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EMERGENCIES. We offer a 24 hour emergency service for our clients. If you think that your pet requires urgent attention ring 01670 512275During surgery hours. Please ring the emergency number or your local branch surgery. Our trained reception staff will know what to do, or will refer you to a veterinary surgeon or nurse for advice. Out of normal surgery hours. Ring the emergency number. You will be automatically transferred to the mobile of the on-duty vet ( a member of our practice). If you get the engaged tone or no immediate response, the vet could be busy already dealing with an emergency. Please try again in a few minutes. Your call will be answered, but remember there is only the vet – no receptionist - to answer the phone. If the vet decides that your pet needs seeing he will arrange to meet you at Morpeth surgery. Please do not go to the surgery before ringing, as there might not be a vet at the premises out of normal surgery hours.
WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY? It is always difficult to decide whether to disturb the vet in the early hours of the morning. We can’t give a definitive list but here are some of the most common conditions which must be seen immediately:- *Swollen abdomen, may try to vomit. (only occurs in dogs) It is vital that your dog is treated immediately. Ring the vet without delay. Your pet may need an operation as soon as you can get to the surgery. *Broken bones. Dislocations Abnormal position of limb, non weight bearing, sudden acute lameness. Restrict movement. Ring the vet to arrange to meet at the surgery. * Severe bleeding Apply firm pressure to the wound for 5 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop keep up the pressure and ring us , If pressure stops the blood flow, dress the wound and ring the surgery in the morning to arrange to have your pet checked. *Acute pain, distress, severe weakness or collapse Ring the vet. *Convulsions Clusters of fits or prolonged fits in an animal with history of epilepsy Convulsions in an animal who is obviously unwell or one than has no history of fitting. * Problems giving birth. Dogs: once strong contractions start the first pup should be born within 60 minutes and the second and subsequent ones at 30 minute intervals Cats: after strong contractions have started , the first kitten should be born within 30 minutes and the others at 30 minute intervals. Once these guidelines are exceeded, or one of the babies is stuck, ring the vet. * Road Accidents. If mobile, approach carefully and speak quietly. Your pet will be very frightened and could run away. When caught check your pet for cuts, broken limbs etc If unable to move, give first aid, keep warm and still and ring us immediately If any other condition is giving you cause for concern and you feel that it should not be left until the morning, please ring. The on duty vet is available to give you advice and assistance. Please respect this service. The vet is not on duty out of hours to make routine appointments or give advice on vaccinations or flea treatments.
FIRST AID Remember that, by law, only a qualified veterinary surgeon may give medical treatment to an animal. However, anyone may give first aid to an animal to relieve suffering in the interim. Having rendered assistance to your animal you should contact your vet immediately, or, if appropriate, the next time the surgery is open Bites Bathe the wound with a strong warm solution of Epsom salts ( if none available, use salt solution) Keep wound clean and dry and try to stop your pet licking it. Contact vet if your pet is uncomfortable or if the wound appears infected. Burns Saturate burned area with cold water for 5 minutes. Don’t do anything else Ring your vet Choking Open pets’ mouth and pull out tongue as far as possible. Look for something causing obstruction. If you can see anything get someone else to remove it carefully with something like a pair of pliers as you may get bitten if you use your hand. If it is a ball that is stuck, don’t use pliers. Instead try putting your hand outside under the chin, with your fingers at the base of the jaw and press inwards and upwards to attempt to expel the ball If this fails phone the emergency number. Contamination from tar etc. Tar, oil or some other unknown substance could be very harmful and toxic if ingested. Don’t let your pet lick the area. Use warm water and detergent to wash the area. Vegetable oil or butter may remove tar Swarfega helps to remove oil Contact vet if you are concerned. Cuts Minor wounds: Bathe in Epsom salts and water. Keep wound clean and dry. Deep or long cuts : see severe bleeding above. Contact the vet. Dehydration Symptoms of severe dehydration are not eating, lethargy, possible sickness and diarrhoea, skin does not return to normal when pinched. Ring vet for advise. Drowning. Only get pet from water if you can do so without putting yourself in danger If possible hold upside down from hindquarters to drain out water. Swing from side to side If this fails try resuscitation Dry and keep warm
*Low Voltage (at home) Turn off electricity before touching your pet. If not breathing try resuscitation Apply first aid to burns. Contact vet and take animal to surgery. *High Voltage (Power Lines) Do not go within 20metres of power source to rescue your pet Ring 999 and wait for police When it is safe to go to your pet try resuscitation as before Resuscitation Check breathing by looking and listening Check airway by pulling tongue forward and removing any obstruction. If animal is not breathing, lay on side and apply intermittent pressure to chest. If this is not successful, pull pets head forward to straighten neck, close the mouth and blow hard up the nose to inflate the chest. Fainting If your pet collapses and loses consciousness without any previous distress, it could have fainted. Short nosed dogs such as pugs are prone to this. Check airway Ring vet Fits Pet shows signs of disorientation, may collapse and thrash about Don’t touch your pet Ensure it can not injure itself and eliminate light and sound Do not take to vets whilst fitting Ring for advice Heat Stroke Occurs typically when, in hot weather, pet has been in confined space or over exercised. Symptoms; distress and heavy panting Check airway to eliminate possibility of choking Move pet to cool place Reduce body temperature with cold water . Hose down, use bucket, put smaller dogs into cold bath, for 5 minutes at least. Contact vet for advice even if pet seems to have returned to normal Poisoning If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous make it vomit. Use a strong salt solution or a crystal of washing soda if you have it. Contact the vet and take your pet to be seen If you know, or think you know, what your pet ate, make a note of it or take a sample, or the bottle, to the surgery when you go. Shock Symptoms; listless, possible collapse Check gums by pressing a finger against them gently. Normally gums are pink, will go white when pressed , then back to pink when pressure removed. In shock, the gums will be pale or white. Keep your pet warm and avoid sudden movement. Ring vet and arrange to have your pet seen. Snake Bite The adder is the only poisonous British snake. You will see the fang marks if your pet gets bitten. The area round the bite will swell. Carry your dog, or walk slowly to transport. Ring vet and take to surgery. Stings Pull out if possible Bathe site with saline solution (1 teaspoon salt dissolved in 1 pint of boiling water, and allowed to cool) Apply bicarbonate of soda to bee sting Apply vinegar to wasp sting Ring vet for advice. Some animals have a bad reaction to stings
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