In April 2025, Dr. Schader, one of our emergency veterinarians, joined us on Facebook Live to bust some common myths about the animal ER! Missed it? No worries—you can catch the replay for all the details or check out a quick summary of the myths and Dr. Schader’s expert answers below.
Dr. Schader has been a valued member of the Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota team since 2011 and has spent the past seven years working as an emergency veterinarian. In the ER, she frequently encounters common misconceptions shared by well-meaning pet parents. Here are some of the top myths she hears—along with the facts, straight from Dr. Schader herself.
Myth: Diagnostics Will Reveal Exactly What’s Wrong with My Pet
The Truth: Sometimes, pet parents bring their pet to the ER simply because something feels “off”—their pet just isn’t acting like themselves. In these cases, our team often recommends diagnostic tests to help guide treatment. While diagnostics can sometimes reveal a diagnosis, it’s actually very common for results to come back normal. We understand this can feel disappointing, but normal results are still valuable.
The goal of ER diagnostics isn’t always to find the exact cause—it’s to rule out serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that require immediate intervention. For example, if x-rays come back normal, we can rule out a surgical emergency like an intestinal blockage. Even normal bloodwork can help us eliminate 15–20 common causes of a pet’s symptoms, allowing us to move forward with the safest and most appropriate treatment.
In many cases, supportive care—like fluids, pain relief, or anti-nausea medications—helps pets recover, even if we never pinpoint the exact cause. So, while normal test results may not give you a clear answer, they still give your veterinarian critical information to guide your pet’s care.
Myth: Emergency Surgery Means RIGHT NOW
The Truth: When a pet comes to the ER and imaging reveals that surgery is needed, pet parents are often confused about the timing. When surgery happens depends on what’s going on with your pet.
Take a common case: a Labrador who’s eaten a sock and is vomiting. Whether the owner saw it happen or brought the dog in due to vomiting, our team would start with abdominal x-rays. If we see a fabric-like material in the intestines, that confirms a GI obstruction—and explains the vomiting. In some cases, the dog is so sick that surgery needs to happen the same day.
But more often, surgery isn’t immediate. A dog with a foreign body is usually dehydrated from vomiting and may have low blood pressure. Before the dog can safely undergo anesthesia and surgery, he may need IV fluids. Sometimes, after rehydration, the dog might even pass the object on his own and avoid surgery altogether.
So while it is an urgent situation, it might not be an emergency surgery in the way you’d expect. Instead, we often hospitalize the pet for fluid therapy and monitor closely. Surgery may take place in a few hours or even the next day—once your pet is stable and it’s safest to proceed.
Myth: If my pet poops, he doesn’t have an obstruction.
The Truth: When it comes to possible obstructions, pet parents often focus on whether their pet is still pooping—but our ER veterinarians are paying much closer attention to signs like vomiting, not eating, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are more telling and are often what raise our concern about a potential obstruction.
It’s important to know that a dog with an obstruction can still poop. The intestines may continue to move normally for a while, and any stool passed could simply be from food eaten a day or two before. For example, if a dog swallows a sock, it might not cause a blockage right away. The dog could still be pooping even as the obstruction develops and starts causing symptoms like vomiting and appetite loss.
So, while constipation—especially in cats—can be concerning, the presence or absence of poop isn’t usually a reliable indicator of a foreign body obstruction in the GI tract.
Myth: If my dog gets too hot, he will stop exercising.
The Truth: This is a common misconception, especially in the summertime. Many pet parents enjoy rollerblading or biking while their dog runs alongside them, thinking that if their dog gets too hot, they’ll stop on their own. Unfortunately, this way of thinking may lead to heatstroke for the dog. Dogs are eager to keep up, especially when they’re having fun with their human, whether it’s running or playing.
