SOUTHEAST ALASKA ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER
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Recognizing an Ill Pet

Just like humans pets can have days where they feel a little lethargic and under the weather, but it is the natural instinct of an animal to try and disguise any signs of illness. They do this in the wild as showing weakness leaves them vulnerable to predators and open to attack. Unfortunately this can make it tricky to determine if your pet is feeling a little unwell or if they are suffering from a more serious illness.

There are a number of symptoms and changes in your pets’ appearance, behavior and physical condition that you can look out for. These include but are not limited to:
  • Abnormal vocal noises
  • Bloating of the abdomen
  • Blood in the stools or urine
  • Decreased energy or activity levels
  • Diarrhea and/or vomiting
  • Discharge from the nose or eyes
  • Excessive scratching or licking of the body
  • Foul odor from ears, mouth or skin
  • Increased shedding or bald patches
  • Limping
  • Lumps or tumors
  • Persistent hiding
  • Reluctance to use stairs
  • Seizures
  • Straining or an inability to pass urine or stools
Any of the above symptoms should be checked out by a veterinarian within 24/48 hours.

Symptoms that require immediate veterinary treatment include:
  • Bloated or hardened abdomen
  • Excessive vomiting or diarrhea
  • Inability to stand up or urinate
  • Seizures

Whilst a sick pet may require inpatient treatment in care in your veterinary surgery for days or even weeks, you will need to continue providing them with care and compassion to aid their recovery when they come home. This can include administering medication, supporting physical rehabilitation, emotional care, and fulfilling any special dietary requirements.

Medicating your Pet
Medicating your pet can be difficult if you are unfamiliar with the best ways in which to administer the drugs. Your veterinarian will explain about the dosages of any prescribed medication and will support you by demonstrating the easiest ways of administering them. Many medications can be incorporated into meal times making the process simpler and less stressful for your pet.

Ensure that your pet finished the entire course of prescribed medications. Not doing so means that the virus or infection may not be fully eradicated and your pet could become unwell again. Even if your pet looks and acts as if they are at full health, still finish all prescribed medication.

If your veterinarian has prescribed special food then be sure to feed your pet separately from any other animals in the house. Adhere strictly to the instructions given as any deviation from the plan, no matter how small, could potentially be harmful to your pet.

Ongoing Care
Your pet may need to be kept isolated from any other animals in the house. It will need a quiet environment with food and water nearby as they may be physically weak for some time. Ensure plenty of fresh water is always available.
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You should also keep young children away from your recovering pet as they may not understand the space that it needs to rehabilitate fully.

Any changes or worsening of symptoms must immediately be reported to your veterinarian. They could indicate that the medication your pet has been receiving needs urgent review, or they could indicate that your pets’ illness has become more serious. Do not delay in making an appointment and explain the situation fully to the receptionist on duty.

CLINIC INFORMATION
Address: 

8231 Glacier Highway
Juneau, AK 99801

Phone:

After Hours Emergencies:

907-789-7551

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907-789-7551

OFFICE HOURS
Monday       8:00am- 1:00pm / 2:00pm-5:00pm

Tuesday       8:00am- 1:00pm / 2:00pm-5:00pm

Wednesday 8:00am- 1:00pm / 2:00pm-5:00pm

Thursday     8:00am- 1:00pm / 2:00pm-5:00pm

Friday          8:00am- 1:00pm / 2:00pm-5:00pm

Saturday      Closed

Sunday        Closed
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EMERGENCY SERVICES

Due to very short staffing we will be offering limited after-hours coverage during the month of February-March. This was a hard decision to make, but a necessity to allow our doctors to provide care during the day. We will still have VetTriage available 24 hours a day for telehealth consultations and will have a doctor available for on-call services some weeknights. We will not offer in-hospital after-hours coverage February 27, March 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30. We advise our clients to be mindful of this limitation and keep their animals indoors, on leash and under supervision to prevent injury by car, porcupine quills, dog fights and lacerations. If you perceive an emergency situation outside of business hours, please reach out to VetTriage. If you contact VetTriage and they recommend contacting our office the following business day, please call (907)789-7551 at 7:30AM to secure an appointment. If you perceive a medical issue with your animal during business hours, please contact our office early so we can advise you if a same day urgent care appointment is needed.

To continue offering after-hours care to our clients and patients we must make a few changes.
Starting today, October 15th, we will be offering after-hours care only between the hours of 5pm and 10pm. Weekend days we will cover between 8am and 10pm. If you are unsure if your animal is having a life threatening emergency please reach out to VetTriage well before 10pm to see if your animal requires emergency medical attention. If you need help after 10pm reach out to VetTriage and they will give you medical advice and instruct you what to do until your animal can be seen.
Starting today, October 15th, we will no longer be treating patients for clients that are established with and receiving treatment at other local clinics. We will treat patients that have been established with our practice and have received routine services (yearly examinations, vaccinations, spay or neuter) within the last 24 months. We will also see patients that are new to Juneau and are not established with a local clinic.

For after hours emergency services we have partnered with VetTriage to offer video telehealth services. The VetTriage veterinarians are available 24/7 and for a consult fee they will assess your pet on live video chat to determine if your pet requires immediate emergency care, or simply monitoring at home until we reopen. In the event of an emergency they will coordinate your visit with the on call veterinarian. Please click the button below to initiate the telehealth service.

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Online Resources 

Online Pharmacy 

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Make An Appointment 

To make an appointment please call 907-789-7551 our staff looks forward to talking to you!

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  • Home
  • Services
    • Wellness Care
    • Dentistry
    • Diagnostics
    • Emergency Care
    • Exotic Patient Care
    • Non-Invasive Treatments
    • Surgical Procedures
  • About
    • Meet Our Professional Staff
    • Meet Our Support Staff
  • Contact
  • Client Reviews
  • Life in Juneau
  • Local Resources
  • Helpful Articles for Dogs
  • Helpful Articles for Cats
  • Helpful Articles for Health
  • General Articles
  • Privacy Policy