Emergency Vets, Hattiesburg, MS

06/19/2026

Heat-Related Illnesses in Pets

Summer is almost upon us, and we all know what that means—extremely hot and humid weather. Let’s talk about heat-related illnesses in our pets and how to recognize the warning signs.

A normal body temperature for dogs and cats is approximately 99.5°F–102.5°F, which is higher than a human’s normal temperature. Unlike people, pets do not have sweat glands distributed throughout their bodies and cannot cool themselves efficiently by sweating. Instead, they primarily regulate their body temperature through panting. Panting allows heat to dissipate through evaporation from the respiratory tract, but this process becomes much less effective in hot and humid conditions. Because of this, pets can overheat very quickly, especially during the warmer months.

Signs of Heat-Related Illness

Excessive or labored breathing
Bright red or dark red gums and tongue
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Blood in the vomit, stool, or urine
Lethargy or weakness
Lack of coordination
Disorientation or unresponsiveness
Tremors or seizures

In severe cases, heat-related illness can be life-threatening.

What Overheating Does to the Body

Heatstroke can cause serious damage throughout the body, including:

Damage to internal organs
Brain swelling and decreased blood flow, which can lead to disorientation and permanent neurological injury
Kidney and liver damage that may result in multiple organ failure
Loss of the body’s ability to clot blood properly, leading to internal or external bleeding
Reduced blood flow to the intestinal tract, which can cause tissue damage and result in bloody vomiting or diarrhea

How to Help Cool Your Pet

Do NOT use ice-cold water. Rapid cooling with extremely cold water can worsen the situation.

Instead:

Move your pet out of the heat and into shade or an air-conditioned area immediately
Apply cool (not cold) water to the abdomen, paw pads, and neck
Drape cool, damp towels over the body
Use a fan to assist with cooling

Which Pets Are at Higher Risk?

Some pets are more susceptible to heat-related illness, including:

Senior pets
Puppies and kittens
Overweight pets
Brachycephalic (“flat-faced”) breeds such as Pugs, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Persian cats, and Himalayan cats
Pets with pre-existing medical conditions

When to Seek Veterinary Care

If you suspect your pet is experiencing any heat-related illness, contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately. Early intervention can make a significant difference in your pet’s recovery and may save their life.

Stay safe this summer, and remember: if it’s too hot for you, it’s probably too hot for your pet.

06/04/2026

Snakebite season is here- What Pet Owners Need To Know

Summer is almost upon us, and we have already seen a lot of snakebite cases. While many snakes are harmless, venomous snakes are present in our area, and it is important to know what to do if your pet has been bitten.

Not all snakebites are the same. There can be a ‘dry bite’, meaning no venom is injected. A snake may inject venom from only one fang or both, and the amount of venom can vary significantly. Juvenile snakes may even inject larger amounts because they have less control over their venom glands.

Regardless of the type of bite, veterinary evaluation is always recommended, especially if you are unsure of what kind of snake was involved.

Signs of a snakebite may include:
*Swelling to the bite site
*Extremely painful
*Labored breathing
*Bleeding from bite site
*Weakness or other symptoms depending on the type of venom.

In North America, snake venoms generally fall into three categories:

Cytotoxic venom-Damages tissue, attacks organs, and can cause severe tissue destruction.

Neurotoxic venom- Affects the nervous system and may cause tremors, paralysis, or neurological dysfunction.

Hemotoxic venom-Attacks the blood and blood vessels. It interferes with clotting and can cause internal bleeding.

Treatment recommendations vary depending on the severity of the bite and your pet’s condition. Some pets may only require pain medication, antibiotics, and home care. More serious cases may need bloodwork, IV fluids, antivenin, hospitalization, and in severe situations, plasma transfusions.

One important test we often perform is a coagulation panel (PT/aPTT), which evaluates your pet’s ability to clot blood properly. Many snake venoms can interfere with normal clotting function.

Based on the physical exam and diagnostic results, we will determine the most appropriate treatment for your pet.

