Emergencies
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY……
Call 303-420-4422
Indian Tree Animal Hospital
7778 Vance Drive
Arvada, Colorado 80003
If possible, please phone ahead so that we may assist you in deciding the best method for handling your situation. Our front desk staff is trained to advise you as to the seriousness of your animal's problem. We will make every effort to schedule you as soon as possible. You may be advised to come down immediately in a perceived emergency situation. Our veterinary technicians will be waiting to meet you and to attend to your pet. We have a treatment ward that includes a fully prepared cart of emergency medications, 100% oxygen, x-ray machine, intravenous fluids and shock therapy, and a technical staff fully trained in CPR and emergency techniques.
AFTER HOUR EMERGENCIES….
In spite of our extended hours, there may be times when our facility is not open or available to assist your pet. In these rare situations (generally overnight), you will be advised to contact Animal Urgent Care. Animal Urgent Care is fully staffed with veterinarians and technicians after hours. They can answer any questions you may have, and are able to see emergencies throughout the night.
They will notify Indian Tree Animal Hospital of any patients they have seen overnight, and will FAX up-to-date information the following day. Generally, stable patients will be transferred to Indian Tree as soon as possible. We do not utilize an answering service, as we feel direct attention, either by ourselves or Wheat Ridge, is most appropriate in an emergency situation.
Animal Urgent Care
303-420-7387
They are located on 7851 Indiana St. Arvada, CO 80007
Poisoning.
Many things can Poison your pet. Some of these things may be surprising. It's important to know the regular signs of poisoning and some of the most common poisons to your dog:
Medication
This is the number one cause of pet poisonings, whether a bottle of medication was knocked on the floor and eaten, or a concerned owner trying to help only to overdose. It is crucial to keep all medication away and out of accessibility. Never give your dog human mediation without consulting your vet first. Symptoms may vary, but typically include dilated eyes, vomiting/diarrhea, confusion, and irregular breathing/heartbeat, seizures, coma, and death.
Pesticides
Sweet smelling rat poisons that are meant to attract rodents also attract your dog. Insecticides can also be easily accessed by your dog nosing around in the garden, and his flea/tick collar can make him sick if he chews on it. It is crucial you keep rat bait in inaccessible places to your dog, and monitor him if he wears a flea/tick collar or is in the garden. Pesticide poisoning symptoms include: Fatigue, pale gums, internal bleeding, nosebleeds, blood in urine/stool, excessive drooling, breathing difficulty, muscle tremors, and death.
Antifreeze & Other Chemicals
These contain sweet-tasting ethylene glycol, among other dangerous chemicals, highly fatal to pets even in the smallest amounts. Keep all chemicals out of canine reach. Symptoms of ingestion include vomiting/diarrhea, dilated eyes, depression, increased thirst, kidney failure, seizures, irregular heartbeat/breathing, coma, and death.
Household & Garden Plants
Most plants in large amounts can be potentially toxic. These common flowers are particularly dangerous: amaryllis, aconite, azalea, belladonna, buckeye, foxgloves, hyacinth, hydrangea, ivy, all species of lily, night shade, rhododendron, tulip, and yew. Symptoms of ingestion include: dilated eyes, vomiting/diarrhea, irritation around mouth, swelling of the mouth and throat, excessive drooling, excessive thirst, irregular heartbeat/breathing, muscle tremors, seizures, coma, and death.
Chocolate
Theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine, cannot be easily metabolized by animals. Depending on the type of chocolate and your pet's size reveals how much can be deadly. Just one square of baker's chocolate is fatal to a 10 lb dog, and 2 squares are deadly to a 20 lb dog. Signs include vomiting/diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, seizures, cardiac arrest, and death.
Alcohol
Even so much as a drop of beer can cause intoxication. However, alcohol poisoning doesn't come from just alcoholic beverages, but also vanilla extract, and raw bread dough. The fermented yeast of swallowed dough can cause not only alcohol poisoning, but also bloat or intestinal rupture. Symptoms include: disorientation, vomiting/diarrhea, seizure, coma, swollen stomach, seizures, coma, and death.
Onions & Garlic
Ingested in large amounts can be fatal. A chemical found in these foods, thiosulphate, causes the red blood cells in the blood stream to rupture, resulting in anemia. Baby food containing onion powder has killed puppies. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, vomiting, weakness, irregular heartbeat, and jaundice.
Xylitol
This artificial sweetener is found in sugarless candy and gum and can be potentially deadly to your dog as his blood sugar rapidly drops. Symptoms include fatigue, staggering, irregular heartbeat/breathing, seizures, coma, and death.
Grapes and Raisins
Just a handful of either can be fatal to some dogs. Symptoms include vomiting/diarrhea, foamy/bloody urine, irregular heartbeat/breathing, restlessness, kidney failure, and death.
Avocado
All products of the avocado plant are poisonous to canines, including avocado fruit and guacamole dip made from it. It destroys the heart muscle and other tissues, including the lungs. Signs of poisoning include difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, swollen abdomen, fluid build up around the heart, seizures, coma, and death.
Typical dog reactions to poison:
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dilated pupils
- Difficulty breathing
- Pale gums
- Swollen abdomen
- Muscle tremors
- Bloody/painful urination or defecation
- Bleeding from any orifice
