Emergency Veterinary Clinics – Hospitals – Pet tip 198

Even though we love our pets and do our best to protect them from harm, pet emergencies can happen at anytime and being prepared can often be the difference between life and death. Road accidents, foreign object obstructions, and bloat are just 3 of many common emergencies that require immediate emergency veterinary care. When we are talking about this level of critical care, a half hour more or a half hour less can make all the difference in the world.

It is for this reason that the very first thing pet owners need to do is find a good 24 hour emergency veterinary hospital or clinic. Obviously in an emergency we would want to go to our own vet and so long as the emergency happens during regular business hours, this should not be a problem. However if it is the weekend, a holiday, or after hours we need to have a backup plan and a 24 hour clinic is the answer. The telephone number to that clinic should be right next to the phone or preferably taped to the phone. You should also know exactly where the clinic is so print out directions beforehand and keep them handy if you are not familiar with the hospital’s/clinic’s location. Depending on where you live, the emergency clinic or hospital may not necessarily be around the corner and getting directions during times of stress can delay things further. You should also be sure beforehand, by calling when there is no emergency, that the emergency clinic can care for your pet if it is not a cat or a dog.

Having your pet’s medical records handy will also help in times of emergency. Normally when you go to a vet they will fill out an extra form that charts your pet’s particular health. This should be kept by you the pet owner. It should contain date of birth, vaccinations, allergies, any medications your pet takes and summaries of veterinary visits. This information should be brought with you to the emergency hospital with your pet. If you don’t have such records in your possession, you would be well advised to ask your vet for this. In times of stress we often forget important things and having a written copy that is easily accessible will help.

In terms of getting your pet to the vet, a carrier is a must and again you should know exactly where it is. Carriers are available at all pet stores and most are made of plastic and are inexpensive. You never want to hold your pet in a car as it is simply unsafe and you need your full attention to drive to the veterinarian. Even though prevention is the key to most accidents, many emergencies are beyond our control and of course accidents can happen at anytime. By being prepared however, we can offer our pets a greater chance of a full recovery.