Dog Emergencies: Here's how to handle them
efficiently
Anytime your dog is sick or hurt it is very stressful
because unlike humans dogs can't articulate to us what is
wrong with them and it is not always easy to figure out. Add
to that an after-hours incident that requires emergency care
and it is enough to really put you into a tailspin. It
doesn't have to be though, planning ahead and being prepared
is a great way to help you stay calm cool and collected if
an emergency should arise with your dog.
The single thing that will save you the most time in an
emergency is already knowing where your animal emergency
room is and their phone number. You should keep this
information in a safe place that is easy to access in just a
few seconds. We keep a list of the phone numbers and
addresses of our family's and our pets' doctors, as well as
the poison control centers, next to each telephone and in
the car glove box. If you are not already familiar with an
animal emergency room in your area, check with your
veterinarian. Many work with one, or some offer on call
after hours care in house. Once you determine what the best
emergency care option is for your pet, make sure everyone in
the family knows where to locate the information at a
moment's notice.
Most people may think that the most likely reason you might
end up at the Dog Emergency Room is for a trauma such as
being hit by a car or getting in a dog fight, but actually
the most common cause for people searching out dog urgent
care is because of vomiting. Vomiting in dogs can be caused
by such a wide range of things that usually a call to your
vet emergency number is a good first response. Your vet will
likely ask you a series of questions and then make a
recommendation as to whether you should immediately take the
pet in or if you should take a wait and see approach.
Of course, if your dog is the victim of a serious trauma you
should just head in even before making the call and get care
to your animal immediately. If you can, take someone with
you to calm and care for the dog as you drive, and have them
phone ahead from a cell phone en route.
In addition to being prepared with emergency room
information there are also several other things you can
educate yourself on to help you better deal with common dog
emergencies. You can learn pet CPR, there are many classes
and lots of information online that will teach you step by
step CPR for dogs. This can be especially important if your
dog has some sort of drowning emergency. Fast response can
make all the difference in a case of drowning.
Knowing the signs of poisoning is also essential in
recognizing what's wrong with your pet and getting him the
help he needs. Many areas have Poison Control numbers for
pets, and if you know what poison the dog encountered and
the proper and safe first aid, you may give your dog a much
better chance of recovery.
Another useful skill is to know basic First Aid such as how
to properly clean and dress a wound. If your dog does get
wounded, being able to stop the bleeding, clean it and wrap
it up on the spot until you get to the vet will lessen the
chance of infection and other complications for your dog.
So the key to handling any type of dog emergency is to be
prepared and to do your research before you ever need the
information. Sometimes those skills and being able to react
quickly can be the difference between life and death for
your dog. And knowing that you are prepared is a great help
to your peace of mind.
Awesome Dog Lover Gifts
you will Cherish
