Urgent Pet Care

07/31/2025

Even when his face is swollen, we think Franklin is a bee-autiful kitty! 🐝

Franklin came to UPC after he decided to eat a bumblebee that found its way into his house. As you might expect, he was stung by the bee and quickly began to show signs of an allergic reaction! We sedated Franklin to assess the wound on his face and remove the stinger from his skin. We then administered strong medications to reduce swelling and treat the allergic reaction. After we could tell that his reaction was under control, we administered a sedation reversal agent so he could wake up enough to be discharged to his mom's care. Franklin was sent home with a cat-friendly antihistamine and corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and keep him comfortable. We're happy to report that he is feeling better!

07/29/2025

🫧 Rajah took the phrase "having a bubbly personality" to the next level 🫧

Rajah presented to us after he got into an Amazon delivery meant for his people. His owners suspected that he may had eaten a shampoo bottle cap and at least some of the box, but after he vomited soap bubbles it was clear that he had at least ingested some shampoo!

Once he got to UPC, we quickly took radiographs. X-rays showed some gas in Rajah's stomach, but luckily imaging did not show parts of a box or a shampoo cap within his GI tract. After ruling out the need for surgery to remove foreign objects, we consulted with the Pet Poison Helpline to develop a treatment plan for Rajah. We gave him subcutaneous fluids and anti-nausea medication in the clinic, and he was able to go home afterwards to recover. To help keep him comfortable and prevent further GI issues, we sent him home with an acid reducer, a GI protectant, and a modified diet plan to reduce the chances of him vomiting again.

When a pet ingests a potentially toxic substance, we always recommend contacting Pet Poison Helpline to determine the best treatment plan possible for pets. Their toxicologists have access to over 500,000 substance and medication formulation lists that are considered proprietary information and cannot be accessed elsewhere. This means that they can quickly assess whether a pet needs veterinary intervention or can be treated at home. They also work with ER veterinarians to develop a treatment plan specific to each pet. If you suspect your pet has ingested something harmful, the sooner a pet gets veterinary help, the better!

07/24/2025

While Tiny at first experienced a string of unfortunate events, we're so glad she was able to avoid surgery due to Dr. Starks' ingenuity!

Tiny was transferred to us after another hospital had attempted to remove an ingested foreign body. The ingested foreign material was knotted up in fishing line, and some of the fishing line was still sticking out of Tiny's mouth. When removal was attempted each time, the string and the attached foreign body could not be pulled out safely.

Once Tiny arrived at UPC and was sedated, Dr. Starks set to work, sewing the tail of the fishing line to paracord that an employee just happened to have on hand. Using polypropylene catheters as a guide, she threaded this through a trimmed stomach tube. After the other end of the stomach tube had been properly placed within Tiny's GI tract, our team pulled gently on the paracord to place the foreign object attached to the fishing line right next to the stomach tube. They then pulled on the paracord while removing the stomach tube at the same time. The stomach tube was sturdy and wide enough to provide enough space along the GI tract for the object to travel through and out Tiny's mouth without the line breaking or the object becoming caught again on its way up!

This out-of-the-box thinking usually only comes with years of experience in veterinary medicine, where you often have to problem-solve in creative ways by making your own tools to do the job. Amazing work, team!

07/22/2025

⚕️Today is AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day! Urgent Pet Care is proud to be an AAHA-Accredited Hospital. What does this mean, though?

AAHA accreditation is a voluntary process. When a veterinary practice is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, it signals to clients and veterinary professionals alike that the practice meets uncompromising, high standards in patient care, from record keeping to pain management. About 15% of veterinary practices are AAHA accredited, and clinics must be re-evaluated every 3 years to remain accredited.

We're thankful to all of our staff that help make UPC's AAHA accreditation possible!

07/17/2025

We will miss you, Dr. Sharma! ❤️

Dr. Sharma is moving to be closer to family, and with that move comes an end to her time at Urgent Pet Care. Right after Dr. Sharma graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, she came to work for Urgent Pet Care and quickly became part of the family. During her 5 amazing years at UPC, she helped countless pets and their families through very difficult and sometimes scary situations. We hate to see her go, but are so excited to see what's in store for her next.

