Pet Emergencies: Warning Signs, a First Aid Kit and Your Emergency Plan

Most pet emergencies are not predictable, but most are survivable when someone recognizes the problem and acts quickly. Preparing in advance matters most when you are away and your sitter is making the call.

Signs that need immediate veterinary care

Call a vet or an emergency clinic right away for:

• Difficulty breathing, choking, or blue, pale or gray gums
• Collapse, seizures, or sudden inability to stand
• Suspected poisoning, such as chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications or antifreeze
• Heavy bleeding, serious wounds, or broken bones
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
• A swollen, hard or painful abdomen, or unproductive retching (especially in deep-chested dogs)
• Straining to urinate, or inability to urinate
• Signs of heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, weakness, collapse
• Trauma such as being hit by a car, a fall, or a dog fight, even if your pet seems fine
• Eye injuries

If you are not sure, call. Veterinary staff would rather answer a question than treat a preventable emergency.

Build a pet first aid kit

• Gauze, non-stick pads and self-adhering wrap
• Saline solution and clean towels
• Digital thermometer and lubricant
• Blunt-tip scissors and tweezers
• Disposable gloves
• A muzzle or soft cloth (injured pets may bite)
• A copy of vaccine records and medication lists
• Contact numbers for your vet, an emergency clinic and poison control

Do not give medications, including human pain relievers, unless a veterinarian tells you to.

Poison helplines

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

Both may charge a consultation fee. Have the product packaging, the amount and the time of exposure ready.

Your emergency plan

1. Know your closest 24-hour clinic and put the address in your sitter's phone.
2. Sign a treatment authorization so your sitter can consent to care.
3. Set a spending guide. Tell your sitter and vet how much you want approved without calling first, and how to reach you.
4. Name a backup contact who can act if you cannot be reached, perhaps because of travel or a flight.
5. Arrange transportation. Make sure your sitter has a way to get to the clinic, and consider a pet taxi if needed.
6. Share medical history. Chronic conditions, allergies, and past surgeries help emergency staff.

What your sitter should do

1. Stay calm and keep the pet warm and quiet
2. Call the vet or emergency clinic, and follow their instructions
3. Contact you as soon as it is safe
4. Document symptoms, times and anything the pet may have eaten

A few minutes of planning means that, if the worst happens, your sitter can focus on your pet instead of searching for information.