Pet Health 101: Five Tips For Caring For Your Pet During An Emergency

Today Americans seem more divided than ever on key issues, but there seems to be one thing everyone can agree on despite their differences: their love of animals.  People can’t get enough of their furry friends.  The Humane Society estimates that there are 83.3 million dogs owned in the United States, and 95.6 million cats.  People are willing to pamper their pets to ensure that they’re only getting the best things possible and pet owners are known to go to great lengths to keep their pets happy.

Every responsible pet owner has a vet to care for their pet, but sometimes emergencies can happen when your vet isn’t working.  Whenever you face a pet health emergency, remember that it’s important to keep calm above all else.  Panicking won’t help the situation, but there are a few things you can do that will help.

Have a First Aid Kit

If you feel that your pet needs emergency medical care you shouldn’t hesitate to take them to a vet, but there are some problems you can solve with the right tools.  Every pet owner should have a first aid kit available to help their pet in case anything should go wrong.  The Humane Society has a great list about what you should keep in your pet’s first aid kit, but we’ll name a few of the most essential items you should have:

• Absorbent and sterile gauze and pads
• Adhesive first aid tape
• Animal approved antibacterial ointment
• Tweezers
• Latex gloves
• Leash/restraints

Find a close by 24 hour pet hospital

You love your current vet, but they can’t be on call 24 hours a day.  The last thing you want to do during an emergency is to google “24 hour emergency vets”, so take some time now to find the nearest 24 hour vet clinic or hospital.  You should contact your vet and see if they recommend any 24 hour care facilities.  Some veterinarians have partnerships with 24 hour clinics and hospitals, so your vet may already have a 24 vet you can trust.

Take restraining precautions

When your animal is dazed, hurt, or confused, they may act instinctively or unpredictably by attempting to bite, scratch, or attack whoever is trying to help them.  You have to keep in mind that your pet is scared and hurt, and that they’re only harming you because they’re harmed.  If you need to move your pet or take them to the vet, you may want to restrain them when you move them.  An emergency muzzle can help protect you from bites, and wrapping them in a blanket can help protect you from scratches, prevent them from running, and could even help calm them down.

Take a first aid course

You know that they have first aid and CPR classes for treating humans, but did you know that there are first aid and CPR classes for animals?  The American Red Cross has first aid and CPR classes that people can take to ensure that they’ll be able to help their pets in case they’re in an emergency situation.  A few hours on a Saturday afternoon could mean the difference between life and death for your pets.  Visit their website to learn about classes going on near you.

Get pet insurance

Human medical bills can be very costly when emergency care is needed, and pet emergency care can be just as expensive.  If you want to ensure that you’ll always be able to pay for your pet’s care, look into pet insurance policies.  Pet insurance is exactly what it sounds like; it’s a special medical insurance policy for your pets.  Pet insurance cost can be very affordable, and you’ll be happy that you have it in case of an emergency.

Mike Lewis loves his dog and always trys to keep him protected. After Lucky got hurt during a morning walk, he decided to research some new ways to keep him safe.