Service to Help Travelers with Pet Emergencies

If you have a dog or a cat, you know that emergency situations can happen anytime, anywhere, even when you are traveling with your beloved companion. For this reason, it is important for you to know how to find a veterinarian or animal hospital that provides emergency services within a matter of minutes. After Hours Assistance and HealthyPet Magazine have partnered in order to offer a free telephone service to travelers, which will connect them to the closest emergency veterinarians and animal hospitals.

Traveling pet owners may call: 800-204-4595 and provide their zip code or the city and state where they are currently and receive contact information on the closest emergency clinics for their pet. This service is available nationwide. It is also free from August 1 through September 6 (Labor Day), which are peak traveling dates, according to chief operating officer of On Call Solutions, Derrick Pittman.

"Emergency preparedness, which includes knowing how to locate a clinic if immediate medical attention is needed, is key to planning travel with a cat or dog. Being in unfamiliar places can lead to emergency situations where minutes can be the difference between life and death. It is important that travelers have access to help if they require it," said Brad Carmichael, DVM, chief executive officer of On Call Solutions, and owner of Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic, located in McMurray, PA.

A wallet-sized card for the phone service was created and attached to a, "Traveling with Your Pet Checklist." Simply print out the checklist and cut along the dotted line. Stick the reference card into your wallet so that you have it if you ever need it while traveling with your pet. The checklist is also useful to pet owners who plan to travel with their companions as it contains things you need to bring when you travel with your furry friend, such as food, a full-sized litter pan with extra litter, newspaper, and liners (for kitties), your pet's medications, and an extra collar and a sturdy leash. Additionally, the checklist contains things you should do before you leave home, such as having your pet micro chipped, ensuring your furry friend is updated on all of his or her vaccinations, obtaining (and take on your trip) current health and vaccination records, and asking your veterinarian about how you can help your companion if he or she becomes carsick during your trip.

On Call Solutions developed After Hours Assistance, which allows veterinarians to give fee-based consultations to their clients when offices are closed. HealthyPet Magazine's mission is to strengthen the relationships between veterinarians and pet owners. You can learn more about each company by visiting their websites.

If you have a cat or a dog and plan to travel with him or her, please prepare yourself for emergencies. Both you and your furry friend will be glad you did.

Sources:

CatChannel: Free Phone Service Connects Travelers to Nearest ER Vet Clinic:
http://www.catchannel.com/news/2010/07/29/emergency-vet-line.aspx

On Call Solutions: Home:

HealthyPet Magazine: Home:
http://www.healthypetmagazine.com/http://www.oncallsolutionsllc.com/