TRAUMA
For bleeding, fractures, bite wounds or trouble breathing; call us and keep your pet as still and calm as possible on the way. When you call our office, please tell the receptionist what your pet is experiencing and we will have you seen right away.
HEAT STROKE
Do not force play or jog with your dog in the middle of the day during the hot and humid months, and provide him with plenty of breaks and water if he has to work. And never leave an animal unattended in a car. If you have a heat stroked dog or cat, immediately wet the animal in a tub or with a hose using COOL water. Make sure if you are using a water hose that you check the temperature prior to use and run the water until it is no longer hot from the sun. Then call us as you proceed to our hospital.
POISONING
Depending on the poisoning there will be different instructions, so please call our office for instructions. One thing to have on hand is Hydrogen Peroxide. We may have you use it to induce vomiting, especially if your pet just swallowed a non-corrosive poison such as rat bait, antifreeze, or prescription medications, grapes and raisins, xylitol, marijuana and chocolate.
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com
DIFFICULT BIRTH
For dogs and cats, early labor can last several hours, but once your pet is in hard labor (straining hard), produces a "water bag", or you see any part of a puppy or kitten, you would expect the young to be delivered within 15 minutes. A resting period of up to 2 hours between young is normal, as long as the mother is calm and comfortable.
EYES
Eyes are always treated as emergencies due to the fact that losing one is a handicap to any pet.
VOMITING AND DIARRHEA
There could be many reasons why your pet is vomiting and having diarrhea such as a foreign body, parvovirus, bloody vomiting and diarrhea (acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome), and anaphylaxis (life threatening allergic reaction). Most small or depressed pets should be seen quickly whereas happy and active larger pets may improve with treatment at home. Your pet may respond to a stomach protectant such as Pepto Bismol and withholding food and water for 12-24hrs in an otherwise alert pet, but some of these cases require fluids and hospitalization in pets who become depressed.
URINARY TRACT PROBLEMS
If your pet seems sick and is not producing urine, he or she may be obstructed. Failure to treat a urinary obstruction will be fatal.
During office hours please contact us at (985) 446-8824.
If it is after hours - We are not an emergency hospital. However, we offer emergent care to our regular clients/patients (seen within the last 2 years).
Our clients should call our main telephone number (985) 446-8824 for weekday, holiday and weekend after-hour emergencies. Our answering service will connect you to the doctor who is on-call, or will relay your phone number and a message so that they may return your call if they are currently assisting another emergency.
Please do not attempt to come to the hospital without contacting the answering service, as we do not have a doctor in the building 24 hours a day. Doing so may delay the care your pet requires, including important instructions for transporting your pet or treatments to provide in route.
Established clients are clients who have been to Ridgefield within the last two years and are in good financial standing with Ridgefield.
***Non Ridgefield Animal Hospital clients will be referred to an emergency hospital:***
MedVet New Orleans
2315 N. Causeway Blvd.
Metairie, LA 70001
Ph: 504-835-8508
Or
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine
Skip Bertman Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Ph: 225-578-9600