Pets are family, too, and they deserve the same kind of love and care that would be given to other household members. This is also the case when they are in danger or face a medical emergency.
It is of utmost importance for pet owners to be well prepared for any medical emergencies regarding their pets.
This involves understanding pet medical emergencies and how to pre-plan and prepare for them.
Continue reading to learn more about mastering Pet emergency response with confidence.
Table of Contents
What Is a Pet Emergency?
Telltale signs of a pet emergency are when they exhibit abnormal behavior, signs of illness like vomiting, have a visible injury or have taken substances toxic to them.
In some cases, if the injury or illness does not seem too severe, you may be able to care for your pet at home and get it treated by your regular pet veterinarian during their normal office hours.
However, some medical emergencies require a veterinarian’s urgent care regardless of the time or day, and you will need to prepare for such situations accordingly before you pay the veterinarian a prompt visit.
Who To Contact During a Pet Emergency?
It is essential to contact professionals the moment you realize your pet’s health is compromised. This is because waiting to take the correct measures or have them treated by a veterinarian could worsen their health or even place them in a life-threatening situation.
Therefore, we have compiled the following list of essential contacts that you must have saved. When you contact these helplines, they will guide you on how to handle your pet’s condition before you bring it in for inspection.
Your Go-To Veterinary Clinic
This is the most basic emergency contact you must have saved for your pet. If your pet experiences a medical emergency during your regular veterinary clinic’s office hours, call them immediately. Some clinics have after-hours emergency contacts available, so make sure to jot those down and save them, too.
Your Local Emergency Pet Hospital
It is essential to be aware of and have the contacts of a 24/7 emergency pet hospital near you that provides around-the-clock emergency medical care for pets. In some cases, you may have a veterinary school teaching hospital nearby and you may avail of its emergency services.
Urgent veterinary care clinics aid your pets after hours and during weekends when other regular clinics are closed.
Therefore, research the services of nearby urgent veterinary care clinics. For example, if you live in Fort Lauderdale and search for emergency vet fort lauderdale, you’ll find all the closest emergency clinics in your area. You can carry out this strategy for whichever region you live in to gain an understanding of all your nearby clinics- don’t forget to save their contacts and addresses!
Pet Poison Control Hotline
Pets are curious creatures who gobble up nearly anything in an instant, regardless of whether it is suitable for them or not. It is often the case that pets usually ingest substances that are toxic to them. The first thing you must always remember is that you should never induce vomiting in your pet to get rid of these substances unless instructed otherwise by professionals, such as those on these helplines.
Therefore, if you suspect they have ingested a potential toxin, you should immediately contact a pet poison control hotline. One well-known helpline is of ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), and you can contact them at 888-426-4435.
The APCC will connect you to around-the-clock Veterinary toxicologists who will charge a consult fee to provide you with their services. This will include analyzing whether the amount of toxins your pet has ingested is severe enough to require further veterinary care at a clinic or whether at-home treatments will suffice. If at home treatments will be able to cure your pet, they will also specify those processes.
How To Provide First Aid Treatment at Home for Your Pets
Learning how to provide first-aid treatments for your pet at home is essential, in minor cases, they will help relieve your pet’s pain and help them heal quickly. However, in more critical cases, they may save your pet’s life before you arrive at a clinic for veterinary care.
Therefore, we first recommend organizing and putting together several first-aid kits with all the essentials. Once you’re done with this, place these kits in all the places your pet regularly visits, including your home and vehicle.
Moreover, make sure you reorganize these kits every few months to restock them and ensure that nothing has expired and become toxic.
Secondly, we recommend taking courses and training in Pet CPR and responding to medical emergencies. Of course, the first step must always be to call your regular or emergency veteran who will guide you on the care you must provide before stopping by the clinic. But if you have the correct and thorough training, you will be able to execute better the medical care that is required by your pet.
Conclusion
Now that you have equipped yourself with the knowledge of how to best respond during a pet medical emergency, it is also essential to know that the best way to prevent your pets from facing injuries is by ensuring they have a comfortable living space and are being cared for in the best way possible. A healthy and happy pet is less likely to fall victim to illnesses!
