The difficult thing about pet emergencies is that we never expect them. And when they happen, they often trigger panic. That’s normal considering how much your pet means to you.
That’s why you should take the time before emergencies happen to prepare. We hope that you’ll never have to use your preparation. But if something happens, at least you’ll be ready to act quickly and correctly to get your pet the care they need.
1. Prepare Financially
Unexpected veterinary costs can be stressful. But some of that stress can be alleviated by having pet insurance or an emergency medical fund. If you can put away a little every month, you’ll be ready just in case you need it.
2. Prepare Documents
Call your regular veterinarian and ask them to send you a copy of your pet’s medical records and notes of medications they take. This is especially important if your pet has any chronic conditions that could result in the need to visit a vet outside of normal business hours.
3. Know Your Emergency Vet
The time to determine which emergency vet you’ll go to is when things are calm. You should look for one that is close to home, easy to get to and has a good reputation. Save their address and phone number in your phone contacts so that you don’t even have to think about it in an emergency.
4. Call Your Emergency Vet
As soon as you wonder if you should go to the emergency vet, pick up the phone and call them. This may be to ask if they think you should come in or simply to let them know you’re on your way. If you’re on the fence, they can help you decide. And if you know you need to come in, calling ahead will help them to prepare for your arrival.
5. Practice COVID Safety
Keep in mind that we are still living through a pandemic. So it’s important to think about your safety and the safety of your emergency vet’s staff. Have someone else bring in your pet if you’re sick; always wear a mask when inside or interacting with staff and follow any other safety rules that your vet requires.
6. Be Prepared to Wait
Given that there are fewer emergency veterinarians than regular veterinarians, it’s normal for ER vets to be busy. This is also true because emergency vets don’t work by appointment, so we can’t predict how many pets will come in or when.
We triage our patients in order to treat the most serious, life-threatening cases first. So, in fact, waiting means that your pet’s condition is less serious, which is a good thing. You should also know that due to the pandemic, many veterinarians are asking people to wait in their cars. This is standard practice these days and is never personal.
It’s unfortunate that we meet all of our patients’ human guardians when they’re scared and stressed. But we’re used to it and we will always do everything we can to make things as easy for you as possible. Doing this preparation ahead of time can also go a long way in preparing you for any future emergencies.
