Ask the Vet Tech: How to decide whether your dog needs to see the vet

Today, we have the pleasure of a visit with our Vet Tech Jen from Vermont and we’ve asked her how to determine when to take an animal to the vet who is sort of out of sorts . . .  but maybe not unequivocally so.

And why do you think your dog might need a trip to the vet?

‘I woke up this morning and Rocket wasn’t at the bottom of the bed.  I called and he didn’t come.  I found him on the couch looking depressed.  He got up and went outside and did his morning business normally.  But I still wasn’t convinced all was well.  He picked at his morning breakfast but not with his usual gusto.  I felt comfortable enough to start my routine for work but when I got out of the shower, I found that he’d vomited.’

The questions: Do I call into work and take him to the vet?  Can he wait the two hours, until the vet opens, or do I need to rush to the Emergency Clinic?  or do I just wait it out, trusting that he’ll be fine and go to work?

Our vet tech offers the following: There are a LOT of things that have to be considered, before rushing to conclusions.  Is this an isolated incident or a pattern of incidents?  Did he vomit once or multiple times?  Might he have consumed something he shouldn’t have?  What was in the vomit and how much?  How is he acting, since the incident?

Vomiting can be very scary but sometimes, it is an appropriate response by the dog’s body to rid itself of what shouldn’t be there.  A good conversation with a vet tech or DVM can help determine whether a trip to the vet and medical intervention is necessary.

This particular story is a true account in which the conversation with the technician revealed that the young Tibetan Terrier had been eating pine needles and vomited up a ‘hairball’ of pine needles and was acting fine, once he rid his body of the foreign material.

No appointment needed.

However, when in doubt, call your vet.  Have a conversation and follow their advice.  Better to be safe, than sorry.  It’s never a problem to call!