As a Registered Veterinary Technician I’ve seen a lot of pet emergencies. I’ve also seen a lot of non-emergencies that the owner thought was an emergency. Either way, when our pets are injured or sick it can be scary. When does a non-emergency become an emergency? When is it ok to take the “wait and see” approach over running your fur-baby into the emergency hospital at 3:00am? These are all great questions that need answers. Knowing when you can wait versus calling the emergency vet in the middle of the night can save you sleep, money, and worry.
April is the American Red Cross’ Pet First Aid Awareness Month. So April is a great time to review what constitutes an emergency and what you can do to help your pet at home if you have to. It’s also a great time to make sure you have a pet first aid kit made up and ready in case of an emergency. I went to the American Animal Hospital Association’s website and found this list of what constitutes an emergency.
It is an emergency if:
- Your pet has experienced some kind of trauma, such as being hit by a car or a blunt object or falling more than a few feet.
- Your pet isn’t breathing or you can’t feel a heartbeat.
- Your pet is unconscious and won’t wake up.
- Your pet has been vomiting or has had diarrhea for more than 24 hours, or she is vomiting blood.
- You suspect any broken bones.
- Your pet is having trouble breathing or has something stuck in her throat.
- Your pet has had or is having a seizure.
- Your pet is bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth, or there is blood in her urine or feces.
- You think your pet might have ingested something toxic, such as antifreeze, rat poison, any kind of medication that wasn’t prescribed to her, or household cleansers.
- Your pet, particularly your male cat, is straining to urinate, or is unable to urinate (pee).
- Your pet shows signs of extreme pain, such as whining, shaking, and refusing to socialize.
- Your pet collapses or suddenly can’t stand up.
- Your pet begins bumping into things or suddenly becomes disoriented.
- You can see irritation or injury to your pet’s eyes, or she suddenly seems to become blind.
- Your pet’s abdomen is swollen and hard to the touch, and/or she’s gagging and trying to vomit.
- You see symptoms of heatstroke.
- Your pregnant dog or cat has gone more than three to four hours between delivering puppies or kittens.
If any of the above occurs, call the vet hospital you are en route to to let them know what is going on so they can be prepared for your pet’s arrival. It’s a good idea to have the address of the local veterinary emergency clinic already in your phone. It will make getting directions there a lot less stressful.
If your pet is experiencing something that is worrying you, but isn’t listed above, call your vet. If it’s after hours, call the local emergency vet. You know your pet better than anyone else. You know when something isn’t quite right. A Veterinarian can ask you questions and help determine if you can wait and watch or bring him or her immediately.
So what do you do if it is an emergency? First of all, try to stay calm. If you can stay calm, this will help you to communicate the emergency to the vet hospital you are going to so they can be prepared for your arrival. Staying calm will also help you to soothe your pet and help keep her calm. Second, make sure you know where you’re going and how to get there safely. I can’t stress this enough, put the address of your vet and the local emergency clinic in your phone or GPS. That way you will know how to get there if you’re scared and stressed.
The next thing to do is have a pet first aid kit put together and fully stocked. The ASPCA has put together a handy list of what should be in the kit. Click here to see it. http://aspcapro.org/resource/saving-lives-shelter-health-poison-control/how-make-pet-first-aid-kit. Remember to bring it with you if you go on a family vacation with your fur-baby.
The American Red Cross also has a really cool app that you can download to your phone. It has things like a place to store tag IDs, photos, any medical information, step by step instructions for first aid emergencies, early warning signs for when to call a vet, a hospital and clinic locator, and how to include your pets in an emergency preparedness plan. You can download the app here, http://www.redcross.org/mobileapps.
If you really want to be prepared, you can also take first aid classes with the American Red Cross. You can register here: http://www.redcross.org/takeaclass
The most important thing is to trust your gut. You know when something is off. If you think something is wrong don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian. Even if you think it might be silly, call the vet. They can ease your mind if it can wait or make sure you know how to get to the clinic if it can’t.
Sources:
- Pet First Aid Tips for Owners; American Red Cross; http://www.redcross.org/news/article/April-Is-Pet-First-Aid-Awareness-Month
- How to Make a Pet First Aid Kit; ASPCA Professional; how-make-pet-first-aid-kit
- When is it an Emergency?; AAHA; when_is_it_an_emergency.aspx