Caring for your fur family – when to seek veterinary services in Lakewood
Posted by Dr. Jose Arambulo
Preventive care
At Bloomfield Animal Hospital we provide a full range of therapeutic treatments, medications, surgical procedures, and emergency care. However, we also want to see your pet before he or she becomes ill. Preventive veterinary services include dental cleanings, vaccinations, flea and tick repellent, diagnostics, and general examination. We also offer nutritional counselling, to help you understand your companion’s dietary needs, because this varies by species, breed, and individual medical considerations.How to tell if your pet is sick or in pain
The outward signs of illness or injury are not always obvious. You might think your pets would “tell you” if something was wrong. Any pet parent knows that the inability to speak doesn’t keep animals from communicating their needs. Just fill the food bowl late or miss a regular walk, and they will prove it. Surely, they would let you know if they were sick or injured – wouldn’t they? Actually, the answer is no.Even if animals were capable of vocalizing their ailments, they probably wouldn’t. Instead, they are instinctively stoic when ill. Rather than drawing your attention to the problem, they are more likely to avoid companionship, preferring to be alone in a quiet place until they feel better.
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- Avoiding other pets and people, possibly hiding
- Unusual aggression or signs of agitation
- Loss of appetite or other changes in eating habits
- Fatigue, sleeping more or playing less than usual
- Weight loss or gain
- Diarrhea or other changes in the appearance of stool
- Limping, changes in posture, visible wounds
- Vomiting, excessive drooling, or other signs of digestive distress
Go to the vet, or wait and see?
Below are some very general guidelines to help you evaluate your pet’s needs. However, every situation is different, and every animal is different. Please be aware that general information found here or elsewhere on the web might not apply in your case.
- Frequent vomiting or diarrhea – If the problem is recurrent, such as an episode every few days, it is likely a sign of illness. If it happens every time the animal eats or drinks, there is also a risk of dehydration, which can happen very quickly.
- Serious injury – Large wounds, potentially broken bones, persistent bleeding, visible swelling, and injuries that cause an animal to limp should be seen by a veterinarian.
- Impact injuries – An accident such as falling out a window or being hit by a car can cause life-threatening internal injuries. Even if the animal has no obvious serious injuries, a veterinary evaluation is essential.
- Infection or delayed healing – Minor wounds (i.e. small in size and not bleeding heavily) are often cared for at home. However, if it does not seem to be healing, or if it gets infection, then it needs veterinary treatment.
- Exposure to toxins – If an animal has inhaled, swallowed, or otherwise been exposed to a poisonous substance, don’t wait for symptoms to set in. Seek emergency veterinary care right away.
- Breathing difficulties – Shallow breathing, irregularities in breathing pattern, wheezing sound, coughing, or any similar symptoms should be evaluated. If the animal seems to be struggling to breathe, then seek emergency veterinary care. Eye or ear injury – These are extremely delicate organs, easily damaged and slow to heal. Any wound, bleeding, or problem in this area is potentially serious.
- When in doubt – The best rule of thumb is to err on the side of caution. If you think your companion might need help, give us a call.
Bloomfield Animal Hospital is a trusted name in pets’ preventive, medical, surgical, and emergency care in Lakewood, CA. With a 30-year history as a family-owned pet clinic, it provides modern services in a warm, friendly environment. It’s one of the few veterinary hospitals to be AAHA-accredited.
Dr. Jose Arambulo, owner and chief veterinarian, is experienced in treating eye, ear, and skin disorders and is especially interested in internal medicine, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery. He earned his BS in Medical Technology from the University of Santo Tomas and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of the Philippines. He completed clinical evaluation for veterinary medicine at Purdue University in Indiana and was a veterinarian at Banfield and California before acquiring Bloomfield Animal Hospital.
Dr. Arambulo is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinary Information Network, Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, Southern California Filipino Veterinary Medical Association, and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
Our Traveling Surgeon, Dr. Zachery Smith, is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He specializes in complex orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. While training, he worked with some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country. He has lectured both locally and internationally. Dr. Smith plays a leading role at Veterinary Orthopedics of California, which is dedicated to providing high-level surgical services to pets.
Our visiting physician, Dr. Fred Brewer, is a veterinary cardiologist board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology at UCLA and earned his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2009. Later, he completed a one-year general rotating internship at the California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group in West Los Angeles and a three-year cardiology residency at Cornell University.
Dr. Arambulo is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinary Information Network, Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, Southern California Filipino Veterinary Medical Association, and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
