24 Hour and Emergency Vets in Pittsburgh

Pet owners need to know what to do when their pets have a medical emergency. In the Pittsburgh area pet owners are lucky to have a large list of 24 hour vets in the area.

If your pet has a change in their eye appearance, acting restless or they are making loud sounds while breathing you should bring them to see an Emergency Vets in Pittsburgh PA immediately.

Eye Pain

Pets can develop a variety of eye problems that can cause pain. If your pet is showing signs of eye pain such as rubbing at the eyes or constantly squinting, they should be seen immediately. The squinting can be caused by glaucoma or by corneal abrasions and ulcers. Eye emergencies include deep ulcers, a penetrating injury to the eye or the globe (which is much more serious), a change in the color of your pet’s eye and severe glaucoma with severely elevated pressure.

Peggy grew up in North Hills and attended the Median School of Allied Health Careers, fulfilling her childhood dream of working with animals. She has been a veterinary technician for 19 years and is currently a receptionist at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center-North Hills. Peggy enjoys spending time with her husband, Don, and their 5 cats Birdie, Brutus, Divot, Mulligan, and Stroker Ace. She also loves hiking and walking outdoors, cooking and canning, reading, and watching documentaries.

Breathing Problems

Breathing problems are a common emergency pet problem that can vary in severity. If your pet is wheezing, gasping for air or has a blue or purple tongue you should seek emergency veterinary care immediately.

Cynthia Maro of Pittsburgh explains that if you know for sure your pet was exposed to toxic chemicals the first thing to do is contact a veterinary clinic. They have the education and facilities to provide your pet with the best chance of survival and recovery.

If your pet is choking on something or is unconcious you may need to perform CPR. You can start by checking if they are breathing and if there is a heartbeat. If they are not breathing you should begin chest compressions and give two rescue breaths. Repeat until they are breathing on their own again. This will also help to prevent shock. Depending on the situation your vet will let you know how long to continue these steps at home before you need to come in for further treatment.

Heart Failure

Sadly, just like people, dogs can suffer from heart problems. If your pet is coughing, having trouble exercising or breathing abnormally fast, you need to call an emergency vet immediately. Pets in heart failure may also experience vomiting as their bodies try to get rid of the excess fluid.

If your dog has a heart condition, it’s important to call a Pittsburgh veterinarian that specializes in cardiology right away. This will give them the best chance of treating the problem before it gets worse. It’s also helpful to have this list of emergency vets on hand in case your pet has an accident or eats something that could be toxic.

Dr. Sarah Bell has family roots in Lexington and earned her undergraduate degree at Gannon University before earning her veterinary medicine degree from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She has practiced in the Pittsburgh-area since 2018. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but her special interests include emergency and soft tissue surgery.