Tips For A Successful Trip To The Vet

Having a dog is just as worrisome as having a child. When something happens to your beloved pet, you need to make a judgement call about whether an immediate vet visit is required or if the injury can wait for attention the next day. Stick injuries are a common complaint with active dogs, so how do you make the decision about how soon to take your pup to the vet? Use these tips to help you make that determination.

What Is A Stick Injury?

Stick injuries are oral injuries that occur when your dog has been playing with a stick. It may be a small stick like a kebab stick taken from the rubbish bin, or it could be a bigger stick you've thrown in the park for your canine to chase. When the stick gets stuck in the mouth or breaks off inside, the sharp edges can damage the roof of the mouth, the teeth or the gums. The type of injury determines how urgently your dog needs to visit a 24/7 vet for care.

Oral Injuries Which Need Immediate Attention

There are two situations when a stick injury requires immediate veterinarian attention:

1. If the stick is stuck in the mouth and wedged across the roof cavity
2. If you suspect splinters from the stick were inhaled into the stomach

Both of these situations are a cause of distress to your dog. The stick stuck in the roof of the mouth cuts the tender mouth lining, and you will notice your dog trying to pry it out with their paw. Stick splinters in the stomach can irritate the digestive tract or rip the throat lining. This type of internal injury needs to be carefully monitored by a vet to ensure it does not lead to infection issues.

Oral Injuries Which Don't Need Immediate Attention

There are some stick injuries which can wait until the next day, but which should still be checked out by your vet. For example, if the stick broke off in your dog's mouth and caused a cut on the gum, then you can wait until morning for the vet to check to the cut provided the bleeding stopped quickly. A cut gum which continues to bleed needs same-day attention.

It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to stick injuries because of the damage they can cause internally to your pet. Trust your gut instinct, and get your dog to a vet sooner rather than later if you suspect a stick injury in your pet.