If you live in San Ramon, California and own a pet, there are several common pet emergencies in this area that you should be aware of. Take time to learn how to recognize these problems so you can know how to respond if your pet shows signs of any of them.

Read through the information below to find out more about the six most common pet emergencies in your area.

In the San Ramon area, it’s common to take dogs outdoors to play or to go to the dog park. It’s also common to walk dogs frequently. In all of these situations, dogs may be unattended entirely or may simply not have your full attention. They may also encounter foreign objects on the ground that can be easily eaten or chewed on without you knowing.

If your dog ingests a foreign object, such as a stick, a piece of a toy, or a food wrapper, this is an emergency situation. Your pet could develop an intestinal blockage that might turn fatal without emergency vet intervention.

Many pet owners in San Ramon have lots of outdoor yard plants and indoor house plants. However, pets and plants don’t always mix, and having a lot of plants in an area where they happily grow throughout most of the year can potentially be a risk for any family with pets.

If your pet eats all or part of a plant, you should contact an emergency vet in San Ramon, CA right away. Take any remaining parts of the plant in to the vet as well so you can figure out what your pet ate and whether or not there is any cause for concern. The emergency vet will know how to proceed from there.

Since the weather stays nice in this area throughout much of the year, there are a lot of insects that stay active all year long as well. Even those that do disappear during the colder months can be very prevalent during summer, and all of these insects may potentially bite or sting your pet.

Many insect bites and stings are painful but not serious. However, if your pet has an allergic reaction to a bite or sting, this could be extremely dangerous and even fatal if left untreated. If your pet is bitten or stung and begins to swell in the face, contact the emergency vet in San Ramon right away.

It is possible for pets in this area to run out into the road and be struck by an oncoming vehicle. Even the most well cared for pets who are watched closely can always risk running or getting away from their owners, which means they can be at risk for vehicle trauma as well. This is why this is considered to be one of the common pet emergencies for this area.

Be careful when moving a pet who has been injured by a vehicle. The pet may be aggressive due to the pain. Go to the emergency vet right away without hesitation if your pet suffers vehicle trauma.

During the summer months, it gets quite warm in San Ramon. Because of this, heatstroke is a sadly common problem that affects pets every year. Heatstroke causes pets to overheat and quickly deteriorate, and it can turn fatal in just a short amount of time. Even pets who do not die from heatstroke suffer badly from its symptoms.

To avoid heatstroke, never leave your pet unattended in a car for any time. Also, when your pet is outdoors, make sure to provide plenty of shade and cool, fresh water to help your furry friend cool down.

Another common pet emergency that can happen in San Ramon is foxtail exposure. Foxtails are simply dried grass awns that can find their way into your dog’s foot, nose or throat. Unfortunately, foxtails have the ability to migrate and can work their way into the chest, heart or abdomen.

Nasal foxtails will often cause sneezing, oral foxtails will often cause gagging or coughing and foxtails in the feet will often cause an abscess. If you suspect your dog has been exposed to a foxtail and is demonstrating any of the clinical signs, please contact the emergency team in San Ramon.

Although this list only scratches the surface of potential common pet emergencies that can occur throughout your pet’s life, the information provided here can give you a good starting point to better understand potential pet risks. By recognizing the issues that most commonly affect pets in your area, you can know what to expect and prepare for as a pet owner.

It’s important to always have an emergency vet available to contact if anything goes wrong with your pet. Take time to find a good quality emergency vet you can trust before you end up needing to use them.

In June, 24/7 Local Veterinarian will be opening a new location in San Ramon. 24/7 Local Veterinarian is an emergency only animal hospital, with 43+ different locations across the country. Staffed with experienced and compassionate teams, at 24/7 Local Veterinarian you’ll never have to worry about your pet’s care. When you call 24/7 Local Veterinarian, you’ll be connected with an emergency vet who will walk you through the best course of action to make sure your pet gets the care they need, when they need it.