📅 October 20, 2023 – 8:30 PM
Let me tell you the story of Zero’s first emergency room visit. (Still brings tears to my eyes 😥)

🐶 This post might be helpful if you…

• Are raising a puppy under 12 months old
• Have seen your dog suddenly limping or refusing to walk
• Are curious about vet ER costs and how pet insurance works

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🚦 Panic Mode: ON – A First-Time Dog Parent’s Crisis

It was an ordinary evening. I was sitting on the sofa watching TV with Zero, just the two of us.
While playing a little roughly, I moved him from my left to my right and laid him down on the couch —
and suddenly, he let out a sharp “Yelp!”

“Oh no, Zero! What’s wrong?!”

At first, I thought maybe he landed awkwardly and it just startled him.
I gently touched and moved his legs to check, but when I touched his front right paw, he whimpered in pain.

He wouldn’t put any weight on that leg. I started tearing up.
It felt like I had hurt him, and that guilt just broke my heart 💔
I placed him on the floor to see if he could walk, but he just sat or lay down, and when he tried to follow me,
he yelped again and collapsed sideways…

I quickly called my husband in tears, asking him to come home immediately.
I also found the number for the nearest animal emergency hospital and called them, barely holding it together, trying to explain the situation.

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🐾 Off to the Emergency Vet

To my surprise, the vet nurse on the phone was calm and collected.
In hindsight, I guess if it had been truly urgent, I wouldn’t have had time to make a call — I would’ve just rushed in.

She asked for his breed and age, and kindly advised us to come in for an in-person check-up if possible,
reminding me to stay calm.

📍 Animal Referral Hospital Homebush
250 Parramatta Road, Homebush West NSW 2140

Luckily, the hospital was only 5 minutes away.
As soon as my husband got home, we rushed over. While he handled the check-in,
I sat down with Zero in my arms, still teary-eyed, watching other pets in much more serious conditions come and go.
It made me even more emotional. Why do these precious babies have to suffer? I wished all of them could be well.

A nurse came first to assess Zero and took him in for a quick physical exam and blood test before seeing the vet.

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🩺 The Diagnosis: Just a Little Sprain (Or Was It?)

After checking everything, the vet told us Zero might have just sprained his leg a little.
There was no sign of a fracture, and thankfully he was otherwise healthy and strong.

“If it were a serious break”, the vet said, “He would’ve been in a lot more pain than just a few yelps.”

They said we could get an x-ray or more detailed exams if we wanted,
but since it wasn’t an emergency, it might be better to monitor him overnight and visit a regular vet the next day.

And then, came the surprising part:

“Smarter breeds tend to remember when they get extra attention after being hurt,”
“They may repeat that behavior to get the same reaction. Sometimes, it’s not pain – it’s acting. Like a little drama.”

😳 Wait… drama?!

The vet smiled and reassured me:

“It’s hard to tell the difference between real pain and faking.
You were right to come in — it’s better to check and be safe.”

That made me laugh (finally!) as we left the room with a now happily walking Zero. 😅

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💰 How Much Did It Cost?

• Total emergency vet bill: AUD 330
• Insurance reimbursement (RSPCA): AUD 264
• Our out-of-pocket expense: AUD 66

Thanks to pet insurance, we paid only about 1/5 of the total cost.
Had we not had insurance… it would’ve been a different story 😨
I remember my husband and I saying on the way home, “Thank goodness we signed up for insurance!”

🧾 Pet Insurance: RSPCA Pet Insurance
We received a claim confirmation email, and I’ve attached a screenshot in this post.

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🧠 What I Learned from This “Drama”

Here are a few takeaways I want to share with fellow first-time dog parents like me:

1. Stay calm and observe

If your dog is in severe pain, don’t hesitate — go to the ER. But if not, take a moment to check:

• Appetite, potty behavior, energy levels
• Which body part is sensitive?
• Can you touch or move it without a yelp?

2. Before heading to the ER, try this:

• Call your vet or emergency clinic first
• Assess the overall condition of your dog
• Remember: vet ER visits are expensive, so make sure it’s truly urgent

3. Can you prevent fake limping?

• Don’t give excessive rewards only when they’re hurt
• Show consistent love and attention, even when they’re healthy
• Some dogs (especially smart ones!) remember the drama = treats pattern 😅

4. Real Emergency vs. Temporary Limp – Quick Guide

🚨 Go to the vet immediately if your dog:

• Screams in pain with every movement
• Can’t stand or collapses
• Shows no appetite or abnormal poop
• Cries even when not touched

😌 Might be temporary if:

• Only reacts when a specific part is touched
• Suddenly walks or runs like nothing happened
• Behavior changes right after getting attention

&

📌 Prepare for Next Time

• Save the contact info of 24/7 animal hospitals near you
• Keep your dog’s medical and insurance info handy
• Learn basic emergency response (ice pack, calming, etc.)

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This kind of situation could happen to any pet.
As a first-time dog parent, I panicked. You might too. It’s totally normal.
Worrying, caring, rushing to the vet — it all comes from love.

As we gain more experience, I think we learn to tell the difference between real emergencies and little dramas.

This “AUD 66 drama” may seem silly now,
but it gave us a chance to learn how to care for Zero better —
and more importantly, to confirm that our little guy is healthy and strong. 💪🐶

To all first-time pet parents out there:
Please don’t be too hard on yourselves.
We’re all learning. And sometimes, our dogs are way smarter than we think! 💕

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