How to Handle a Pet Emergency

Just like anything else, it is important to know how to handle an emergency with a pet. When I was a tween, my aunt’s Chinese Shar-Pei, Rocket, ate a toad in the yard. When he came back in, Rocket was hacking and you could hear clicking in his throat along with, what I swear was, the toad croaking as it tried to get out.

My aunt tried to pull out the toad by hand, but no dice. After about 10 minutes of running around in circles and squealing in shock, we loaded the dog and my toddler cousin up in the car and drove the dog to the pet hospital as Rocket’s vet advised. (We managed to get a call in to the vet in the midst of our freak out session.)

Rocket made it, of course, and the story is now a funny family anecdote. But as comical as the scene sounds, it also highlights the importance of having an emergency plan if your pet falls ill unexpectedly.

The first part of a good pet emergency plan is to have the vet and after-hours animal hospital’s telephone number readily accessible. You may think you only need the vet’s number, but emergencies happen after business hours and you want to be ready if something happens at 11:00 p.m., not trying to Google the phone number in the middle of an episode. You should also keep the directions to said animal hospital on hand for the same reason.

In addition, the American Red Cross Web site has a helpful pet first aid reference section that offers info on how to recognize an emergency, perform CPR and first aid, give medications and treat common problems that arise and need quick attention.

• It is also suggested that you make your own pet first aid kit using the following ingredients:
• Gauze pads
• Rolls and bandages
• Thermometer
• Q-Tips
• An instant cold pack
• Rags or rubber tubing for a tourniquet
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Antibiotic ointment

Some signs that your pet may be having a medical emergency include blood, black/tarry stool or diarrhea. Other symptoms include:

• Nervousness
• Bleeding from the mouth or rectum
• Blood in the urine
• A weak pulse
• Shallow breathing
• A dazed appearance

When handling an ailing pet, use smooth, slow and quiet movements. Don’t run around and panic like my aunt and I did. Try to keep the animal warm with blankets, which will also help to restrain the pet as you wait for veterinary assistance.

Aricka Flowers

April 9th, 2009 by Pet Guy | Posted in Vet Emergencies | (0)