Have you ever had to take your pet to an urgent care veterinarian? While we would of course prefer that all of our patients stay safe and sound, this unfortunately isn’t always possible. If you do have to take your pet to the ER, there are some things to keep in mind. A local Frazier Park, CA vet lists some of them in this article.
Have A Pet Emergency Kit
We always advise people to have a pet first aid kit. You can find pet-specific ones, but you can also get one made for humans and then doctor it up by adding some pet-specific things.
Here are some suggestions:
- Bandages
- Medical Gloves
- Round End Scissors
- Muzzle
- Nonstick Gauze
- Droppers
- Turkey Baster
- Gauze
- Saline Solution
- Thermal Blanket
- Thermometer
- Towel
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Collapsible Bowl
- Syringes
- Benadryl
- Emergency Leash
- Alcohol Swabs
- Tape
- Ice Pack
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Gauze Squares
This will also vary a bit, depending on what type of pet you have. You’d want to put a muzzle in for a dog, but that wouldn’t make sense for a cat. No matter what kind of pet you have, putting in your furry friend’s documents is a good idea. Ask your Frazier Park, CA vet for specific advice on what to include.
We would also suggest keeping this kit in or near your pet’s travel carrier. Having everything in one spot makes it easy for you to grab and go in an emergency, or even if you’re just traveling. Add things like food, treats, and medicine, and you already have a travel/evacuation bag ready.
Know What You Can And Can’t Monitor At Home
Pets are kind of like kids, in that they are curious, playful, and, well, a bit accident-prone. Minor cuts and scrapes are more or less par (or purr) for the course. But how do you know what is urgent and what isn’t?
Things that would require urgent care would include obvious wounds or injuries, loss of consciousness, trembling, lack of or dark urine, bloody stools, swelling, bloating, staggering, lethargy, and seizures. Ongoing or excessive vomiting or diarrhea would also fit the bill, as would fever, discharge, prolapses, and trouble delivering puppies or kittens.
Not everything is going to require a trip to the animal clinic. Certain symptoms can likely wait for an appointment, though you’d want to get in as quickly as possible. That includes things like bad breath, unkempt fur, minor skin irritation, fleas, worms, weight changes, reduced interest in play, and changes in behavior or appetite. Always let the front desk know exactly what is going on: they’ll be able to advise you.
Some minor things you can just keep an eye on at home. That would include things like a ripped claw, small cuts, insect bites, and normal changes, such as an older pet slowing down a bit or a lazy pooch starting to get a bit chubby.
Of course, we would always recommend contacting your Frazier Park, CA veterinarian and seeing what they say.
Pet Poisonings
Poisonings are one of the most common reasons that pets are brought into an animal emergency clinic. Every year, there are about 401,500 incidents of pet poisoning each year, according to Pet MD. American Humane has another figure, which puts the number at around 232,000. Either way, it’s safe to say that this is, unfortunately, far too common. This isn’t exactly a surprise. About 400 containers of toxic substances are brought into the average household every year.
What are those poisons? Cleaning agents, such as bleaches, detergents, and stain removers, are among the common ones. Lawn and garden products, such as fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, rodenticides, and slug bait, are also major concerns, as are medicines, paints, toxic plants, and unsafe foods. Automotive chemicals, such as antifreeze, are dangerous as well.
The most common types of poisoning in pets are food, alcohol, household products, plants, and medications. Recreational drugs are also now on the top ten list.
All pet owners should know the warning signs of poisoning in pets. These include the following:
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Restlessness
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Lack Of Appetite
- Irregular heartbeat
- Pale gums
- Trouble Urinating
- Stumbling/Staggering
- Collapse
- Breathing Difficulty
- Mouth irritation, such as swelling or redness
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody or discolored feces
- Bruising
- Excessive thirst
- Fever
- Swelling
- Vomiting blood
- Weakness
If you know or suspect that your pet has been poisoned, you will want to contact a pet poison helpline immediately. You may be instructed to give your pet hydrogen peroxide or activated charcoal. Never offer anything unless advised to, though: doing the wrong thing may be worse than doing nothing at all.
Performing First Aid On Your Pet
If your pet is injured in an accident, or succumbs to something that strikes rapidly, such as a seizure, you may need to perform first aid before you can safely transport them to an animal urgent care center. The best first aid kit will be useless if you don’t know what to do. It’s a good idea to buy or print out some basic pet first-aid brochures. There are also apps available. The Red Cross has a great one. However, it’s still a good idea to have something on hard copy. In an emergency, every second counts. You simply don’t have time to waste on charging or looking for your phone.
The type of first aid you would perform will depend on the emergency. That could entail stopping blood flow, providing hydration, giving your pet something that will raise their blood sugar, or handling a snake bite. Contact your vet or an urgent care vet center as you are doing this.
It’s worth noting that, love them or hate them, this is one time when smart devices, such as Siri or Alexa, can come in very handy, as they are hands-free and can connect you as you are working on your pet.
Transporting Your Pet
Pets should always travel in a crate or carrier. Normally, we would suggest that, at the very least, they be in a leash or harness. However, a severely injured pet could be placed in a box or on a makeshift stretcher. Just make sure they cannot move freely around in the car. That would be quite dangerous. For one thing, they could interfere with the driver. That could potentially cause an accident. Also, keep in mind that even the sweetest pet can bite if they are hurt. This is one reason we recommend keeping muzzles with first aid kits, though you wouldn’t want to use one if your pet is having trouble breathing.
When you are on the way into the clinic, try to avoid sudden starts and stops. If you can, pick a route without a lot of bumps or potholes, either.
Call Ahead To The Veterinary ER
You’ll always want to call ahead to the clinic, to let them know you’re coming. This allows them a chance to prepare. In a situation where time literally is of the essence, this can make a huge difference!
Will Pet Insurance Cover ER Visits?
In many cases, yes. However, it will vary depending on your provider. This is something you would want to consider when choosing an insurer.
Contact Our Frazier Park, CA Pet Urgent Care Center
Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Please feel free to contact us at any time. As your local pet hospital, we are here to help!
