Perhaps there is nothing more scary for a pet owner than when your dog or cat is in an emergency situation, such as being hit by a car, or somehow hurting themselves in the backyard and all you know is there’s blood everywhere. Your entire world stops as you quickly react and decide what to do for your pet.
New Market Animal Hospital is a vet clinic that offers 24-hour emergency vet services, as well as urgent care services. We have on-call veterinarians who can help you when an emergency arises. Below, we’ll detail how to handle a pet emergency and what to expect once you arrive at the emergency vet’s office. Contact us today for the best dog and cat care plans!
WHAT TO DO IN A PET EMERGENCY
Don’t Panic!
The worst thing you can do in a pet emergency is panic. Your pet can pick up on your feelings, and if you are worried or anxious, your pet will be too. Take a deep breath, and remain calm, even once you get to the emergency animal hospital.
Trust Your Gut
If your gut is telling you that something is wrong with your dog or cat, then odds are, something is. You know your pet better than anyone. After all, you spend most of your time at home with them. You know when behavior is uncharacteristic or when you suspect your pet is in pain. Since our pets cannot tell us how they feel, it’s up to us to know our pets intimately enough to infer.
If you are in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and visit a 24-hour animal hospital, such as New Market Animal Hospital. There is not any vet that will chastise you for caring about your best friend. Remember, you are responsible for their life. It’s not something to take lightly. It’s also best not to wait, only to watch your pet’s condition worsen. Call New Market Animal Hospital’s 24-hour vet. We can answer all of your questions and help you determine if your dog or cat needs to come in right away, or they can wait until Monday to see us.
Don’t Self-Diagnose
Many pet owners will google their pet’s symptoms to see if they need to bring their dog or cat in to see an emergency vet. However, there are definitely some situations you should always bring your pet to the emergency animal hospital:
If your dog or cat ingests chocolate, which can be toxic to their systems and cause severe physical and medical problems- If your dog or cat has bloat, which is where your dog or cat’s stomach presses against organs. This condition can cause death if not seen right away by an emergency vet in New Market.
- If your dog or cat’s bleeding won’t stop. This could mean that an artery was cut, or the wound is just very deep and needs to be seen right away before your pet bleeds to death.
- If your dog or cat is hit by a car. Sometimes, your pet may be hit by a car and won’t be bleeding. However, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t internal damage or bleeding, which only a professional emergency vet can diagnose.
- If your dog or cat is choking. You can carefully try to remove the object yourself, or perform the Heimlich maneuver for pets. However, if your dog or cat can still breathe, but you can’t remove the object, see your emergency vet right away.
- If your dog or cat has a seizure. Let the seizure pass, and then carefully load your pet into your car for a trip to our emergency animal hospital in New Market
Move Your Pet Carefully
Just like with humans, your dog or cat may have a spine injury, especially if hit by a car. You will want to move them very gently. A make-shift stretcher, such as a blanket, is recommended for dogs and a coat for cats. Try to lay them flat in your car while you transport them to your local emergency vet for evaluation and care. Having someone sit with them is best to try and prevent movement.
Another important tip that New Market Animal Hospital wants to share with you is to remember that your dog or cat may be in pain, and when animals are in pain, they are scared, which can lead to behavior changes. Your dog or cat may try to bite you or scratch you, so be careful when moving them.
Call Ahead of Time
Preferably, you are not calling while you are transporting your dog or cat; however, in emergency situations, time is of the essence, and we believe in emergencies, it’s better to call while driving if you suspect your dog or cat may only have a limited time before their condition worsens.
Once you call, your emergency animal hospital in New Market will ask you some questions about your dog or cat’s condition, what happened, what are the symptoms, how long signs have been going on, and more. This will allow your emergency vet the time they need to prepare for your dog or cat and help them to know what to expect so they can begin to form a plan before you arrive.
Because you are in a heightened state of agitation, you may not be thinking correctly, and you may lose your way to the 24-hour vet. New Market Animal Hospital recommends that you put your local emergency vet’s address into your GPS system. This will not only give you the quickest way to your local emergency vet, but it will also prevent you from getting lost and wasting valuable time your pet needs.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE EMERGENCY VET’S OFFICE
The Exam
Once you have arrived at your local emergency animal hospital, your pet will be thoroughly examined by the veterinarian on call. Depending on how busy the emergency vets are, it may be a wait to be seen unless your pet is facing a serious life or death situation that is time-dependent.
Rest assured that the emergency vets will not do anything without your permission. Options for care will be discussed with you, including possible tests and x-rays that are recommended, and a written estimate of the costs associated will be drawn up. It is here that you can decide in consultation with the emergency vet which course of action you’d like to take.
The Treatment
Once you decide on what veterinary treatment is best for your dog or cat, they will receive the best care. You may or may not be able to stay with your pet, and you may be told to leave your pet for care with the emergency vet and return at a later time for pickup. It is at this point that you have to trust the expertise of the 24-hour emergency vet, and let your dog or cat go.
The Pick-up
Once your dog or cat has been treated, it will be time for their release. If your dog or cat had to have anesthesia, be aware that this can affect their movements, and you may have to help them in and out of your car. Your 24-hour vet will give you very detailed instructions on aftercare. You’ll want to take notes and ask any questions that you may have. Oftentimes, the aftercare (especially if there are medications involved) will be crucial to your dog or cat’s successful recovery.
WHY CHOOSE NEW MARKET ANIMAL HOSPITAL AS YOUR 24-HOUR VET
New Market Animal Hospital offers the best 24-hour emergency vet care for your cat or dog. We have a veterinarian on call 24 hours a day so we can help your pet get the care they need. We also offer urgent care services, which is where we can squeeze your pet in for an appointment during regular business hours when you feel there is something off with them. There may be a bit of a wait to be seen, but we promise that we will see your cat or dog as soon as possible.
New Market Animal Hospital offers medical service, non-medical services, low-cost spay and neuter clinics, and pet boarding. We specialize in only dogs and cats, which allows us to provide the best care for your pet. We make diagnoses and perform surgeries when needed. We employ the latest in technology so we can further help your cat or dog when they are sick. Our compassionate vet team will care for your cat or dog like they are ours. Call our 24-hour animal hospital in New Market today!
