What is an Emergency?

This can be a difficult question to answer. Sometimes it is obvious: the road traffic accident, the collapsed animal or a difficult birth. Other times, it is less clear, sickness and diarrhoea being a good example.

In all cases, our clients' pets can be treated effectively at the main Banovallum Veterinary Group premises on Prospect Street in Horncastle where fully trained staff and all of our emergency facilities are present.

Lacerations and wounds

Wounds are best attended to while fresh, and hopefully still clean.
If a wound is bleeding badly – spurting blood – then direct pressure should be applied to the bleeding point, preferably with something clean. Most wounds will stop bleeding within two to three minutes but might start again if the clot is disturbed. Animals must be brought to the Prospect Street surgery as soon as possible for such spurting wounds.
Wounds that are not spurting should be covered with a clean cotton dressing and the animal brought to the surgery for assessment and treatment.
Other wounds, especially open wounds involving chest, head or the abdomen, must be attended to as soon as possible at the surgery for emergency treatment.

Road Accidents

After making sure that no-one else is going to be hurt by the traffic as well, a cat can usually be picked up in a towel or blanket thrown over the top. The darkness tends to calm a cat, and also gives some protection to a handler when the cat is picked up. The safest method is to hold the scruff of skin behind the head to make sure that a cat in pain or distress does not turn and bite when lifted. The cat is then best placed in a cage of box for transport to the surgery.
Dogs should be lifted on a blanket, muzzling first if necessary. They can then be placed in a car for transport to the main practice for treatment.
With dogs and cats, any obviously injured limb must NOT be supported when the pet is carried. An injured limb is less painful if it is left to dangle loosely when such an injured pet is carried.

Fights

Dog fights do occur and it is not always the smaller dog who suffers. Any bite wounds should be attended sooner rather than later because a) they are painful, and b) they can become seriously infected if left alone. Some, but not all, wounds will require stitching.
Cat fights are even more common, and cat fight abscesses are one of the most common “diseases” that companion animal vets see. They usually receive antibiotics and pain relief, although any fully developed abscess will be drained – a yucky job if ever there was one.

Broken bones

These may result for road accidents or other traumatic events of course, and whilst not a “drop everything” emergency, immediate pain relief is our priority. Further to that, we will use necessary procedures for examination, assessment and treatment of broken limbs. Please note the comments above about carrying an animal with a suspected fractured limb.

Collapse

The causes of collapse are many and varied: fits, or heart trouble, internal bleeding, muscular weakness, eclampsia in female animals, or one of many other problems. Sometimes, the collapse can be the result of a longer standing illness. Consequently all collapsed animals should be examined as soon as is practically possible.

Cruciate ligament injury

This common and specific injury to the back leg deserves its own page on the website here.

In all cases, if you have any concerns then ring the Banovallum vets in Horncastle on 01507 522236 or 523365 where essential details will be taken by our specialist emergency answering service in order that the duty vet can then contact you and arrange to see your pet at your local practice as soon as possible, or maybe just offer advice if that is appropriate.