To better understand what is and is not considered to be an emergency, the staff at Grassland Veterinary Service have compiled a generic list of what should be considered an emergency.

Note: While we try to follow the guidelines below, please keep in mind that it's absolutely necessary to use common sense. If you feel that something is an emergency, by all means, call the staff at Grassland Veterinary Service. We care for your animals as much as you do.

· Companion Animals
· Production Animals

Here is a partial list of emergencies. If you are not sure whether what your animal is experiencing is an emergency, please call any local veterinarian to ask.

· If your pet is having a seizure.
· If your pet collapses.
· If your pet has vomited more than 6 times in the last 12 hours.
· If your pet has bloody diarrhea.
· If your pet is hit by a car or other vehicle and is unable to walk, or has open wounds.
· If your pet has found the back end of a porcupine!
· If your pet has open wounds. It is best to suture them within the first 12 hours.
· If your pet has a sudden onset of lameness that seems like more than just a sprain.
· If you have a pregnant animal that has started labor, but is not making any progress after 90 minutes between puppies or kittens.


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WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY FOR PRODUCTION ANIMALS?

Dairy or beef animals:
· Calving difficulties or milk fever associated with calving
· Milk fever where cow is wobbly with difficulty standing, or is unable to stand.
· Animals with a prolapsed uterus.
· Acute mastitis, called Grade 3 mastitis (abnormal milk, swollen quarter, cow is SICK.) These cows often have a high fever.
· Any animal who is acutely unable to stand.
· Animals with severe uncontrolled bleeding.
· Other off-feed cows in obvious distress.

Equine:
· Foaling difficulty or retained placenta.
· Acute colic conditions.
· Acute injuries or lacerations requiring suturing, uncontrolled bleeding.

Small ruminants (sheep and goats):
· Difficulty with giving birth.
· Pregnancy toxemia (off feed and due to give birth soon).
· Prolapsed uterus.
· Acute mastitis causing the animal to be SICK.
· Severe uncontrolled bleeding.

Swine:
· Farrowing difficulty.
· Prolapsed uterus.
· Severe uncontrolled bleeding.


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