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# North Springs Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://northspringsvrc.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://northspringsvrc.com/blog/)
- [Is My Dog Choking or Just Coughing? Recognizing and Responding to Airway Emergencies](https://northspringsvrc.com/is-my-dog-choking-or-just-coughing-recognizing-and-responding-to-airway-emergencies/) - Dogs are natural vacuum cleaners, and that curiosity occasionally has consequences — a piece of rawhide, a ball, a chunk of bone lodged somewhere it shouldn't be. True choking, where the airway is partially or fully blocked, is a genuine emergency. The tricky part for owners is that gagging, retching, reverse sneezing, and a bout of kennel cough can all look alarmingly similar to true choking, and knowing the difference changes what you should do next.
- [Lily Toxicity in Cats: Why a Single Petal or Lick of Pollen Can Be Fatal](https://northspringsvrc.com/lily-toxicity-in-cats-why-a-single-petal-or-lick-of-pollen-can-be-fatal/) - Of all the plant toxicities we treat, lily poisoning in cats is the one with the narrowest margin for error. Unlike many toxic plants where the dose determines the danger, with true lilies there effectively is no safe amount — cats have died from kidney failure after nothing more than chewing a leaf tip or grooming pollen off their fur.
- [Antifreeze Poisoning: Why This Is the Poisoning Emergency We Take Most Seriously](https://northspringsvrc.com/antifreeze-poisoning-why-this-is-the-poisoning-emergency-we-take-most-seriously/) - Of all the toxins we treat, antifreeze poisoning is the one where the phrase "every minute counts" is least exaggerated. Ethylene glycol, the primary ingredient in most antifreeze, is sweet-tasting to pets and devastating to their kidneys — and the treatment window that gives a pet the best chance of survival is measured in hours, not days.
- [Bee Stings and Insect Bites in Pets: From Minor Swelling to True Anaphylaxis](https://northspringsvrc.com/bee-stings-and-insect-bites-in-pets-from-minor-swelling-to-true-anaphylaxis-2/) - Dogs snap at bees and cats pounce on wasps more often than most owners expect, and the vast majority of the time, a sting causes nothing more than a sore, swollen spot that resolves in a day or two. But a small percentage of pets develop a true allergic reaction, and telling the difference — quickly — is what protects your pet if this is that rare, serious case.
- [Broken Bones in Dogs and Cats: What to Expect from Diagnosis Through Recovery](https://northspringsvrc.com/broken-bones-in-dogs-and-cats-what-to-expect-from-diagnosis-through-recovery/) - Fractures are among the more common traumatic injuries we treat, whether from a fall, a car accident, rough play, or a fight with another animal. What surprises most owners is how much variation exists in how fractures are treated — some heal with a splint and rest, others require plates and screws, and knowing which category your pet falls into starts with a clear diagnosis.
- [Sudden Redness, Squinting, or a Bulging Eye: When Eye Injuries Become True Emergencies](https://northspringsvrc.com/sudden-redness-squinting-or-a-bulging-eye-when-eye-injuries-become-true-emergencies/) - The eye is one of the few structures in the body where a delay of even a day can mean the difference between a full recovery and permanent vision loss. Whether it's a scratch from a stick during a walk, a scuffle with another cat, or a hard bump into furniture, eye injuries deserve a level of urgency owners don't always expect from something that can look, at first glance, like "just a little redness."
- [Parvo in Puppies: Why This Is One Emergency You Can't Wait On](https://northspringsvrc.com/parvo-in-puppies-why-this-is-one-emergency-you-cant-wait-on/) - In more than two decades of emergency practice, few phone calls carry the same urgency as "my puppy has bloody diarrhea and won't stop vomiting." Canine parvovirus is one of the most common reasons unvaccinated or partially vaccinated puppies end up in our ER, and it's also one of the few illnesses where the difference between a phone call made today versus tomorrow can be the difference between a full recovery and a puppy we can't save.
- [Kennel Cough in Dogs: When That Honking Cough Needs More Than Rest](https://northspringsvrc.com/kennel-cough-in-dogs-when-that-honking-cough-needs-more-than-rest/) - Every week we see dogs come through our doors with a cough that sounds like they're trying to bring up a bone — a dry, honking hack that alarms owners more than it typically threatens the dog. Kennel cough, now more accurately called canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), is usually a nuisance illness. But "usually" is doing some heavy lifting in that sentence, and knowing which cases need an emergency visit is what this article is about.
