In a Pet Emergency, Don’t Wait for the Other Shoe to Drop
It is always best to act quickly in the case of a pet emergency. In fact, waiting can make things much worse and even make treatment impossible.
This begs the question: what qualifies as a true pet emergency? To answer this, we’ll dive into the obvious and subtle signs that a pet needs immediate veterinary care, and the best ways to navigate the frightening, unpredictable terrain of a sudden injury or illness.
Narrow the Scope
No one wants to imagine what they’d do in the case of a pet emergency, and yet, envisioning this type of event can make all the difference. Preparing for any health crisis is part of an important and effective defense, and allows you to take action whenever your pet needs you.
The following represent the types of injuries or illnesses that require emergency care:
- Uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea (especially if there is blood)
- Eye injuries
- Difficulty breathing, including ongoing episodes of gagging, coughing, or evidence of choking
- Severe bleeding
- Broken bones
- Uncharacteristic behaviors, including signs of extreme stress, pain, or anxiety
- Inappetance or refusal to drink water for longer than a day
- Staggering
- Lethargy
- Seizures
- Inability to pass urine or feces
- Loss of consciousness
Take a few moments to observe your pet and look for any clues about what happened. There could be candy wrappers on the floor, signs or traumatic injury outside, or damaged plants/flowers. These items may be useful to determine a course of action.
Staying Calm and Being the Boss
Your pet depends on you to make level-headed decisions that affect their safety and comfort. We know how scary a pet emergency can be, but staying calm can positively influence the outcome. Plus, if you freak out, your pet will immediately pick up on the fear and stress and panic. Staying calm will lead to fewer mistakes.
Call Ahead for Instructions
As soon as you know (or strongly suspect) that your pet is sick or injured, please call us. We can give you tips for safe transport, how to protect yourself from a bite or scratch, life-sustaining strategies, first aid, and more. We can prepare for your arrival so we can launch right into examining, testing, and treating them.
Preventing a Pet Emergency
While it’s not totally possible to thwart a pet emergency, there are many ways to limit your pet’s exposure to illness or injury. Whether it’s maintaining a pet-safe garden or reducing toxic foods from the kitchen, preventing a pet emergency is within your control. Similarly, keeping your pet on-leash and fenced-in will reduce the potential for fights with other animals or vehicular accidents.
If you have questions about preparing for a pet emergency, please call us at (615) 356‑8993. The Urban Pet is always here for you!