Emergency Care

Back

Dr. McKisson can be reached after hours for emergencies by dialing his pager, 828-890-6012 and putting in a phone number where he can call you back and reach you. This is a numerical pager only; you cannot leave a voice message.

Please give him a few minutes to return your call (make sure your phone line is clear) - if you do not receive a return call, try paging him again and entering your number again. The network is reliable but can on occasion miss the full 7 digit number. This means Dr. McKisson does not know who is calling and he cannot call you back.

If you do not receive a call back after the second page and have an emergency, we recommend you seek emergency care at one of the emergency centers in the area (Reach in Asheville, for example).

 

It Is An Emergency If:


• Your pet isn't breathing or you can't feel a heartbeat.

• Your pet is unconscious and won't wake up.

• Your pet has been vomiting or has had diarrhea for more than 24 hours, or she is vomiting blood.

• You suspect any broken bones.

• Your pet is having trouble breathing or has something stuck in her throat.

• Your pet has had or is having a seizure.

• Your pet is bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth, or there is blood in her urine or feces.

• You think your pet might have ingested something toxic, such as antifreeze, rat poison, any kind of medication that wasn't prescribed to her, or household cleansers.

• Your pet, particularly your male cat, is straining to urinate, or is unable to urniate. Get Help Quickly if Your Male Cat is Straining in the Litterbox.

• Your pet shows signs of extreme pain, such as whining, shaking, and refusing to socialize.

• Your pet collapses or suddenly can't stand up.

• Your pet begins bumping into things or suddenly becomes disoriented.

• You can see irritation or injury to your pet's eyes, or she suddenly seems to become blind.

• Your pet's abdomen is swollen and hard to the touch, and/or she's gagging and trying to vomit.

• You see symptoms of heatstroke.

• Any trauma - even if the pet appears to be acting normally.
     o  Being hit by a car
     o  Falling out of a window
     o  A fight with another animal
     o  A blunt object or falling more than a few feet

• Burns

• Your pregnant dog or cat has gone more than three to four hours between delivering puppies or kittens.

If you are concerned about your pet and unsure if it is a medical emergency, please page Dr. McKisson and he will assess the situation.