Tips on When to Bring Pets to Animal ER

Kansas City, Kan. (Vocus) January 7, 2009

Whether you commit to your new year's resolutions or not, veterinarians at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kansas City are urging you to commit to your pets this year by bringing them in for regular check ups. Regular check ups can result in early detection of critical health issues, which can lead to a loved one's life saved and less costly medical bills for pet owners.

"In the ER it is plain to see how the economy is affecting pet owners in having to decide when and how to provide their loved ones with medical care," says Dr. Jeff Dennis, DVM, ACVIM, an internist with Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services of Kansas City. "We are used to highly emotional cases but the economy has added a new element to emotions felt by pet owners who have recently lost their jobs or homes."

"Many times we see pet parents come in on an emergency basis or when it is almost too late, because they do not realize the consequences of waiting just a little bit longer," says Dr. Shaw, DVM, ACVIM, chief medical officer of BluePearl Veterinary Partners. "We all understand that times are a little tough right now, but most owners can save themselves from more costly bills if they find the root of the problem early on, and more often than not it can save their pet's life."

Veterinarians have recently seen an increased trend in pets that arrive at the hospital that have died at home; possibly due to a treatable disease. Other pet owners are faced with the difficult decision to humanely euthanize their pets rather than commit to medical treatment that may be too costly.

"It is difficult and unfortunate to see pet owners have to put their pets to sleep because the illness has progressed to requiring costly medical treatment," says Dr. Shaw. "We believe it is important to provide access to treatments for difficult cases at our facilities. With regular check ups, pet owners could really benefit in the long run when they consult with their family veterinarian."

The current climate of the economy is affecting pet owners who are now more sensitive to their finances.

Dr. Shaw recommends taking immediate action and bringing your pet to your family veterinarian or the emergency room if one or more of the following occur:    

• Pet is not drinking
• Pet is not eating for more than 24 to 48 hours
• Pet is unable to sleep and get comfortable or rest for any period of time
• Pet vomits for more than one day or tries to vomit but is unable to do so
• Pet has any blood in vomit or stool
• Pet is poorly responsive or unresponsive

Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kansas City has been a leader in specialty veterinary care since 1992, fulfilling the need for specialty health care and emergency services for animals in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area and outlying Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Nebraska communities. The hospital continues its tradition of excellence today within its 20,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility; the first and most comprehensive of its kind in the Midwest. As a referral-based animal hospital, VSEC is dedicated to providing superior patient care and client service working closely with the pet's family veterinarian. For more information on VSEC, please visit http://www.vseckc.com .

Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kansas City is a member hospital of BluePearl Veterinary Partners, along with NYC Veterinary Specialists (http://www.nyc-vs.com ) and Florida Veterinary Specialists (http://www.fvs.com ). BluePearl Veterinary Partners merged in 2008 and is one of the leading providers of emergency and specialized referral veterinary medicine.

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