It’s just a regular Sunday evening—until your dog swallows a favorite toy while playing, or your cat gets into a fight with your ferret (they used to get along so well!). When your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, a normal situation can swiftly become a terrifying one and, in some cases, may require immediate surgery to save your pet’s life or prevent serious complications. Unexpected surgery for pets is stressful enough, and the traditional vet setup doesn’t do much to ease your worries.
That’s where VEG ER for Pets comes in. Our emergency animal hospitals are open 24/7 (even on holidays), so your pet can be examined in a matter of minutes by our experienced emergency veterinarians at any time, day or night. Instead of shutting you out of your pet’s care, we keep you in the loop at every step—you can even stay right by your pet's side when they need you the most. Read on to learn more about the surgery services offered at VEG and how to determine if your pet needs emergency care.
How do I know if my pet needs immediate emergency veterinary attention?
Below are some signs your pet may be experiencing a medical emergency. If you observe any of these, bring your pet to your nearest VEG immediately.
Difficulty breathing
Repeated vomiting
Swollen or painful abdomen
Collapse
Severe bleeding
Hit by a vehicle
Inability to urinate
Suspected toxin ingestion
Large open wounds
Difficulty giving birth
Suspected foreign body ingestion
Does my pet need emergency surgery?
While many emergencies are not surgical, there are other conditions for which emergency veterinary surgery is necessary. The fastest and easiest way to determine whether your pet needs surgery is to bring them to your nearest VEG location as soon as possible for a medical evaluation. Some conditions that may require surgery include:
Trauma (accidents, falls, bite wounds)
Foreign body obstruction in pets
Gastric dilatation and volvulus in dogs (also known as GDV or bloat)
Difficult labor or other reproductive emergencies
Severe wounds or lacerations
Certain urinary emergencies, including bladder stones
Splenic masses or abdominal emergencies
When you arrive at VEG, our knowledgeable emergency veterinarians will examine your pet and discuss with you about using bloodwork as well as our diagnostic imaging services to determine the issue. At this point, your pet may need to be stabilized with IV fluids, oxygen, pain medication, or blood transfusions, depending on the injury. You’ll be able to be with your pet during this time, and your vet will communicate your pet’s diagnosis and recommended surgical plan, as well as any risks, costs, and the expected outcome before receiving your consent to proceed.
Emergency surgical services offered at VEG
VEG 24-hour emergency animal hospitals are equipped to perform a broad range of life-saving emergency surgeries for pets. Keep in mind that all of these emergency veterinary surgeries will require anesthesia to allow our doctors to treat your pet safely and effectively. Some of the most common emergency surgeries we perform include:
Soft tissue surgery for pets
Foreign body removal from the stomach or intestines
In some cases, a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure called an endoscopy may be used to remove the object. Depending on the location of the object and the extent of damage to the intestines, a gastrotomy (incision into the stomach), enterotomy (incision into the intestines), or even resection (removing a damaged portion of intestine) and anastomosis (joining two ends of healthy intestine) may be required to remove a foreign object and/or devitalized intestine and repair the damage.
Exploratory abdominal surgery
Splenectomy (removal of spleen due to trauma, twisting, or a ruptured mass)
Treatment for gastric dilatation & volvulus (bloat), which may include
Removal of dead stomach tissue
Gastropexy (suturing the stomach to the abdominal wall) to prevent stomach rotation
Splenectomy (may be needed if the blood supply to the spleen has been compromised)
Bladder surgery, including bladder stone removal
In some cases, bladder stones may dissolve as a result of a special diet. If stones do not dissolve or if they’re too large, surgery will be performed.
Wound repair
Abscess treatment
Trauma surgery for pets after accidents
Repair of severe lacerations
Bite wound exploration and repair
Control of internal bleeding
Emergency stabilization after traumatic injuries, which may require a referral to a specialty surgeon if advanced orthopedic surgery is needed
Emergency reproductive surgery in female cats and dogs
Emergency cesarean section (c-section) for difficult births (dystocia), common in certain dog breeds
Treatment of pyometra (deadly bacterial infection of uterus requiring removal) in unspayed female cats and dogs
Eye surgery for pets and other specialized veterinary emergency procedures
Repair of severe eye injuries, such as proptosis, common in dogs with short noses and bulging eyes
If the eye still has vision and muscle attachment, replacement (placing the eye back into the socket) and temporary tarsorrhaphy (suturing the eyelids closed temporarily to keep the eye in the socket) may be recommended
If the eye does not have vision, muscles are torn, or the eye itself is damaged, enucleation (removal of the eye) may be recommended
What to expect after emergency pet surgery at VEG
Depending on a pet’s condition, overnight observation or multi-day hospitalization may be required following surgery. Rest assured that your pet will be in great hands with our staff and will be monitored around the clock to ensure the best possible outcome. In some cases requiring highly specialized surgery, your pet will be stabilized and transferred to a specialist.
Prepping for the post-op patient
What to know when a pet comes home from surgery:
Your pet will need a quiet place to rest.
Consider a soft bed on the floor in an area you are in frequently. With your presence near, they won’t feel the need to get up and move around more than is necessary.
No running or jumping for the first few weeks after surgery. This may vary; speak to your VEG vet about your pet resuming their normal activities.
Consider setting up baby gates to avoid tumbles down the stairs or jumping on furniture.
You may need to crate your pet when they’re alone in the home
An Elizabethan collar (e-collar or cone) is recommended at all times post-surgery to keep your pet from licking or chewing their incision.
VEG will provide an e-collar at the time of discharge.
Caring for your pet’s surgical incision
The most common complications after surgery are issues with your pet’s incision (infection, separation, etc.). This can almost always be avoided by keeping an e-collar on your pet and not letting them lick or chew at the incision. Here are some tips on how to care for your pet’s surgical incision after surgery:
Check the incision at least twice a day for redness, swelling, separation, discharge, or worsened bruising or redness.
If you notice any changes to the incision, call VEG ASAP. If possible, take pictures of the incision so your vet can look at them and let you know if you need to come in.
Keep the incision clean and dry.
Do not apply any ointments to the incision.
You may wet a washcloth (no soap) and gently clean AROUND the incision.
If your pet seems overly tired, is not wanting to eat or drink, or is vomiting or having diarrhea, call VEG right away.
VEG offers emergency veterinary surgery services on site, day or night
At a time when every second matters, VEG emergency veterinary hospitals are open 24/7/365 and are fully equipped to perform a variety of emergency surgical procedures for dogs, cats, and other pets. While not every emergency will require surgery, rapid assessment can be life-saving, and at VEG, you never have to leave your pet’s side. If you believe your pet has a serious injury or illness, contact your local VEG and seek emergency care immediately.
