It happened on a Spring night - Kodiak, our then 3 year old Pomeranian started scooting and biting frantically. Her behavior became more extreme as the evening passed and since I was unable to comfort or calm her I had to make a decision about taking her for emergency care. Luckily, my Vet's answering machine directed me to an emergency clinic in the area. I called the clinic, discussed Kodiak's behavior and the staff member invited me to bring her to see the doctor. Kodiak was diagnosed with a bladder infection that could have been deadly if not treated. It was a great relief to find Kodiak resting comfortably and ready to come home after treatment.
This was a learning experience that wasn't possible three years ago. Pet ER's are a relatively new phenomena. I was surprised to discover the clinic was very similar to the human hospital emergency room.
During my initial phone call, Kodiak's condition was evaluated. No appointment was scheduled when I called but the staff was informed of my phone call.
When we arrived, it was comforting that the nurses were aware of our call and prepared to handle us in a triage format. Triage is when patients are evaluated upon arrival and, depending on the trauma or critical nature of the injury or illness, treated in order of arrival. In fact, we were bumped for a dog who swallowed poison and was experiencing breathing problems. Although Kodiak was uncomfortable, the other dog was obviously in dire need of attention and it was easy to accept the clinic's decision to move us aside.
According to Dog Owner's Guide, animals are usually taken from their owners so the staff can gain the pet's trust without the fuss and crowding of a worried owner. Obviously, a pet needing surgery or IV can be a traumatic experience for an owner who considers their dog a family member. Owners can interfere with medical treatment without realizing the impact it has on their animal or hospital staff. This is a time to back off!
The dog's "vitals" are checked including temperature, heart rate, color of gums and general physical condition. (In our case, Kodiak had to pee into a cup- that was a real trick!) The evaluation might require additional testing like X-rays or blood tests. Once the test results are read, the Veterinarian decides on a plan of treatment and discusses it in detail with the owner. Vets will be honest about the dog's prognosis and owners need to set emotions aside and make an educated decision about the treatment to be administered.
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