- [Heartworm, Fleas, and Ticks: The Parasite Prevention Conversation Every Colorado Springs Dog Owner Should Have](https://northspringsvrc.com/heartworm-fleas-and-ticks-the-parasite-prevention-conversation-every-colorado-springs-dog-owner-should-have/) - "We're in Colorado, do we really need heartworm prevention?" is a question we hear often enough that it's worth answering plainly: yes. Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in dogs in every U.S. state, and fleas and ticks don't check a calendar before they become a problem. This is one of the most preventable categories of serious illness we treat — and one of the most expensive and dangerous once prevention has failed.
- [My Dog Suddenly Won't Put Weight on a Leg — Is This an Emergency?](https://northspringsvrc.com/my-dog-suddenly-wont-put-weight-on-a-leg-is-this-an-emergency/) - One minute your dog is running across the yard, the next they're holding a leg up and won't touch it to the ground. Sudden lameness is one of the more common reasons pets come through our doors, and while it isn't always a broken bone, the only way to know for certain — and to know how urgently you need to act — is to have it evaluated.
- [Bite Wounds and Animal Fights: Why the Puncture You Can See Isn't the Injury That Worries Us](https://northspringsvrc.com/bite-wounds-and-animal-fights-why-the-puncture-you-can-see-isnt-the-injury-that-worries-us/) - A quick scuffle between two dogs, or a cat that comes home after a night out with a small scab on its shoulder, often looks minor on the surface. The problem with bite wounds is exactly that — what you can see is rarely the full extent of the injury, and the damage that matters most is often happening beneath skin that looks nearly untouched.
- [Bee Stings and Insect Bites in Pets: From Minor Swelling to True Anaphylaxis](https://northspringsvrc.com/bee-stings-and-insect-bites-in-pets-from-minor-swelling-to-true-anaphylaxis/) - Dogs snap at bees and cats pounce on wasps more often than most owners expect, and the vast majority of the time, a sting causes nothing more than a sore, swollen spot that resolves in a day or two. But a small percentage of pets develop a true allergic reaction, and telling the difference — quickly — is what protects your pet if this is that rare, serious case.
- [Pancreatitis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & When It Becomes an Emergency](https://northspringsvrc.com/pancreatitis-in-dogs-causes-symptoms-when-it-becomes-an-emergency/) - Every holiday season — and honestly, any time a dog gets into the garbage, the leftovers, or someone's dropped plate of food — veterinary emergency centers see a spike in pancreatitis cases. It is one of the most common GI emergencies in dogs, ranging from a mild, self-limiting illness to a life-threatening systemic crisis. Understanding
- [Physical Therapy for Dogs After Surgery: What to Expect and Why It Matters](https://northspringsvrc.com/physical-therapy-for-dogs-after-surgery-what-to-expect-and-why-it-matters/) - When people hear "physical therapy for dogs," they sometimes assume it is a luxury — something nice to have, but not truly necessary. After more than two decades in veterinary medicine and specialty surgery, I would argue the opposite. Physical rehabilitation is one of the most evidence-based, outcome-changing interventions available after orthopedic surgery, neurological injury,
- [My Cat Hasn't Eaten in 2 Days — When Is It an Emergency?](https://northspringsvrc.com/my-cat-hasnt-eaten-in-2-days-when-is-it-an-emergency/) - Cats are renowned for being finicky eaters, and most owners have experienced the frustration of a cat suddenly turning up its nose at a previously beloved food. But there is a crucial difference between a cat being choosy and a cat that has genuinely stopped eating — and the medical consequences of the latter can
- [Addison's Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Long-Term Management](https://northspringsvrc.com/addisons-disease-in-dogs-symptoms-diagnosis-long-term-management/) - Addison's disease — formally known as hypoadrenocorticism — is one of the most frequently misdiagnosed conditions in veterinary medicine. Dogs with Addison's disease often present with vague, intermittent symptoms that mimic a dozen other conditions: occasional vomiting, episodes of weakness, seeming "off" for a day or two before recovering. Because the symptoms wax and wane,
- [My Dog Was Hit by a Car — What to Do in the First Critical Minutes](https://northspringsvrc.com/my-dog-was-hit-by-a-car-what-to-do-in-the-first-critical-minutes/) - Few emergencies are more terrifying than seeing your dog struck by a vehicle. In those first moments, the instinct is to rush to your dog, scoop them up, and get to a veterinarian as fast as possible. That impulse is right — but how you handle your dog in the minutes before you arrive at
- [My Dog Ate Chocolate — How Much Is Dangerous and What Should I Do?](https://northspringsvrc.com/my-dog-ate-chocolate-how-much-is-dangerous-and-what-should-i-do/) - It is one of the most common calls veterinary emergency centers receive: "My dog just ate chocolate. How worried should I be?" The answer, genuinely, is: it depends — on the type of chocolate, the amount consumed, and the size of your dog. Chocolate can range from mildly upsetting to life-threatening depending on those variables.
