Pet Emergencies and What to Do

Realising there’s something wrong with your pet can set off panic in the calmest owner. You’re responsible for their health and wellbeing, and it’s down to you to solve the problem! Your panic and stress can’t help the situation – and indeed, they may make matters worse, as our pets can often pick up emotional cues from their owners.

Today we’re taking a look at what to do in an emergency for your pet, so you can make plans, feel prepared and hopefully suffer less stress if anything does happen.

Preparation

Many pet problems will require an emergency vet visit, and this is something you can prepare for in advance. Firstly, it’s important to register at a vet as soon as you get your pet, and to find a new vet if you move house. This ensures you have an existing relationship with the veterinary surgery, with all your details on file, and you know exactly where to go in an emergency.

You also need to make sure you can get your pet to the vet when it needs to go. Make sure you have a carrier of the right size, and your pet is familiar with it – give them the chance to explore, to play and even sleep in it so being locked in for a trip to the vet isn’t so unfamiliar and upsetting.

Identifying the Problem

Knowing what the problem is can help you form a response to the emergency. Many pets try to hide the early signs of pain and injury – evidence of weakness that could be dangerous to them in the wild – so you need to pay close attention.

Some injuries are obvious: bites and cuts in easy to see places mean a vet’s visit. If injuries aren’t so easy to see, you might be alerted to a change in your pet’s behaviour instead. From something visible like a limp, to changes in moods like aggression, to simply retreating from your company to a safely enclosed space could all be signs that something is wrong, and if they don’t swiftly pass, could justify a visit to the vet.

Upset stomachs are, fortunately, often non-serious and clear up by themselves. The key signs to look for to indicate an emergency are blood in the stool or vomit, loss of appetite and energy, and a bout of sickness that doesn’t clear up after two days.

Getting More Advice

If you’re not sure what’s going on with your pet – if you’re not sure whether you should be worried or not, then you need more advice. Online vets can offer an initial consultation and examination, and talk through your pet’s symptoms with you, and let you know if you need to make an emergency appointment or care for your pet at home until it recovers!