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My name is Winnie. I’m an 8 year-old Bassett hound. Betty Hegarty owns me.  I’m always having emergencies. Last week I ate a person’s prescription medication. In the past, I have eaten an entire cantaloupe, including the skin, a pot roast (raw), Ibuprofen, a surge protector (connected to the electric outlet), a shoe brush, countless plastic bowls, chocolate and a corncob. I have also had other medical emergencies. I am still alive, thanks to the great veterinarians I have at Colonial Veterinary Hospital. So I feel very qualified to help Betty write this column. 
 
MINUTES MATTER…HOW TO HELP YOUR PET IN AN EMERGENCY

Emergencies are emergencies.  Who knows when Winnie, one of my other pets or YOUR pet will need emergency veterinary treatment? During a pet emergency crisis, mere minutes matter. Your pet’s life could be at stake!
 
Today we’ll talk about how to identify some common pet emergencies and what pet owners can do to prepare for a future emergency. Dr. Brian Collins, one of the emergency medicine veterinarians at Colonial Veterinary Hospital, helped me write this article. 
 
Dr. Collins’ first and best advice about emergencies:  “TRY TO AVOID THE EMERGENCY.” Don’t wait! If your pet starts vomiting, call your veterinarian.  If your pet has been listless and is not eating or drinking, check with your veterinarian. Do not wait until your pet has been exhibiting unusual behavior for a long period of time.  Emergencies can sometimes be avoided if you call your vet at the first sign that your pet’s everyday behavior has changed.
 
What are common pet “emergencies”?
1.  Trauma – Examples – the pet is hit by a car, has been in a fight with another animal or has been shot – lacerations, broken bones, etc. 

2.  Ingestion of Toxic Substances or Foreign Objects - such as when Winnie ate the Ibuprofen, corncob and surge protector. 

3.  Seizures.

4.  Overheating during the Summer months (sunstroke).

5.  Straining to urinate (especially in male cats).

Here are some basics that every pet owner should do BEFORE an emergency occurs:
1.  Visit your veterinarian at least once a year for regular checkups.

2.  Make sure your pet’s vaccines are up to date.

3.  Make sure your pet takes heartworm preventive medicine and flea and tick preparations when necessary.

4.  Good grooming and cleanliness for your pet is always important, too, and may result in early detection of skin tumors or skin diseases.  

5.  If your pet takes any medications, make sure you know the name(s) of the medicines and the dosage. Some animals only have to take medicine for a short time; other animals are on medications all the time, such as those prescribed for diabetes or heart disease.  

6.  Make sure you know and post on your refrigerator door your veterinarian’s office hours. 

7.  YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE TO TAKE YOUR PET WHEN AN EMERGENCY OCCURS. When you and your pet visit your veterinarian for a general examination, ask if your veterinarian is available for emergencies after regular office hours, or if she/he refers emergencies to a veterinary emergency service.  Many veterinarians try to cover most emergencies, but like most people who work in regular jobs, sometimes they need to be with their families, take off on a holiday, or go on vacation. It’s important to find out what special emergency veterinary facility your veterinarian wants you to call if he/she is not available.  Add the veterinary emergency service’s name and phone number to the  refrigerator door, too. Emergency veterinary services usually stay open longer hours than your regular veterinarian. They also have special diagnostic and surgical equipment to treat your pet rapidly if a life-threatening situation exists. Example, Winnie’s dog friend, Zeke, was recently hit by a car, broke his jaw and hurt his leg very badly. Although Zeke is fine now, he had to have his right front leg amputated. Zeke needed rapid emergency care and then specialized surgery.    

8.  Take a pet first aid course. Our local American Red Cross offers a pet first aid course. A call to the Ithaca office of the American Red Cross at 607-273-1900 provided the following information: At least 6 people must be registered in order to have a class. The class is 4 hours, the cost is $40 and covers 5 topics – approaching an injured animal, stopping of bleeding/splinting, treating for poison, transport of your animal and how to have a happy and healthy pet. An instruction book is also given to participants.  

9.  Be sure you have a collar, leash or sturdy pet carrier to transport your pet to the veterinarian, whether it is for an emergency or for a regular visit.

Next week we’ll talk about pet x-rays and ultrasound studies and why they are important for your pet’s health. 

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