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Call A Vet When
WHEN TO CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN!
For Maltese owners who are uncertain when to call the
veterinarian. Sometimes time can mean a matter of life and death.
Know when to call your veterinarian!
CALL IMMEDIATELY
 | Birth defects |
| Burns: often difficult to assess depth and extent |
| Choking: appears distressed, extends head and neck, salivates,
coughs, paws the mouth |
| Collapse or loss of balance: Depression, staggering, falling over,
walking in circles, rigidity, unable to get up |
| Difficulty breathing: noisy breathing, blue tongue, gasping |
| Continual straining: attempting to defecate or urinate with little
or no result |
| Heavy bleeding: from any part of the body. Apply pressure
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| Injury: puncture wound, exposed bone, lameness, pain |
| Pain: severe, continuous or spasmodic |
| Itching: uncontrollable scratching, biting at the skin, bleeding
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| Vomiting and/or diarrhea: severe for more than two to three days
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| Poisoning: chemical, snake, spider or plant, retain for veterinarian
to identify type of poisoning |
CALL SAME DAY
| Breathing difficulties: labored, rapid or shallow |
| Diarrhea: fluid and/or putrid |
| Eye problems: eyelids partially or completely closed, cornea cloudy,
tears streaming down cheeks |
| Itching: biting, scratching, hair loss, skin red and inflamed
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| Frost bite (hypothermia): low body temperature, wrap in blankets to
keep warm |
| Swelling: hard and painful |
| Swallowed object: better to assess earlier |
| Vomiting: vomiting associated with lethargy |
WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE CALLING When in doubt--Always
call !
| Diarrhea: no signs of abdominal pain or blood |
| Itching: moderate, no sign of skin damage |
| Odor: unpleasant odor, other than a soiled coat |
| Vomiting: on 2-3 occasions, no other symptoms |
| Lameness: depressed but not affecting eating or other bodily
functions |
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