Emergency Vets in West Des Moines, IA

Looking for an emergency vet in West Des Moines, IA? Search for your nearest animal hospital below.

List of Emergency Vets in West Des Moines, IA

ASHWORTH ROAD ANIMAL HOSPITAL

ADDRESS: 5508 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines IA 50266
TEL: (515) 337-2643
Every pet owner needs a trustworthy veterinarian to care of their pet. You’ll appreciate having a good veterinarian you can turn to in your time of need. If you live in the West Des Moines area, bring your pet to Ashworth Road Animal Hospital for veterinary care.

ANIMAL CARE CLINIC WEST & METRO CAT HOSPITAL

ADDRESS: 2900 University Avenue, Suite 340, West Des Moines IA 50266
TEL: (515) 224-4368
Animal Care Clinic West & Metro Cat Hospital is here to provide outstanding veterinary care to pets in West Des Moines, IA. As your local pet health expert, we hope that your family will rely on our team as your welcoming, skilled, and compassionate partner in care.
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Signs Your Pet Needs Emergency Care

Has your pet experienced some kind of trauma and in need in emergency care? Here are some of the signs to look when determining whether your pet needs an emergency vet:

  • Pale gums
  • Rapid breathing
  • Weak or rapid pulse
  • Change in body temperature
  • Difficulty standing
  • Apparent paralysis
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Excessive bleeding

How to Handle Your Injured Pet

It is possible that your pet can act aggressively when they’ve been injured. It’s important to be careful how you handle them for their safety and your own.

For Dogs:

  • Be calm and go slow when approaching.
  • If your dog appears aggressive, get someone to help you.
  • Fashion a makeshift stretcher and carefully lift your dog onto it.
  • Support their neck and back as you move them in case of spinal injuries.

For Cats:

  • Cover your cats head gently with a towel, to prevent them from biting you.
  • Very carefully, lift your cat into its carrier or a box.
  • Support their neck and back as you move them in case of spinal injuries.

First Aid Treatment At Home

Depending on the situation, there are some actions you can take at home to stabilize your pet before transporting them to an emergency vet.

Bleeding:

  • If your pet is bleeding externally due to a trauma, apply pressure to the wound quickly and hold it there.
  • If possible, elevate the injury.

Choking:

  • If your pet is choking on a foreign object, put your fingers in their mouth and try to remove the blockage.
  • If you’re unable to remove the blockage, perform a modified version of the Heimlich maneuver by giving a sharp blow to their chest.

CPR:

  • If your pet is unconscious and unresponsive, you may need to perform CPR.
  • First, check if your pet is breathing and if they have a heartbeat. If you cannot find either, start chest compressions.
  • Perform 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths. Repeat this until your pet starts breathing on their own again.
  • To give a rescue breath, close your pets mouth and extend their neck to open the airway. Place your mouth over your pets nose and exhale until you see your pets chest rise.
  • Check for a heartbeat every 2 minutes.
  • Continue giving your pet CPR until you reach an emergency vet.