STUDIO CITY, Calif., May 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Animal Emergency Centre in Studio City urges pet owners throughout Los Angeles to prepare ahead of time to deal quickly with possible pet emergencies. Dr. Morgan Thomas Cavanaugh, who heads the group of emergency veterinarians at the center, says that pet owners who know how to handle the most common pet emergencies before they happen are able to stay calm and act quickly during an emergency. He says that this can help save a pet's life. The emergency vet clinic is open only during evenings and weekends to handle pet emergencies during times when a pet's regular veterinary clinic may be closed.
Dr. Cavanaugh says that time is critical during a pet emergency. "Anyone who owns a pet should know what first aid actions to take to increase the chances that the pet will survive on the way to the emergency vet. Once they get to our pet emergency room, we have trained veterinary staff ready to help, but our chances of success increase when owners act quickly and stay calm."
According to Dr. Cavanaugh, the most common emergencies they treat at the vet clinic involve pets ingesting poison or swallowing foreign objects. They also frequently treat heatstroke and traumatic cases of pets hit by cars.
Dr. Cavanaugh says that if a pet has swallowed something poisonous, the owner needs to be able to identify the poison quickly. Owners should save plant leaves, wrappers or containers from whatever the pet ingested, and bring them into the emergency vet. Dr. Cavanaugh recommends that if pet owners notice symptoms such as vomiting, a tight, painful abdominal area or constipation and unwillingness to eat, this may suggest that the pet has swallowed a foreign object and is suffering from an intestinal obstruction that needs immediate treatment.
Heatstroke is another common pet emergency in southern California. Dr. Cavanaugh urges pet owners to keep pets in cool, shady areas on hot days, making sure they stay hydrated. If a pet owner notices heavy panting, red gums, excessive drooling or lethargy, owners should transport the pet to the emergency clinic immediately while trying to cool the pet down with a fan and some cool, but not icy water on the way.
The emergency veterinary clinic also sees frequent car accident victims. Dr. Cavanaugh says that no matter how mild the injuries seem owners should bring a pet in for a complete exam. He says to apply clean towels with firm pressure to stop any bleeding while laying the pet carefully on its side in the car with its neck extended and bring it to the vet clinic.
Dr. Cavanaugh stresses that pet owners should always follow their instincts. "If you feel something is wrong with your pet, don't hesitate to call us. You know your pet best, so just come in if something seems wrong."
The Animal Emergency Centre takes walk-in patients overnight and throughout the weekend. More information about the center can be found on their website, http://valleypet911.com.