What to Do in a Pet Emergency

It’s possible for your pet to be injured or face a medical emergency. From road traffic accidents to allergic reactions, there could be a variety of reasons your pet may need immediate medical care and it’s important to know what you should do if such a scenario arises. Here’s what you need to know about what to do in a pet emergency.

What is a Pet Emergency?

Sometimes it can be difficult to decide whether a situation can be considered a pet emergency. At the end of the day, you know your pet best, if you suspect anything might be wrong with your pet, you can contact our team at El Paso Animal Emergency should your pet requires immediate medical attention. 

The following situations are some examples of common pet emergencies:

• Road traffic accidents

• Fits/seizures

• Heatstroke

• Poisoning/vomiting/diarrhea

• Eye injuries

• Birthing problems

• Burns

• Difficulty breathing

• Allergic reactions

• Bleeding/open wounds/broken bones

How Can You be Well Prepared for a Pet Emergency?

Whether it’s cooling and rinsing a burn to restricting the flow of blood from a wound, knowing how to be prepared in a pet emergency enables you to provide the care that your furbaby needs at that moment. The most obvious way to prepare is to have a fully stocked pet first aid box at home. This is because there are some scenarios in which you may need to provide immediate medical attention until you can get to us at El Paso Animal Emergency.

You will find that the recommended items to have in your pet’s first aid kit are not too dissimilar from what you would find in one for a human. Some of the things that you should make your pet’s first aid contains include:

• Bandages

• Surgical tape

• Sterile absorbent dressing/gauze

• Blunt-ended scissors (for cutting dressings, etc.)

• Cotton wool

• Bottled water (rinsing eyes, treating burns etc.)

• Thermometer

• Collapsible water dish

• A thick towel

What Signs May Indicate Your Pet Requires Immediate Professional Care?

Recognizing possible signs of potentially life-threatening medical problems in your pet can help you to act quickly in getting your pet the care that they need. The following are some signs that could indicate that your pet needs to see a vet urgently.

• Very high temperature (normal temps for dogs and cats are between 99.0 -102.5)

• Weak or rapid pulse

• Irregular/difficulty breathing

• Pale gums (gums should normally be pink and moist)

• Difficulty standing

• Loss of consciousness

• Excessive bleeding/broken bones/open wounds

What Should You Do in a Pet Emergency?

If you suspect that something isn’t right with your pet, you should contact your primary care veterinarian or contact us at El Paso Animal Emergency as we are open 24/7. We will be able to advise you on your next course of action - whether your pet requires immediate professional care or if they can wait for a standard veterinary appointment.

To learn more about what to do in a pet emergency, contact us at El Paso Animal Emergency in El Paso, TX at (915) 545-1148. Or, if you suspect that your pet requires urgent medical attention, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced and compassionate veterinary team.