Trauma

Our Emergency Pet Trauma Services

When your pet has experienced a severe physical ordeal, there is no time to waste. If you are located in the Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Margate, Parkland, Fort Lauderdale or Pompano area, Animal Emergency and Urgent Care Center (AEUCC) is an emergency pet trauma vet hospital that has the facilities, experience and expertise to address your companion’s critical needs day or night, 365 days per year.

In general, traumatic injuries can be caused by a variety of factors. These include poisoning, animal attacks, falls and vehicle-related accidents. The consequences can range from minor scrapes or bruising to severe head trauma, organ damage and fractures. Because the extent of external and internal injuries is often not apparent right away, it is essential that your pet receive a thorough diagnostic exam from a South Florida emergency pet hospital.

The nature and extent of the recommended trauma treatments depends on the location and severity of the injury your furry friend has sustained. Generally, interventions include wound management, pain control and the immobilization of affected areas. In the case of more serious situations, the animal might need surgery, hospitalization and more long-term rehabilitation.

There are several types of trauma commonly found in dogs or cats:

• Fractures. Broken bones can occur due to falls, accidents, abuse or altercations with other animals. Types include minor hairline, simple or closed (clean break with no damage to the surrounding skin); compound or open (bone protrudes through the skin, with a higher risk of infection and requiring more treatment); comminuted (bone shatters into several pieces, often requiring surgery or internal fixation); green stick (incomplete breaks); and displaced fractures (misaligned breaks that necessitate stabilization.
• Dislocations. Common in the hip, shoulder or kneecap, these injuries happen when a bone is forced out of its normal position within a joint. Failure to address dislocations can result in pain, instability, reduced mobility and ongoing complications.
• Lacerations and abrasions. These skin injuries can stem from interactions with other animals, accidents or encountering sharp objects. These cuts or tears can range from superficial to severe. In serious cases, they can compromise tissue or bone and can lead to significant blood loss, infection and damage to nearby structures.
• Contusions. This bruising occurs when blood vessels are damaged as a result of blunt force traumas. Once blood begins to leak into surrounding tissues, symptoms of swelling, discoloration and pain can result.
• Sprains and strains. Sprains happen when a joint is twisted, overextended or experiences a significant force. Strains affect muscles and tendons and can happen from repetitive stress or overuse or overstretching of the muscle or tendons such as during vigorous exercise.
• Bite wounds. These can range from superficial punctures to deep lacerations. Infection risk is high.
• Internal injuries. These occur when blood vessels, organs or other structures are damaged or harmed but are not visible externally. Common types include internal bleeding, ruptured spleen or bladder, urinary blockage and gastric torsion or bloat. Causes include accidents, falls, animal interactions, poisoning or disease. Internal trauma requires urgent diagnosis and care from a South Florida trauma vet.
•  Head injuries. Accidents, falls or blunt force trauma can cause this serious injury type. Ranging from mild to severe, this type of trauma can affect the skull, the brain or other nearby structures. Immediate diagnosis and care are essential.

Although the signs of traumatic injury vary greatly depending on the location and severity of the damage, there are common symptoms that could suggest that your pet has experienced a trauma. These include:

• Difficulty walking, including gait irregularities.
• Swelling or bruising at the injury site.
• Lacerations, punctures or bleeding.
• The animal holds its head or body at an odd angle.
• Favoring a particular leg or side of the body.
• Whining, crying or other vocalizations.
• Physiological changes such as rapid breathing.
• Disorientation, loss of consciousness or pale or blue-tinged gums.
• Seizures, shaking or gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Signs of shock such as weak pulse, cold extremities or rapid heart rate.

Even if you suspect that an injury is minor, it is crucial that you take your pet to a veterinary hospital such as Animal Emergency and Urgent Care Center (AEUCC) in Deerfield Beach. Prompt evaluation and treatment can provide a thorough diagnosis, prevent complications and help to ensure the most positive outcome.

At AEUCC, our comprehensive laboratory facility is equipped to process multiple patient samples at the same time, allowing us to obtain the necessary data in 10 minutes or less. In addition to the capability to perform fecal studies, our lab contains equipment to analyze hematology, urinalysis, electrolytes, snap elysa test for multiple pathologies such as: parvo, giardia, feline leukemia, feline aids, canine and feline pancreatic specific lipase levels, fecal studies and cytologies (with results in minutes). Your pet’s care will be in the skilled hands of our experienced, compassionate medical team which has more than 20 years of trauma experience. Our surgeons are available 24 hours a day to perform complex surgeries should the situation warrant.

Our Emergency Pet Trauma Hospital

Should your pet experience a trauma or severe injury of any kind, AEUCC is here for you day or night, 365 days a year. We provide expert diagnosis, critical care, state-of-the-art laboratory and surgical facilities, hospitalization and ongoing consultation with your regular veterinarian. Our goal is to furnish you and your pet with the best trauma diagnosis and treatment available. Keep our contact information handy should you ever need our help. We are located at 103 N. Powerline Rd. Deerfield Beach, Fl 33442 – and we welcome your call at (954)428-9888 day or night.