Contact Us
105 Griffith Dr. Douglassville, PA 19518 | 610.385.4848 |
Contact Douglassville Veterinary Hospital
We would love to hear from you! You can complete this form for general questions or comments.
However, it is best to click the Request Appointment button to schedule an appointment. Login into your Pet Portal for:
- Access your pet’s medical records
- View upcoming services due
- View scheduled appointments
- Request an appointment time or request a prescription refill
Emergency 24-Hour Emergency Referrals:
Hope Veterinary Specialists in Malvern, PA
40 Three Tun Road
Malvern, PA 19355
Phone: 610.296.2099
Metropolitan Veterinary Associates in Valley Forge, PA
2626 Van Buren Avenue
Valley Forge, PA 19482
Phone: 610-666-1050
Below is an informal guideline to determine if your pet is having an urgent problem which needs immediate medical attention. This is only general information and medical decisions should not be based on the information below. If your pet is having an emergency, it is best to bring it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
1.) Gum color: Check the color of your pet’s gums. Look right above the teeth and make sure your pet’s gums are pink. Pink gums are a sign of good blood flow and proper oxygenation. Abnormal colors are pale, white, or blue. These colors indicate an emergency and your pet should be seen by a veterinarian
2.) Respiratory rate: A normal resting respiratory rate of a dog and cat should be between 15 to 30 breaths per minute. If your pet is having difficulty breathing (ie. labored breaths with increased abdominal effort or increased noise during breathing), a veterinarian should be contacted immediately. Note: Panting in the dog is a normal process which dogs use to cool themselves and does not constitute respiratory distress. Panting in the cat is ALWAYS abnormal and signifies respiratory distress. A panting cat is an emergency and should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
3.) Bleeding: If your pet is bitten or injures themselves, cleaning out the wound and surgically correcting the inury in a timely fashion is important to avoid serious infection and blood loss. Any wound that is causing blood loss warrants immediate medical attention.
Coughing, sneezing, urinating or defecating blood is also a significant emergency in pets. There are several causes for this type of blood loss, but the most important of them all is potential exposure to rat/mouse bait called rodenticide. Rodenticide prevents blood from clotting and if your pet is exposed to this toxin and not treated, they could rapidly bleed to death.
4.) Mentation: This is the mental awareness of your pet. If your pet is overly sedate, walking like they are drunk, or unable to rouse, this warrants immediate medical attention.
5.) Seizures: Seizures are abnormal electrical activity in the brain which can cause loss of conciousness and rigid shaking of all the limbs. Seizures are usually accompanied with urination and defecation. A seizure can be caused by toxins, disease, etc… A seizure is a medical emergency and your pet should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.
Here are a list of things to do if your pet seizures:
- Ensure your pet is unable to harm himself on his surroundings.
- Do not place fingers near the mouth.
- Keep your pet lying on its side with neck extended.
- Beware when that when your pet is recovering not to over stimulate them with noise and be careful not to get bitten. Seizures severly disorient pets and they do not “act themselves” during and after a seizure.
- It takes a while for pets to recover from seizures. Do not allow your pet to navigate steps or difficult terrain as they are usually disoriented for 30 minutes after a seizure.
