When is the Busiest Day at the Veterinarian ER?
When Is The Busiest Day of the Year at the Veterinarian ER?
It will always be the days following a holiday, but the busiest day of the year for a Veterinarian is Black Friday.
Why Is Black Friday the Busiest Day at the Veterinarian?
As a pet owner, your guard is down and you’re preoccupied with all of the visiting family members, food prep, decorations etc. So you may not notice when your cat or dog the skin from the turkey.
What is the most common ailment cats and dogs go to the vet for after the holidays?
- Pancreatitis
- Vomiting +/- diarrhea
The vomiting and diarrhea can be precursor to pancreatitis, or a problem all its own. Vomiting is also a precursor of a foreign body of any sort.
What Is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is a disease affects many breeds of dogs and cats. Symptoms can be vague (especially in cats), making it somewhat difficult to diagnose, and include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and abdominal pain. Once diagnosed, treatment is usually the pet being hospitalized on IV fluids, +/- IV antibiotics & anti-emetic drugs and pain medications, with the pet being NPO (nothing by mouth) for several days. Thus, giving the GI tract and pancreas time to rest.
Canine and feline symptoms for Pancreatitis can be any of these in any combination:
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
Feline symptoms can also include:
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Vomiting and hypothermia
- Fever
- Abdominal mass
Pancreatitis can become chronic and lead to diabetes, or worst case death. If you find your pet not acting right or not feeling well, your pet should be evaluated by medical professionals as soon as possible. All this said, please watch your pets closely over the holidays and especially on Thanksgiving Day, given the fact that Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for veterinarians.