07/15/2025

Before you go on vacation, make sure you have a medical care plan in place for your pets!

Urgent Pet Care has created an absentee owner form that is now available on our website. This allows you to designate an acting agent who can make decisions about your pet's care during emergency situations if you cannot be reached. This will help Urgent Pet Care veterinarians and your acting agent ensure that your pet can receive quality care without delays if an emergency strikes.

Be sure to read everything carefully, then fill out the form, sign it, and provide a copy to your pet's acting agent before you leave town. Payment is due on the date of service at many veterinary clinics, so also ensure that your acting agent also has a valid way to pay for your pet's medical care.

You can find this form on our website under the "Resources" tab, or follow this link: https://urgentpetcareomaha.com/absentee-owner-form/

07/10/2025

🙀 Kittens can be worse than toddlers...you so much as turn your back and they immediately make mischief happen!

Amara the kitten visited us at our Papillion clinic after getting hooked on fishing equipment. Her loving family got home from a day of fishing, set their fishing rods upright and aside from the home's main activities, and decided to change clothes. In the short amount of time it took to change, they came back and Amara had already knocked over the rods to play with the pretty fish-shaped lure!

While she was in the clinic, we sedated Amara to safely remove the lure from her paw. Along with pain management, we also prescribed antibiotics to help ensure that the wound from the hook would not become infected. Not long after fully coming to from sedation, Amara was back to being a curious baby!

Accidents can always happen, and we appreciate Amara's family allowing us to share her story. This is a friendly reminder to all about the hazards that fish hooks can pose to pets. Even if rods and lures seem to be safely stored out of the way, an especially crafty and determined kitten or puppy may try to play with them and successfully come into contact with hooks or lines. One of the best ways to keep pets safe from fishing equipment is to make sure that it's kept in a dedicated, closed-off area of the house where pets are not allowed. If a pet does become hooked by fishing equipment, please never remove it by yourself. Seek veterinary care so pets can be sedated before the hook is removed, and pain medication/antibiotics can be prescribed if necessary.

07/08/2025

🐕 A tribute to Little Man, Search and Rescue Hero Dog 🐕

Our story is a little bittersweet. We met Little Man through unfortunate circumstances, and helped his mom make extremely difficult end of life decisions. This is not an outcome any of us wanted, but it was truly an honor to care for him and his family. The more we learned about Little Man, the more we fell in love with him and his story.

In 2013, Little Man was just a small puppy when he was found among wreckage 5 days after a tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma. No one came forward to claim him, so his finder adopted him. After seeing how well his personality aligned to being a working dog, she trained him to use his sense of smell for search and rescue in finding living people, human remains, and evidence. In 2021, he won the title of Rescue Dog of the Year! He worked on a wide variety of cases in numerous states as a certified search and rescue dog, contributing his talents to detecting unmarked Indigenous burial sites, assisting in investigations, and finding missing persons. In addition to search and rescue, he also worked with adjudicated dogs at the shelter to help them become more adoptable.

His story is a testament to not only his drive that led him to become a well-recognized search and rescue dog; it's also a testament to his owner's determination and dedication to help others. Little Man truly made the world a better, kinder place.

Linked below is a wonderful video about Little Man, so others can learn more about him and his mom's service to the community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrLwD2eE0b8

07/03/2025

07/01/2025

💊 If your pet needs medication to ride out July 4th, NOW is the time to refill it with your primary veterinarian! 💊

While we can provide medications for your pet over the holiday weekend to help manage things like anxiety, it is the law that we must examine your pet prior to dispensing any prescriptions for them. We cannot waive this exam, nor our exam fees, to provide medications.

Please contact your primary care veterinarian today to get medications refilled and picked up in time for Friday!

06/30/2025

As a reminder to all in the community, we are open on Independence Day from 8AM - 10PM for emergencies that cannot wait. Please be careful this holiday season and exercise caution when involving pets in holiday activities. Have a plan in place for any pets who are high-anxiety; during the days leading up to the holiday, we recommend keeping dogs on a leash while outdoors to help prevent them from bolting and jumping yard fences due to fear of fireworks, and try to keep cats indoors to help limit their panic response to loud noises.