- [Dog ACL Tear: Signs, Surgery Options & What to Expect During Recovery](https://northspringsvrc.com/dog-acl-tear-signs-surgery-options-what-to-expect-during-recovery/) - A dog suddenly limping on a back leg — especially after a run, jump, or play session — is one of the most common presentations seen in orthopedic surgery. In many of these cases, the culprit is a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), the canine equivalent of the human ACL. It is the single most
- [Why Is My Dog Having Seizures? Causes, First Aid & When to Go to the ER](https://northspringsvrc.com/why-is-my-dog-having-seizures-causes-first-aid-when-to-go-to-the-er/) - Watching your dog have a seizure is one of the most frightening experiences a pet owner can face. The convulsions, the loss of consciousness, the paddling and vocalization — it can feel like your dog is dying. In most cases, the seizure itself is not immediately fatal, but that does not mean it can be
- [My Cat Is Straining to Urinate — Could It Be a Blockage?](https://northspringsvrc.com/my-cat-is-straining-to-urinate-could-it-be-a-blockage/) - In my years of emergency veterinary practice, few calls are more urgent than an owner reporting that their cat has been in and out of the litter box all night without producing urine. A urinary obstruction — commonly called a "blocked cat" — is a life-threatening emergency that can turn fatal within 24 to 48
- [My Dog's Stomach Is Bloated and Hard — Could It Be Bloat (GDV)?](https://northspringsvrc.com/my-dogs-stomach-is-bloated-and-hard-could-it-be-bloat-gdv/) - There are few emergencies in veterinary medicine that demand faster action than gastric dilatation-volvulus — commonly called GDV, or simply "bloat." In over two decades of emergency and specialty practice, I have seen this condition take dogs in a matter of hours. Yet with rapid intervention, many patients walk out of our hospital and go
- [Cardiology](https://northspringsvrc.com/cardiology/) - Mending Hearts: An Overview of Veterinary Cardiology Surgeries
- [Internal Medicine](https://northspringsvrc.com/internal-medicine/) - Learn what a veterinary internal medicine specialist does, what conditions they treat, and why it’s the best next step for a complex diagnosis.
- [Foreign Material Ingestion](https://northspringsvrc.com/foreign-material-ingestion/) - Protecting Your Pet from Foreign Object Ingestion
- [Pancreatitis and a Pet Safe Thanksgiving](https://northspringsvrc.com/pancreatitis-and-a-pet-safe-thanksgiving/) - A Veterinarian’s Guide to a Pet-Safe Thanksgiving
- [Toxins and Ingestions](https://northspringsvrc.com/toxins-and-ingestions/) - Protecting Your Furry Family from Common Household Toxins
- [Your Pet Can Be a Hero](https://northspringsvrc.com/your-pet-can-be-a-hero/) - Learn how your dog or cat can become a life-saving blood donor at North Springs Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center. Free health screening and donor perks included!
- [Smooth Transition During Transfer](https://northspringsvrc.com/smooth-transition-during-transfer/) - Learn what happens when your pet is transferred from your family veterinarian to North Springs Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center—ensuring fast, seamless emergency care.
- [Creating a Peaceful Farewell](https://northspringsvrc.com/creating-a-peaceful-farewell/) - Discover how North Springs Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center provides a private, peaceful euthanasia space—honoring the bond between pets and families during end-of-life care.
- [Providing Peace of Mind Through Visual Transparency](https://northspringsvrc.com/providing-peace-of-mind-through-visual-transparency/) - How North Springs Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center offers client camera access for hospitalized patients, giving owners comfort and trust in their pet’s care. Introduction
- [Midnight Miracles: Inside the World of Emergency Veterinary Medicine](https://northspringsvrc.com/midnight-miracles-inside-the-world-of-emergency-veterinary-medicine/) - A sneak peek inside Emergency Medicine, where every second counts and the patients can’t tell you what is wrong.
