Answers About Pet Emergency Care from Our Animal Hospital in Scarsdale

Nothing can make a pet owner feel more helpless that watching a beloved animal fall prey to a life-or-death emergency, from poison ingestion to a severe injury. But knowledge is power in these situations, and knowing how to recognize the problem for what it is and perform the correct actions can make all the difference in a pet emergency. With that in mind, Central Animal Hospital in Scarsdale would like to present some answers to frequently asked questions on the subject.

• What’s the difference between urgent care and emergency care? Urgent care is administered for conditions that are painful or distressing but not life threatening (eye infections, moderate cuts, etc.). Emergency care is reserved for situations that might result in death.
• What kinds of injuries constitute an emergency? Severe cuts, uncontrolled bleeding, compound fractures, eye damage and severe lameness (orthopedic damage) should all be treated as emergencies.
• What illness symptoms indicate a potential pet emergency? Disorientation, seizures or loss of consciousness may indicate anything from poison ingestion to heat stroke. Breathing problems, uncontrollable diarrhea or vomiting, abdominal bloating and vocalizations of obvious pain are other red flags.
• Can I help my choking pet? You may actually be able to stop your pet from choking either by carefully fishing the object out with your fingers or by administering a modified version of the Heimlich maneuver. Time is of the essence, however, so if you don’t have immediate success or you’re not sure how to proceed, rush your pet to our animal hospital.
• My pet has been in labor for a long time. When is this an emergency? If your pet has been actively in labor for 60 minutes or more without delivering her first baby, or a baby remains in the birth canal for more than a few minutes without advancing, an emergency C-section or other measures may be in order.
• What if the emergency occurs when your animal hospital is closed? We are available 7 days a week, even on Sunday mornings from 9 – 11 am. For after-hours emergency cases, we refer all emergencies to the Veterinary Emergency Group, located at 193 Tarrytown Road in White Plains. Their phone number is 914 949 8779.  Their facility is open from 6pm to 8am Monday through Thursday,  and on weekends from 6pm Friday all the way through 8am on Monday.

Need an Emergency Veterinarian in Scarsdale?

Knowing what to look for and how to react is critically important in a pet emergency, but so is being properly prepared. Keep our contact information in a handy, easy-to-spot area so you can call us immediately for guidance from the veterinarians at Central Animal Hospital.   We’re ready to help – Contact us at 914-723-1250 today!