Pet Medical Emergencies: How Do You Prepare?

Are you aware of what you should do in a medical emergency situation that involves your pet? Do you know where your nearest Emergency Veterinary Clinic is? To make you feel more prepared in the event your pet needs emergency medical attention, you may want to familiarize yourself with some of the potential emergency conditions that you may at some point find your pet in.

Do you know what to do if your dog or cat gets bitten by a snake? In most cases, if this occurs, the snake is venomous. You should find out what types of venomous snakes are in your area. Any venomous snake bite can be deadly, but some snake bites are worse than others. It is imperative to seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake. If you are not sure what type of snake bit your pet, and you can collect it, take it with you to the emergency facility for evaluation by the veterinarian. This will help the veterinarian identify the snake and better treat your pet. It is important to inform the staff at the emergency clinic that you are bringing in the snake, especially if it is alive. The veterinarian can give Benadryl to help decrease the severity of the bite.

Insects can pose a threat to our precious pets as well. Some inject toxins while others just create an allergic reaction. Some signs of an insect bite include hives, facial swelling, swelling at the site of the bite, and itching. Benadryl, in the proper dose, can help relieve the irritation and reaction caused by the insect.

What do you do for broken bones and sprains? If you think your pet is injured or may have a broken bone, try to limit your pet's activity. Confine your pet to a small area until you can get to an emergency facility as soon as possible. If you think the bone is totally fractured, try to stabilize the limb as best you can with a splint. You may want to contact your emergency veterinary clinic by phone for instructions on how to properly do this. It is recommended that you immobilize the joint above and the joint below the fracture. This can be very difficult to do but can be most helpful, until you can make it in to the clinic.

Deep cuts come in many different types and degrees. Your first priority, when your pet has one, is to stop the bleeding. Apply and hold pressure to the site for 5 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the laceration. If the bleeding stops, the cut needs to be tended to within 6 hours to property repair the laceration if necessary. If you wait too long, and too much time lapses, it is not safe to close the laceration because bacteria can become trapped, infection can begin, and the tissue margins of the laceration start to die. If the laceration appears to be pumping blood like the heart, you should apply a tourniquet above the laceration if it is on a limb. If not, just apply pressure to the site with a large towel and get to an emergency facility as soon as possible.

There are many types of pet emergencies that call for a trip to your nearest Emergency Pet Clinic. A good rule of thumb is to trust your gut and don't try to second guess yourself. Get your pet to the nearest clinic as soon as possible. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your pet.