/nasal discharge etc for more than a day

Your dog needs to see a vet NOW if

it is bleeding from any orfice (and is not a bitch in heat)

has diarrhea that looks like blood or is blood

is suddenly 3 legged lame

has a broken bone

was hit by a car

fell out of a car or window

sounds like it is choking

faints

has a seizure when it has never had one before

is vomiting and foaming at the mouth

seems uncomfortable and bloated

has a fever over 104

I'm sure there are more but this is a start. Please people have a little common sense. PLEASE

[pazzo]

It never ceases to amaze me how complacent people are about the health care of thier animal. My dog sneezes more than once, we make a trip, after all if nothing is wrong, great! No harm done, went for a ride and he got a few treats! I just rather er on the side of caution. I wonder if they would also do this waiting thing with thier kids?

[natesmom14]

Originally Posted by pazzo

I just rather er on the side of caution. I wonder if they would also do this waiting thing with thier kids?

Ok, I do appreciate the post here in some respects. However, yes, there are certain times you take a wait and see approach.

For instance: the one about diarrhea lasting 2-3 days requiring a trip to the vet is a helpful guideline. If your dog had diarrhea once, it does not mean rush in thinking your dog is dying. THAT'S what I mean by wait and see and that also takes common sense. Yes, once my dog had horribly BLOODY diarrhea and we were to the vet in 5 minutes (it wound up being giardia (sp?))- but there have been other times she's had diarrhea where it turned out was in reaction to some treat she ate- we'd watch her closely and make sure it cleared up w/ appropriate diet.

As for kids- NO, you shouldn't rush in to the Dr. for every sniffle. It's absolutely ridiculous to do so- sorry, but that's true. My sister in law is a pediatric nurse at an urgent care. Do you know how many people come rushing in at 9 at night w/ their poor child (not an infant, mind you) and when asked what brought them in, say "Oh, he started with a fever of 101 thirty minutes ago..."

Come on now- people on here are saying use common sense- but sometimes it IS common sense to keep a watchful eye and take care of things at home- thus sparing the dog (or child) the trauma of a visit.

[frontierrots]

My point was, we are online here. We cannot see, feeland hear your dog. Many of us figure that if someone posts a question that appears to lack common sense then they don't realize that any is required. I for one don't assume that when someone says "my dogs is doing this and that, gee do you think he needs to see a vet" or "what is this" that they reallyare thinking "oh this isn't too bad, we'll make a vet appt for sat if it's not better in 2 days"

[targonrotts]

one thing is to ask for advice,comfort a thought,something to ask and tie you over until the vet opens(if a 24 hour place is not available),but we all just have to remember, we are all online, and can do so much, without physically knowing you or your dog.what can sound really bad typed, might actually not be, and vice versa.
we must all use common sense.it's ok to ask and get opinions, but it should not be a raplacement for a vets physical opinion of your pet.
frontierrotts, nice list to start on.that's about rule of thumb.

[BostonRott]

Originally Posted by natesmom14

For instance: the one about diarrhea lasting 2-3 days requiring a trip to the vet is a helpful guideline. If your dog had diarrhea once, it does not mean rush in thinking your dog is dying. THAT'S what I mean by wait and see and that also takes common sense.

And THAT's why it says "for 2-3 days." If someone is silly enough to rush a dog to the vet after one bout of diarrhea, they'll have a lovely bill to pay that perhaps will help them think twice.

Considering the posts lately, this one was sadly needed, and it is well written with some pretty solid suggestions.

[LORHEL]

Yes, its very sad this has to even be written. But, in the best interest of the dog, which is what I always have.... could we add:

Lacks an appetite for food, stops drinking water, is panting excessively (not due to heat, etc) or, becomes overheated in hot weather

Is stung by an insect, and as a result is panting and may still have the stinger in from the bee/wasp/etc.

Appears to have developed a lump possibly from an insect bite

[natesmom14]

Originally Posted by BostonRott

And THAT's why it says "for 2-3 days." If someone is silly enough to rush a dog to the vet after one bout of diarrhea, they'll have a lovely bill to pay that perhaps will help them think twice.

