"My Dog is Sick": Pet Emergency

What would you do when you realize, "My dog is sick"? Most people do not have enough information at their fingertips to act quickly in case of a pet emergency. Luckily, a little planning and you will be prepared in case something happens to your pet. There are three keys to responding to a pet emergency.

• Don’t panic.
• Protect yourself.
• Plan ahead.

"My Dog is Sick" pet emergency response, in reverse order: Plan Post your veterinarian’s information where you can find it easily and if he or she is not open 24 hours, or weekends, find a vet or an emergency care facility that is, and post that with it. Check with your local animal shelter or humane society to see if they treat injured or sick animals.

Protect If an animal is injured in the road, move them out of the flow of traffic for your own safety. Always protect yourself; a hurt or sick animal may bite you out of fear or pain. You can make a muzzle out of common items at hand, but remember, never place a muzzle on an animal that is vomiting, coughing or is having trouble breathing.

To make a muzzle from a necktie, rope or fabric, make a loop in the material. From behind, slip the loop over the animal’s nose. Wrap it once under the chin and then tie behind the ears.

Keep the name and number of a friend handy too. The friend can hold or comfort the animal while you drive to the vet’s office. Try and keep your pet warm and as quiet as possible. If your pet can fit in a cardboard box, place them on a blanket or towel and lower it into the box.

If you have a sick pet, it can be (literally) a lifesaver to have a waterproof, easy to clean, easy to disinfect dog bed.  Parvo is just one of the diseases that can be spread by contact with an infected surface.  It’s also easier to clean up after your sick animal if the bed can be hosed off, as all Dogcheapsleeps.com products are.

You can fashion a bandage from a clean towel or other piece of fabric. It is also helpful to have a towel or blanket on hand to pick up the animal or cover the animal’s face during transport. If necessary, pressure on the fabric can help stop the bleeding from a wound.

Get your pet to the veterinarian’s office as soon as possible. Do not give your animal any medication without a vet’s instruction. Aspirin or Tylenol can be fatal to your pet. Don’t try to induce vomiting if you think your pet has swallowed poison. Get them to a veterinarian immediately, and if possible, bring a sample of the poison.

Whenever my dog is sick (and in case of any pet emergency), I always have to stop myself and say: Don’t panic, stay calm.

Remember: your pet picks up on your energy. Help him get better even before you get him to the vet!

A good collection of resources related to pet emergencies: avma.org.