Hypothermia in dogs is the emergency I dread most in winter it strikes silently, progresses fast, and owners almost always notice too late. Last January, I got a 2 a.m. call from a frantic owner: His 12-year-old Labrador, Buddy, had been outside for “just 20 minutes” in 5°F weather. He came in shivering, then collapsed
It was 11:03 p.m. on a Friday when my phone exploded with the call that still keeps me up at night. A dad from Ohio had given his 65-lb Labrador three regular 325 mg aspirin tablets because she was limping after a hike. He’d read online that dogs and aspirin dosage was “totally fine.” Within
It was 6:42 p.m. on a Tuesday when Sarah’s text came through with a photo that made my stomach drop.Her 4-year-old Golden Retriever, Max, had just projectile-vomited a neon-green puddle the size of a dinner plate.The message:“Doc, dog throwing up green liquid… he ate some lawn grass an hour ago. He’s acting totally normal and
It was 3:17 a.m. when my phone lit up with the message every vet dreads:“Doc… Rocky just threw up a coffee-cup full of dark red blood clots. He’s wagging his tail and begging for treats right now. Dog throwing up blood clots but acting normal is this really an emergency?” I told them to leave
It was 2:17 a.m. on a rainy Saturday when the clinic’s emergency line exploded. Lisa’s voice cracked: “Doc, Max won’t stop vomiting, his belly’s swollen like a drum, and he just collapsed! He was fine after a burger last week, but now… pancreatitis in dogs symptoms are killing him!” Max, her 5-year-old Labrador, lay limp
It was a stormy Thursday night when the ER doors slammed open. In stumbled Tom, cradling his 4-year-old Portuguese Water Dog, Bella, who was trembling and collapsed in his arms. “Doc, dog Addison’s disease symptoms she was fine yesterday, now vomiting, weak, pale gums! Dog Addison’s disease treatment—can I do anything at home?” Bella’s pulse
It was 2:17 a.m. when my phone buzzed off the nightstand. On the line was David, a first-time dog dad, voice trembling: “Doc, why is my dog barking at nothing? Luna’s been at it for 20 minutes staring at the wall, hackles up, full alarm mode. There’s nothing there!” I grabbed my keys, already picturing
It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon in the clinic when Mrs. Thompson burst through the door, tears streaming down her face, carrying her 7-year-old Labrador Retriever, Max. “Doctor, he’s in the dog praying position again front legs stretched out, rear end up, like he’s begging for mercy. What’s wrong with him?” Max lay on the
It was a sunny Saturday morning when the clinic door flew open. A frantic young couple rushed in with their 3-year-old Golden Retriever, Bella, cradled in their arms. “Doctor,” the wife stammered, “can dogs eat pears? We gave her a whole one from the fruit bowl core, seeds, everything!” Bella looked sheepish, juice still glistening
It was a crisp autumn afternoon when the emergency line rang in my clinic. On the other end was a breathless mother of two, her voice trembling as she described the scene unfolding in her living room. Her 18-month-old Border Collie, Finn, had discovered an open family-size bag of Goldfish crackers on the coffee table.