No pet owner wants to be faced with an animal emergency. But injuries, chronic conditions, and sudden medical events can happen, and being prepared will ease the process of getting help promptly. Plan ahead to alleviate some of the stress of emergency pet care using the following tips. The calmer you are, the calmer your dog or cat will be.

3 Ways to Prepare for Emergency Pet Care

1. Know Symptoms Requiring Immediate Care

Some symptoms are indicative of health issues that are more severe than others and therefore demand immediate attention. Inability to urinate or produce a bowel movement, immobility, heavy bleeding, frequent vomiting or diarrhea, seizures, choking, and difficulty breathing all warrant emergency care. Others, such as fatigue or itchiness, still warrant prompt care but can often wait until your veterinarian has an available appointment. Pet owners know their animals best and should always use their judgment to determine whether immediate care is needed.

2. Identify Common Pet Poisons

Pet owners know to keep hazardous substances such as household cleaners, oils, and other chemicals where pets can’t get to them, but accidents can still happen. Human medications and vitamins, rodenticides, essential oils, and fertilizers are among the most commonly ingested pet poisons. Familiarize yourself with where these are located in your house. Additionally, note the plants and foods that could cause a reaction in your pet, such as lilies for cats and poinsettias for dogs. Understanding what your pet may have gotten into can help your vet determine the proper treatment method.

3. Manage Your Pet’s Health Preventively

Finally, the best way to prepare for pet emergencies is to do everything possible to prevent them in the first place. Through routine appointments, your veterinarian will make sure your pet has vaccines and preventive solutions in place to avoid potentially deadly diseases such as heartworm. If they determine your pet does have a chronic ailment, they can put together a disease management program. If your dog or cat has a complication and needs immediate care, your veterinarian will quickly know the best course of action to take since they’ve been treating your pet all along.

When animal owners in Lee County, NC, need emergency pet care they can trust, they turn to Carolina Veterinary Hospital. For more than 40 years, this vet clinic has provided compassionate, quality treatment for emergencies along with preventive care to keep local pets in the best possible health. Learn more about their services on their website or call (919) 258-3349.