What Is a Pet Emergency?

Emergencies in pets can come in many forms. Some are obvious to you as the owner, whilst others are more subtle, but no less dangerous.

Pet emergencies come in many forms including:

• Trauma
• Poisoning
• Ingestion of toxic wildlife
• Seizures
• Cardiovascular incidents (fainting/stroke)
• Heat stroke
• Reproductive emergencies

Whilst emergencies come in many forms, it is important that you as an owner have a well -rehearsed action plan when an emergency strikes. Part of this action plan includes ensuring you know where your nearest Vet Hospital is and that they are contacted to ensure they are preparing for your pet’s emergency. Whilst you may have a dedicated Vet in your home neighbourhood, you should always familiarize with the nearest emergency Vet near you when you take your pet out of your neighbourhood, especially when going on holidays!

How Being Prepared Helps When Emergencies Strike

A well – rehearsed plan is essential if your pet suffers an emergency.

Some tips on what you should include in a good emergency plan include:

• Have your regular Vet’s number saved in your phone and ready to be activated by voice
• Familiarise yourself with the nearest emergency Vet to you when you are out of your home neighbourhood.
• Make a quick mental note on how to get to the nearest vet, or have it saved in your phone maps if you have a planned outing with your pet in a neighbourhood outside your home
• Have ready access to your pet’s file with your regular Vet. At Balmain Vet, we have a dedicated file that you can access at your leisure from our website. This has critical information on your pet including when they were last vaccinated.
• Be aware of what medications your pet may be on (make a note on your phone if you need to)
• Even a basic summary of your pet’s health and major health events stored on your phone or email can be invaluable to a Vet during an emergency

What happens to you and your pet during an emergency at Balmain Vet?

We are always prepared for a possible emergency to walk through the doors at Balmain Vet. Your pet will often be taken straight to the treatment room upon entering our clinic and the team will start work on your pet immediately.

You will be ushered to a private room by our receptionists. At this point, when you can, we will collect relevant information from you that will help assist the Veterinarians with making a diagnosis or guiding the treatment plan for your pet.

Rest assured that your pet will receive immediate assistance for their emergency. Time is of the essence, so unless it is obvious, please make the reception team aware that your pet is suffering an emergency as soon as you enter the hospital.

Planning for pet emergencies at home

Home safety is not only for people – animals need it too. Picture what could go wrong where you live. Some dangers? Chocolate, cleaning supplies, kid’s toys left out on the floor or something small swallowed by mistake.

A little bag just for pet emergencies might come in handy – towels, gauze pads and a tourniquet are just some items that can be invaluable during an emergency. A dedicated pet First Aid bag is ideal.

Spotting Signs Before Trouble Starts

As mentioned previously, not all emergencies are obvious.

Some subtle hints that your pet may be seriously unwell and need immediate Veterinary attention include:

• Excessively lethargic (sudden onset)
• Extremely pale gum colour
• Bluish/purple gums
• Yellowing of the inner ear / belly and gums
• Abdominal effort to breathing
• Sudden changes in temperament
• Sudden increase in belly size
• Excessive drinking and urination that has come on suddenly in the absence of heat or exercise
• Excessive straining or inability to pass urine

Finding a Vet for your Pet’s Emergency

We encourage our clients to save our details in their phone so that we can be contacted quickly in the presence of an emergency.

If you are not in your home Neighbourhood, we encourage you to search for an “emergency vet near you” so you can quickly identify the nearest Vet in case your pet suffers an emergency. This is especially important when you are looking at going on holidays for a period of time. Knowing where the nearest emergency Vet is essential well in advance of getting to your hospital destination.

If you have any other questions regarding how to spot or react to an emergency with your pet, please call us the clinic on 02 98107544.  Alternatively, feel free to reach out to us on the Contact Us page on the Balmain Vet website.