No pet owner likes to think of their pet suffering an emergency medical crisis, but sadly, this is really common for many pets. However, a lot of owners are unsure of what to do for the best should an emergency situation arise involving their beloved pet.
And honestly, the response and reactions you have in the first few moments can influence how things go from here, regardless of the situation.
Let’s take a look at some practical steps to follow if you find yourself needing to tackle an escalating situation concerning your pets’ health.
Stay Calm
This cannot be emphasized enough. When something distressing is occurring to your pet, they can sense how you feel, and your emotional state can and will influence how they react too.
You need to take a deep breath and keep calm. This will help you and your pet move forward and make the right decisions.
Assess the Situation Quickly
Next, remaining calm, you need to assess the situation carefully. Is your dog hurt? Are they bleeding, having difficulty breathing? Have they collapsed, or are they having seizures, or are they vomiting? Anything that feels sudden, severe, or out of the ordinary needs to be taken into account.
Trust your instinct here. You know your pet the best, and if something isn’t right, lean into it, because if something feels off, it usually is. Then check their gums. You’re looking for pale or blue gums. This is a red flag that something is wrong. Listen to their breathing — dogs in distress pant heavily, and a breathing rate of over 40 breaths per minute for dogs at rest is a cause for concern, too. Pay attention to posture changes too, as their body reacts to what is going on.
Call a Vet
Once you know what you’re dealing with, you need to call a vet. You can call your own vet, but if it’s out of hours, you might need to find an emergency vet. This is especially important if you need to travel, as you don’t want to waste time by setting off only to find they’re not open. If you can’t get to a vet, consider calling a 24/7 emergency vet who can come to you.
The vet can advise on what to do next until you can get help, and if you’re traveling to your vet, it gives them the chance to get prepared for your arrival.
Keep Transport Safe and Controlled
Move your pet carefully if you need to take them to the vet’s office. Wrap them in a towel, use a carrier if applicable, and give large animals like dogs something sturdy to rest on — their bed in the trunk or on the backseat can help massively. Try not to let an injured animal jump in or out of cars to prevent further injuries.
Avoid Feeding or Administering Human Medication
It’s natural to want to help take the pain or distress from your pet. But unless explicitly advised by your vet, do not give your pet human medications or anything to eat or drink before you get to them. This can either make things worse or make any essential treatments they need harder to carry out, especially in cases like excessive bleeding, where they might need surgery, or if bloat is suspected. Take any prescribed medications with you, and if your pet is due for their next dose, your vet can advise when they see you.
A penny for your thoughts?