What to do in a pet emergency

Quick thinking can make a bad situation better

You don’t want to think about an emergency involving your pet. Yet, the reality is that emergencies happen and, in many cases, your actions can go a long way in helping the recovery process. Below are some suggestions on what to do if your precious pet goes missing or is in need of first aid.

Lost pet

Call 24PetWatch first 1-866-597-2424. Pet Recovery experts are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 24PetWatch will carry out an online search in over 900 shelters and rescue groups for lost pets.

Begin your search immediately by walking the neighborhood and calling for your pet. Show photographs of your pet and tell everybody you see that your pet has been registered and microchipped. Your pet’s highly visible collar tag will help identify him as having a microchip.

Keep yourself safe : Never respond to a “found” pet contact alone; take a friend with you.

Beware of scams , such as when a person calls and claims to have your pet in a different town. They then ask for the money to ship your pet to you. This person does not have your pet and are simply trying to take your money.

Safeguard your pet before he goes missing by always keeping a collar on and making sure the 24PetWatch tag is attached.

Medical emergency

If your pet has a medical emergency, bring him to the vet immediately, even if you think you’ve resolved the situation. While you are en route, have someone call the vet to say that you are on your way with an emergency.

Common injuries include:

Heat stroke: You will see rapid, shallow breathing, weakness, and a very high body temperature. Take your dog to a cool spot and gently sponge him with cool - not cold - water. Encourage him to drink small amounts of cool water.

Poison: Call your vet immediately to see if you should induce vomiting. Bring the poison with you to the vet so that the correct treatment can be given.

External Bleeding: Do not apply a tourniquet as they can potentially do more harm than good. Instead, apply apply pressure to his wounds with clean cloth to cover the wound and then bandage it snugly. If swelling occurs below the bandage, loosen or remove it.

Frostbite: Bring your pet to a warm location. Gently apply warm moist towels to frostbitten areas. Cover him up and keep him warm.

Don’t let an emergency catch you unprepared! If your vet doesn’t offer emergency services, keep the name and number of a clinic handy that does. You don’t want to be scrambling around in a panic.