Why Antivenin Matters

We strongly recommend antivenin treatment when indicated. Rattlesnake antivenin helps neutralize venom, reduce swelling, minimize pain, preserve tissue, and it saves lives. Most pets require only one vial regardless of size, whether they are a cat, dog, or horse.

Once administered intravenously, antivenin binds to venom proteins circulating in the bloodstream. This neutralizes their harmful effects and allows the body to safely eliminate the toxins. Antivenin is most effective when given as soon as possible after a bite, before permanent tissue damage or neurological injury occurs.

Many pets begin showing improvement within 12 hours of treatment. Swelling may take several days to fully resolve, and we monitor closely for tissue necrosis and other complications. Pets are typically sent home with pain medication and antibiotics to support recovery.

While treatment is often very successful, there is always a possibility of permanent damage depending on the severity of the envenomation and how quickly treatment is started.

There is no guaranteed way to prevent a snakebite, but being aware of your surroundings and your pet’s environment can help reduce risk.

If you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake, seek veterinary care immediately. Early treatment can make all the difference.

Below is a link to familiarize yourself with common snakes in our area. It contains the names of snakes and their picture to help identify them easier.

Snakes Order Squamata: Serpentes Save for only six species, all of Mississippi’s native snakes are harmless. See families Elapidae (venomous) and Viperidae (venomous) at the bottom of this array to learn more about identifying venomous species. While potentially harmful if haphazardly provoked, al...

05/18/2026

(With owners permission) We would like you to meet Bluey. This puppy was brought to us for a life saving blood transfusion. Let's back up to where it started. When she was a wee pup, she was dewormed for intestinal parasites with a specific dewormer. Unfortunately a f***l was not actually performed to see what type of parasites she had. There are multiple types of parasites they can get and some of them are treated with different dewormers. Because her little body was riddled with them, she became very sick once the owners got her. They had blood work and a f***l performed to determine that she had so many kinds of parasites they were just taking all her vitamins and minerals and blood from her system. We got the correct dewormer on board and started a blood transfusion. We know she needed a transfusion thanks to her bloodwork. One of her blood counts, hematocrit, was at 4%. After blood transfusion it went up to 27%!! That's what we call a win. So with all that being said, it is super important to get your pets a new puppy exam when you first get them. Even if the person you got them from says they've already been dewormed and had first vaccine. You can start deworming at 2 weeks of age and first SET of vaccines at 6 weeks of age. Our fur-babies get more than one vaccine. They get several rounds of them as young animals that continue over their life. Those are all very important for different reasons, as they prevent different illnesses. Always check with your regular veterinarian to have these things done or to ask any questions you have.

05/18/2026

Just a quick reminder about the upcoming holiday. Memorial Day will be on the 25th
All regular veterinarian clinics will be closed and Emergency Vets will be open all day for your pet emergencies. Please make sure to keep harmful items put up and out of the way of your pets. Have a safe and happy holiday.

04/29/2026

It’s time to get in the w**ds about w**d. Since THC is now more widely available to the public there has been a drastic increase in THC toxicity in pets. Fortunately, with proper treatments most pets make a full recovery. Signs to look out for inhalant THC toxicosis include but are not limited to: dribbling urine, severe lethargy, a drunken walk, vomiting, or diarrhea. Edible THC toxicosis can have the same symptoms and have compounded issues due to being made with chocolate, nuts, xylitol, or other toxic ingredients. You may see problems with a lower body temperature, tremors, seizures, or becoming unresponsive.



If you believe your pet may have ingested THC, contact a veterinary professional immediately, and be honest. We have very specialized treatments for THC toxicosis and we don’t want to waste time or money with tests and treatments that won’t treat the actual problem. One of the best treatment options for THC toxicity is Intravenous Lipid Emulsion (ILE or intralipids for short). Due to THC’s fat-soluble nature, the fats in the ILE bind the toxin in the bloodstream and help the body filter it safely.



While we know you strive to keep your pet safe from exposure to THC, pets are surprising little creatures, and it doesn’t take much exposure or ingestion to cause a problem. If you believe your pet has ingested anything they aren’t supposed to, call us at Emergency Vets at 601-450-3838 for after-hour emergencies or contact your regular veterinarian during daytime hours.