I agree- and was just responding to those who say they go in at every sneeze or sniffle to be "on the safe side".

I also agree that we can't see exactly (or even always correctly convey to readers if we are the ones posting the thread) what's going on and what sounds minor on here might be major and vice versa (even in my own recent thread). Like targonrotts said, it IS nice to have this forum to come to for feedback as to what MIGHT be an issue needing vet attention and what might just be something to keep an eye on- all the while knowing (or at least people SHOULD know) that this is no subsitute for vet care.

[fbkeays]

I did post the other day if my dog's temperature was too high. In nearly 10 years of having dogs, they never had a temperature higher then 101, which is very normal for a dog. I know that a temperature of 104.4 which my dog had would be of major concern for a human, but I had no idea if it was as much of a concern in dogs.
I did call the emergancy clinic and left a message with the vet asking if my dog's symptoms warranted making the trip or not. I knew that I could get an appointment with my vet for the next day, and save a hugh amount of money. The vet tech that answered didn't say, "Oh my god, get that dog in a tub of ice water and get him down here ASAP", either.
When the vet didn't call me back, I asked here if the temperature was high as I didn't have anything to compare it too. A few people came back and said to get him to the emergancy clinic, which I did.
We had to wait several hours as my dog was considered "stable" and not in any danger of dying any time soon. The benefit of going to the e-clinic was that I could get blood panel done faster. In reality, I could have given my dog, "two asprin and call the doctor in the morning."
You can add snake bite, large cuts and tongue pierced by fish hooks as those animals all got seen before my dog did. The impacted anal glands fortunately waited until after we left.

[StephanieandToby]

Four years ago I did some pet-sitting for a Flat-Coated Retriever. The dog had a yeast infection in it's ears, so I gave the owners a bottle of Epi-Otic I had leftover to dry the dogs ears and told them to get it to a Vet to have a culture taken.
Jump ahead to last week. Family goes on a trip and I agree to look after the Flat-Coat.I notice he is sleeping an awful lot and rubbing his head all over my furniture.I lift up his ears, only to see that not only had they "cauliflowered"...but the ear canals were almost completely shut.
So....I take the dog to MY Vet....who is shocked....and prescribes 21 days of Surolan, plus more Epi-Otic.
I leave the family the $160.00 Vet Bill.
Turns out....they never got that ORIGINAL ear infection cleared up.(four years! )
On one hand I didn't want to interfere...but on the other hand...they left the dog IN MY CARE...and to me, that means EVERYTHING.If I notice the dog is ill, or in pain you can bet I'll take him to the Vet.
Of course when the family got home they were embarrassed...the wife said she noticed the dog couldn't hear very well and they only cleaned his ears out sporadically.
These people live in a million dollar home....spend hundreds on a pet-sitter....but can't get their "in-pain-nearly-deaf" dog to a VET?????
Even if they didn't agree with me taking the dog in, and I lose a client out of this...I still believe I did the right thing.

[pazzo]

natesmom,
Just to repond to your post quoting me, I do not take Santo to the vet for every sneeze and sniffle, I have and do use common sense, I have been coming to these forums for 6 years and have been apalled by some of the posts. As far as it being a trauma going to the vet Santo is not a fearful dog and likes going. (when it's necessary) as to your point about people and thier kids, I agree, but I also have a pediatric dr. in my family and the stories he tells about the people who have been negligent in the care of thier child. i.e waiting too long for propper care. We can go on about this forever, however think this post was needed and hope that common sense will kick in eventually.
P.S. I should have stated if my dog sneezes for more than one day, not just one sneeze maybe a bit exagerated, but I would still er on the side of caution.

[gomer9855]

Stehpanie, the ear infections that never get treated are commonplace in my area. I don't know how many people we've told over and over and over again to take their dog to the vet for a $20 bottle of suralan. They never do and the bacteria just OOZES out of the their ears when they come. You clean then and then their ears are bleeding. It's horrible, but unfortunatley we see it A LOT at the grooming salon where I work. People are dumb and ignorant.

[pazzo]

Stephanie, You little angel, god bless you You have a huge heart! Thank god.