If you slow down, your dog will usually follow suit, but if you keep going, they’ll likely push themselves to keep up and satisfy you. This can be dangerous, as some dogs will keep running until they collapse. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to the temperature, humidity, and your dog’s individual heat tolerance. Make sure they don’t overdo it, especially if they have a heavy coat (like a Saint Bernard or Newfoundland) or are a brachycephalic breed (like a French Bulldog, English Bulldog, or pug).
If it’s 75°F or warmer, avoid running outside with your dog, and be extra cautious if the temperature is even 65°F with higher-risk breeds. Watch for signs like excessive panting. If that happens, take a break, head indoors, and cool off with A/C and fresh water!
Myth: If a dog is wagging his tail, that means he’s a happy dog.
The Truth: This is a big issue, especially when it comes to children. A wagging tail is often mistaken for a sign of a happy, friendly dog. In reality, a wagging tail usually means excitement, but it doesn’t always mean the same thing. It can indicate happy excitement—or anxious excitement. For example, a dog may get nervous at the vet and tuck their tail between their legs, but other times, anxious excitement might have them wagging their tail high and fast.
These dogs can also be reactive, especially around children, so it’s crucial for pet parents to understand their dog’s body language and be aware of the body language of other dogs. A tail held high and wagging can signal aggression just as much as it can signal friendliness. Our ER often sees small dogs bitten by larger dogs at dog parks or on walks because the pet parent missed the warning signs from both dogs. This can be devastating. So, always pay attention to a dog’s body language and monitor closely when around other dogs and children. Learn more about dog bite prevention and reading your dog’s body language here.
Myth: My dog learned their lesson after an emergency!
The Truth: We hear this a lot from pet parents who think their pet will never eat a sock again after needing surgery, but the truth is: pets don’t make that connection. They don’t understand that eating a sock led to surgery, so they’ll happily eat another one if given the chance. Dogs, especially, love chewing on things they shouldn’t, like socks and underwear—and they will do it again.
Recently, we’ve seen dogs in our ER who have had 4 or 5 foreign body surgeries, and some dogs under a year old have already had two or three. Not only is this tough on your dog, but it’s also costly! So, don’t assume your pet has learned a lesson. Take action to prevent another incident. This could mean investing in a special muzzle, crate training, using baby gates to block off certain areas, or making sure things like laundry are kept out of reach. Preventing access to these items and pet-proofing your home is key to avoiding emergencies like foreign bodies!
Myth: It’s okay to give Tylenol or ibuprofen to my dog.
The truth: We strongly advise against giving any human medications to your dog without the approval of a veterinarian, especially ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Medications like naproxen and ibuprofen can be extremely harmful to dogs, and even more so to cats. They can cause serious issues like ulcers in the GI tract or liver toxicity.
Pets have medications specifically prescribed by veterinarians that serve the same purpose as ibuprofen, but these are tailored to their unique needs and come with appropriate dosing to minimize side effects. Never self-prescribe human medications for your pet. If you’re concerned about your pet’s health, contact your veterinarian to get a prescription with the correct dosage for your pet’s size and condition.
Also, don’t use leftover prescriptions from other pets. Medications are prescribed with specific dosages in mind, and giving the wrong dose can lead to serious complications. Veterinarians also perform bloodwork before prescribing medications to ensure they’re safe for your pet, especially if there are concerns about liver or kidney function. This helps avoid putting your pet at risk of adverse effects.
We hope this helps clarify some of the common myths about the pet ER and gives you a better understanding of how to care for your pets, as well as a deeper appreciation for emergency veterinary medicine. If you’re ever unsure about something you’ve heard from a friend or read online from Dr. Google, we always recommend reaching out to your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital for guidance.
More Reading:
- Top 5 Preventable Pet ER Visits
- How to Tell if Your Pet has Ingested a Foreign Body
- 5 Most Common Reasons for Pets to Require Emergency Surgery
- 5 Tips to Pet-Proof Your Home
- Proof that Dr. Google is NOT a Licensed Veterinarian
- What to Expect When Your Pet Needs to be Hospitalized
