Trauma and injury triage

Osteosarcoma is the formation of a malignant tumor in the bones. It is a highly metastatic cancer with a median survival rate of 2-4 months without treatment and 8-12 months with treatment. This is the most common type of bone cancer in dogs and is most prominent in large breeds and older pets.

A saddle thrombus is when a large blood clot becomes lodged in the aorta, obstructing blood flow to the hind limbs in dogs. The aorta is a large artery which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body

Elbow dysplasia in cats is a group of abnormalities that affect the elbow joints of the front limbs. In cats, elbow dysplasia is very rare but can lead to lameness and drastically affect quality of life.

Frostbite is a rare condition in cats that results from loss of blood flow to parts of the body as a result of extreme cold. The body restricts blood flow to the extremities when exposed to severely cold temperature.

Hypothermia happens when the core body temperature drops below normal. Hypothermia is a rare condition in horses, and it is usually caused by environmental accidents such as falling into a frozen body of water.

Trigeminal neuropathy is a disorder of the cranial nerve that controls the jaw muscles. It is extremely rare in cats. The underlying cause is not yet understood.

Dropped jaw (trigeminal neuropathy) is a disorder of the cranial nerve that controls the movement and sensitivity of the jaw in dogs.  The characteristic symptom is the inability to close the mouth.

Hypothermia is defined as lower than normal body temperature. Normal body temperature of dogs is 101-102°F (38.3-39°C). Body temps of below 98°F (36.7°C) are considered hypothermic.

Masticatory myositis is a condition of unknown origin where the muscles needed to chew become inflamed, making it painful to open the mouth or eat food. It is so rare in cats that there is no clear consensus among the veterinary community as to whether it is a feline condition at all.

Dogs have a third eyelid, visible as a pink membrane mostly hidden under the inside corner of the eye. When the bulbous, dark pink gland of the third eyelid slips out of place and becomes visible, this is called a “cherry eye.” 

Laminitis refers to inflammation of the lamellae, the support structure that holds the coffin bone in place within the hoof capsule. The lamellae are extremely sensitive, making laminitis a very painful condition.

Cherry eye is a colloquial term used to describe prolapse (popping out) of the gland of the third eyelid in cats, thought to be caused by weakening of the fibers that hold the gland into place.

Joint infections are infections found in the joints of horses which cause pain, inflammation, fever, and lameness. Joint infections are always an emergency and require immediate medical assistance.

Burns can be caused by heat (thermal), friction (mechanical), or chemical reactions.

Difficulty whelping (delivering puppies) is known as dystocia. Dark green discharge from the vulva is a normal sign of labor,

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is the most common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs, and occurs due to traumatic injury or progressive degeneration of the ligament.

Foxtails and other grass awns, are a common form of seed dispersal for many types of grass. Awns have numerous bristles that allow the seed head to embed in the skin and orifices of animals and their shape makes them difficult to remove

Joint swelling in cats is the enlargement of one or more joints.

Joint swelling is a common symptom in horses and has a variety of causes.

Collapse in dogs is generally defined as when a dog falls and cannot get back up.

Joint pain in cats is soreness localized to the articulated parts of the limbs.

A gastrointestinal (GI) foreign body obstruction is the result of ingesting a foreign object that is not able to pass through the body naturally.

Skin lumps occurring within or near the surface of the skin are called cutaneous masses.

Head pressing in cats is a behavior where the cat presses its head against a wall or other inanimate object for a prolonged period without obvious awareness of its surroundings.

Gastrointestinal blockages most commonly occur when a dog swallows a large, indigestible object. As the object moves through the gastrointestinal tract, it encounters progressively smaller tubes. Eventually, it becomes stuck, and blocks the flow of intestinal contents.

Lameness is an abnormal gait caused by a dysfunction of the muscles, joints, or bones. Lameness is extremely common in horses, and is the most common cause of “loss of use” in performance horses

Cutaneous lumps are lumps within a dog’s skin which make a nodule, raised area, or discoloration on the surface of the skin.

Ataxia means “difficulty walking”. An ataxic cat has difficulty controlling the movements of the head, legs, or torso.

Dyspnea is when a cat has difficulty inhaling or exhaling and isn't getting enough oxygen.

Lymphadenopathy, or enlarged lymph nodes, is swelling of the lymph nodes due to infection, inflammation, or the presence of tumor cells in the nodes.