If you ever need to take your pet for an emergency vet visit, you will be incredibly grateful that you have read this blog. It is the best (and only) way to prepare for a vet emergency.
As much as we’d all like to avoid a panicked drive to the vet, emergencies are a lot more common than you may realise. Pets are prone to injuries, illnesses, and ingestion of toxic things. In fact, 1 in every 3 pets experiences some kind of medical emergency in their lifetime.
Related: 7 Signs of Poisoning in Dogs & What You Can Do
So, make sure to do your part to help your pet (and vet) by coming prepared! Here are our top tips for preparing for an emergency vet visit.
How to prepare for an emergency vet visit
Do not administer any meds without your vet
It’s easy for us to think that we know what’s best for our pets when they are in pain, which often leads to us reaching for the medicine cabinet. Do not, under any circumstances, give your pet any human medication or even animal meds without consulting your vet.
This could affect your vet’s ability to help treat your pet effectively as certain medications cannot be mixed.
For example, certain pain relief medication has been known to affect your pet’s kidney function prior to surgery. Medications like aspirin can cause blood thinning and inhibit blood clotting during their surgery.
Call your emergency vet clinic beforehand
Even with your 24/7 emergency units, it is best to call your vet while preparing to leave. If you are in a life-threatening situation, they will be able to help guide you over the phone with basic first aid procedures.
If the emergency room is expecting you, they have time to prepare for your arrival so that all of the necessary medical equipment and physicians are ready! Remember that they are your best source of knowledge and protection – lean on them whenever you need them!
Keep your pet’s medical records nearby
If you ever find yourself rushing to the emergency vet clinic, you will most probably not be going to your family vet. This means that the physician that is on-call won’t be familiar with your pet. To help speed things along, make sure to bring your pet’s medical records.
It is also essential that you disclose any medication or supplements that they may be on, as well as any foods that they have eaten in the last 24 hours.
Discover: Pre-Surgery: Our 4-Step Pet Preparation Guide
Bring their go-to comforts
Whilst waiting to see the vet, your pet will most likely be under distress. Remember that this time can be very stressful and troubling for them, so it’s best to help ease their anxiety as much as possible. Try to pack their favourite toy or blanket to keep them entertained.
Pack a leash and carrier too, which will definitely come in handy when they are surrounded by other pets in the waiting room. Make sure to pack a few of their favourite treats too. Only give them to your pet once they are in the vet’s room and you have been given the ‘okay’ by their doctor.
Treats act as a great distraction for your pet. It is also a great way to reward them for good behaviour and train them to see vet visits as a positive thing.
Prepare to wait
It is important to note that you might have a long night ahead of you. Prepare to be seated in the waiting room for quite a while as the on-call vet attends to your fur friend. Do not be alarmed if it takes time.
This means that they are being throughout and putting the best treatment plans into action. You want to ensure that your pet receives the best – and that takes time, so be patient!
Paying for an emergency vet visit
On an emotional level, taking your pet to the vet for an emergency can be rather traumatic. However, very few pet parents realise that pet emergencies are financially traumatic too. In fact, the average household cannot afford the costs associated with an emergency visit.
Read this: The Benefits of Pet Insurance & Choosing the Right Insurer
It is, therefore, necessary that you come financially prepared too! The fees are particularly high and depending on the state of your pet, the costs can either lead to medical debt or economic euthanasia.
That’s where pet insurance comes in. Rather than spending thousands on your pet for a single procedure, why not pay just a small premium every month for the peace of mind that the bill will be taken care of in emergency situations?
When it comes to pet insurance, we highly recommend Oneplan Pet Insurance because they have a wide range of plans to suit your budget and needs, AND they pay you BEFORE you see the vet in as little as 1 minute – meaning less stress about unexpected vet bills so you can focus on helping your fur baby get better quickly.
Yours in Not-So-Average Pet Advice,
The Petinsurance.co.za Team