Emergency services available at Blue Star Pet Hospital in Jacksonville, FL

When it comes to a pet emergency, seconds matter. At Blue Star Pet Hospital in Jacksonville, FL, we want you to know that you have access to an Emergency Pet Hospital that is ready to take care of your fur-ever friend. Our experienced staff works together to provide comprehensive emergency care that you and your pet deserve. In the event of an emergency, please call our office at . Below, we’ll look at some of our emergency and critical care services for pets and give you some advice on how to handle a pet emergency.

Blue Star’s Emergency Services

Pet emergencies have a way of happening when you least expect them. While they may sneak up on you, it’s helpful to be prepared so you know how to handle one should they occur. The best thing you can do is remain calm and call our phone number. Blue Star is highly trained and has years of experience handling a wide range of pet ailments. From traumatic injury to seizures or toxic ingestions, we are well equipped to handle your dog or cat’s emergency.

As pet owners ourselves, we understand how stressful it can be when your pet has an emergency which is why we are committed to compassionate and timely care. When you bring your pet in for an emergency, you can expect the following:

• We will triage your pet’s condition.
• We will perform any necessary diagnostic tests and present the findings to you.
• We will make recommendations on the best treatment options to improve your pet’s health.
• We will start treating your pet immediately with modern emergency technology we have in our office.
• We will provide you with updates on your pet’s condition.
• We will recommend for your pet’s continued care which can include at-home care or transfer of care to a veterinary specialist.

Signs your pet may need emergency care

There are many reasons why you may require emergency care for a pet. They may have been injured in an accident, ingested a household substance, suffered an insect bite, or a variety of other urgent issues. Here are some indications that your pet might need immediate vet attention:

• Shallow or rapid breathing
• Excessive bleeding that doesn’t stop within five minutes
• Bleeding from the mouth, nose or rectum
• Blood in urine or coughing up blood
• Eye injuries
• Seizures or staggering
• Refusal to drink for over 24 hours
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea
• Loss of consciousness
• Difficulty standing
• Weak or rapid pulse
• Pale gums
• Apparent paralysis

How to handle a pet emergency

It’s important to understand that pets who are in pain or suffering may act aggressively. Make sure that you properly protect yourself. If you have a dog, gently approach and kneel by him. If the dog appears calm, you can try and use a bedsheet and gently lift him on to it, taking care to support his neck. If he’s aggressive, call for help. If you have a cat, gently place a towel over their head to prevent biting and place the cat into a carrier or box, taking care to support the head and neck.

First Aid at Home

In some cases, you may need to perform first aid treatment at home to prep your dog for transport to the pet hospital. If there is excessive bleeding, apply pressure to the wound and elevate it to slow the bleeding. If the pet is choking, try putting your fingers in their mouth to dislodge the object. You can also try to apply a sharp compression to his chest to dislodge the object.

Blue Star’s Critical Care Services

If your pet needs advanced medical care, we offer in-house laboratory testing, vital sign monitoring, IV nutrition, special needs management and management of post-op complications.

At Blue Star Pet Hospital, our collaborative approach to handling emergency and critical care clients allows us to provide the highest level of care to your pet. We are committed to using the latest technology and advanced techniques to treat your pet’s emergency. If you are unsure of whether your pet’s condition requires emergency care, we encourage you to give us a call at we can advise you on what to do.

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