- [When Should You and Your Pet See a Veterinary Specialist?](https://northspringsvrc.com/when-should-you-and-your-pet-see-a-veterinary-specialist/) - As loving pet owners in Colorado Springs, we all want the very best for our animal companions. While your primary care veterinarian is your go-to for routine check-ups, vaccinations, and common ailments, not all pet health problems can be resolved during a routine visit. Just like in human medicine, some cases require the expertise of
- [Panic to Prepared: What To Do If You Have a Pet Emergency in Colorado Springs](https://northspringsvrc.com/panic-to-prepared-what-to-do-if-you-have-a-pet-emergency-in-colorado-springs/) - A pet emergency can happen without warning, and in those frantic seconds, knowing exactly what to do can make all the difference. At North Springs Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center in Colorado Springs, we know how overwhelming pet emergencies can feel. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the steps you should take if

## Pages

- [Homepage](https://northspringsvrc.com/)
- [About](https://northspringsvrc.com/about/)
- [Careers](https://northspringsvrc.com/careers/)
- [Contact](https://northspringsvrc.com/contact/)
- [CE Credit Courses for Veterinary General Practitioners](https://northspringsvrc.com/ce-credit-courses-for-veterinary-general-practitioners/)
- [Continuing Education Class 6 Registration (June)](https://northspringsvrc.com/continuing-education-class-6-registration-june-2/)
- [OVERNIGHT Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)](https://northspringsvrc.com/rvt/)
- [Client Service Representative (CSR)](https://northspringsvrc.com/csr/)
- [Continuing Education Class 5 Registration (May)](https://northspringsvrc.com/continuing-education-class-5-registration-may/)
- [Community and Culture Manager](https://northspringsvrc.com/community-and-culture-manager/)
- [Floor Manager](https://northspringsvrc.com/floormanager/)
- [Specialties](https://northspringsvrc.com/specialties/)
- [Emergency](https://northspringsvrc.com/emergency/)
- [For Veterinarians](https://northspringsvrc.com/for-veterinarians/)
- [Continuing Education Class 4 Registration (April)](https://northspringsvrc.com/continuing-education-class-4-registration-may/)
- [For Pet Owners](https://northspringsvrc.com/for-pet-owners/)
- [Continuing Education Class 3 Registration](https://northspringsvrc.com/continuing-education-class-3-registration/)
- [Continuing Education Class 2 Registration](https://northspringsvrc.com/continuing-education-class-2-registration/)
- [Continuing Education Class 1 Registration](https://northspringsvrc.com/continuing-education-class-1-registration/)
- [E-Signature-Document](https://northspringsvrc.com/e-signature-document/)
- [Emergency Client Intake Form and CPR Directive Signature](https://northspringsvrc.com/emergency-client-intake-form-and-cpr-directive-signature/)
- [Specialty Client Intake Signature](https://northspringsvrc.com/specialty-client-intake-signature/)
- [Veterinary Surgeon](https://northspringsvrc.com/veterinary-surgeon/)
- [Veterinary Radiologist](https://northspringsvrc.com/veterinary-radiologist/)
- [Emergency Veterinarian](https://northspringsvrc.com/emergency-veterinarian/)
- [Surgery](https://northspringsvrc.com/surgery/)
- [Specialty Client Intake Form](https://northspringsvrc.com/specialty-client-intake-form/)
- [Emergency Client Intake Form and CPR Directive](https://northspringsvrc.com/emergency-client-intake-form-and-cpr-directive/)
- [Specialty Client Appointment Request Form](https://northspringsvrc.com/specialty-client-appointment-request-form/)
- [Specialty Recheck Form](https://northspringsvrc.com/specialty-recheck-form/)
- [Referral Form](https://northspringsvrc.com/referral-form/)
- [Internal Medicine](https://northspringsvrc.com/internal-medicine/)
- [Cardiology](https://northspringsvrc.com/cardiology/)
- [Radiology](https://northspringsvrc.com/radiology/)
- [All Services](https://northspringsvrc.com/services/)
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## Categories

- [Blog](https://northspringsvrc.com/category/blog/)