Determining if your pet has an emergency
Prevention is number one! Vaccines to prevent infectious diseases, heartworm medication, and flea and tick control can help keep your pet from getting life-threatening diseases. Spaying or neutering your dog can prevent problems such as straying and fighting, unplanned pregnancy, uterine or prostate infections and dystocia (difficulty with birthing). Confining and controlling your pet's environment can greatly decrease chances of trauma or toxin exposure.
Educating yourself about pet health and care is also very important. Certain breeds are predisposed to certain diseases, such as heart problems, joint or spinal problems, bloat (gastric dilatation volvulus), urinary tract problems including obstruction, immune-mediated diseases and certain types of tumors. It can be very helpful to know if your pet is prone to certain diseases. Research the breed before purchasing your pet, if possible--there are many websites for specific breeds that can be helpful.
Very young, very old, debilitated pets, or pets with pre-existing health problems may be more likely to get very ill quickly. If prevention is not possible, early treatment of severe disease is likely to be more effective as well as less expensive. Multiple problems or indications of severe disease (coma, weakness, seizures) may indicate that your pet needs to be seen on an emergency basis.
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For urgent care during business hours please call 893-2380. After hours call 808.893.2467.
Please have basic information about your pet (dog/cat, breed, sex, spayed/neutered, age, size) to tell the veterinarian or assistant if you call for emergency advice. Giving clear, concise information can be greatly helpful to us in trying to assist you and your pet. What is the main problem you are concerned about? How long has the problem been going on? What is the severity or frequency of signs?
Generally we do not recommend medications to pets we have not seen before.
More information on pet care and emergency:
