Three Reasons Why A Vet Would Ask To Keep Your Sick/Injured Pet Overnight
Most of the time when you rush a sick or injured pet into an animal hospital, you expect one of three things. One, the vet will fix/heal your pet with bandages and/or medication. Two, there will be nothing your vet can do and he/she will tell you to go home and wait. Three, your pet is so badly injured or seriously ill that there is really not much your vet can do besides make your pet comfortable or put him/her to sleep. What you do not expect to hear is a vet asking you to allow your pet to stay overnight. This is not the vet's way of trying to get more money from you! The vet actually has legitimate reasons for asking, and all of them have something to do with the welfare and well-being of your pet.
Your Pet Needs to Be on an IV Drip
A pet that needs to be rehydrated because it is unable to drink from a water dish on its own has to have an IV inserted. Any pet that needs an IV medication also has to remain at the animal hospital. Since you probably do not have any experience with containing your pet in a kennel while administering fluids and IV medications, the veterinarian asks to keep your pet at the hospital.
Your Sick Pet Perks up but Is Not out of the Woods Yet
If your vet determines what made your pet sick and has administered medication or supplements, your pet will probably perk right up in the hospital on the way out of the door. However, if the vet feels that the prognosis is guarded and that your pet is not yet out of the woods, the vet may urge you to leave your pet there overnight. The overnight staff at an animal hospital, like Countryside Animal Hospital, can keep watch all night and provide any additional care needed. That is something you probably cannot do because you have yourself and/or a family to care for, plus you probably have to get adequate sleep to function the next day. If your pet seems fine and ready to go home the next day, the animal hospital will call you to come and pick up your pet.
Your Pet Needs to Remain Sedated to Allow for Wounds and Broken Bones to Heal
Puppies and kittens are especially active little critters. They are also more likely to break bones and become wounded. They may need to be sedated just long enough for their wounds to drain and begin healing from stitches, and to allow for broken bones to knit. Only your veterinarian can legally sedate an animal for the time that is required.