As a pet owner, you never want anything bad to happen to your beloved furry (or scaly) family members. Unfortunately, emergencies do sometimes occur, and learning how to respond to them can make a huge difference for your pet. A pet emergency can range from injury to sudden illness to acute allergic reactions and everything in between. Lucky for you, our experts at VEG ER for Pets are well-versed in emergencies of all stripes. In fact, emergency is all we do, so we do it best!

In the article below, we’ll discuss some of the most common pet emergencies and steps you can take in an emergency to help improve the outcome for your dog, cat, or other pet (all while keeping a cool head).

What are the most common pet emergencies?

For our forever-curious fur babies, every day is a new adventure. One day, they’re getting into the trash; the next, they’re doing one too many zoomies around the yard or mucking about in a questionable mud puddle. 

At VEG, we’ve seen it all. The most common emergencies we see at our 24-hour emergency animal hospitals are gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea.

Often, it’s after your pet has gotten into the trash and eaten something they shouldn’t have (which can also lead to toxic ingestion or accidental poisoning, depending on what’s in there).

We also see a lot of weather-related emergencies, like heat exhaustion and hypothermia, as well as accident-related emergencies, like limping from a sprain or fracture and serious injuries caused by car accidents.

Always keep a carrier or leashes near your home's exits in case of emergency. Your exit will be quicker and you'll be able to get your pet care that much faster.

8 steps to take in a pet emergency

1. Stay calm for your pet and YOU!

The most important thing to remember when you’re dealing with a pet emergency is simply to stay calm. If you panic, your pet may become more afraid as well, and you’ll be less likely to pay attention to crucial details that may help save your pet’s life.

2. Assess the problem

Look closely at your pet to see if you can figure out what’s wrong. If they have a badly broken bone or a severe injury, you will probably be able to see this very clearly. On the other hand, if your pet is very sick but you can’t tell why, you should pay close attention to their symptoms and behavior so you can tell the vet when you arrive at your local VEG animal hospital.

Remember: time is of the essence when dealing with a pet emergency, so don’t spend too much time on this step. Simply look over your pet once or twice and see what you can gather from their appearance and actions.

3. Respond as much as possible at home

If your pet is experiencing an emergency, there may be some things you can do to help them before you go to the emergency vet. For example, if your pet is bleeding a lot, you will need to apply pressure to their injury. Be careful, as this may cause your pet to bite.

If you think your pet may be choking, try to stay calm and call your nearest VEG immediately. Avoid performing the Heimlich maneuver right away, as this may actually cause more harm than good if your pet isn’t truly choking on an object.

VEG ER for Pets is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for veterinary emergency care.

4. When to go to the emergency vet with your pet

After assessing your pet and responding as well as you can at home, call a VEG emergency vet right away. This should be done within a few minutes of realizing you’re dealing with a pet emergency. If you are unsure if it’s an emergency, call and speak with an expert at VEG to determine how urgent the matter is. Do not wait until it’s too late to contact our top-rated team of veterinarians. 

If it’s after hours, a weekend, or a holiday, you will need to find an emergency vet. At VEG, all of our locations are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—weekends and holidays too—so you can find emergency veterinary care for your pet whenever you need it.

5. Reduce anxiety in your pet as much as possible

Your pet is likely to be extremely agitated if they're conscious during a pet emergency.

Depending on the type of pet having an emergency, there are some things you can do to subdue your pet and keep everyone involved safe, especially as you prepare to bring them to the emergency vet. 

If your pet is a dog, approach slowly to prevent the risk of biting. If your dog is fearful and at risk of biting, it may be best to muzzle them before trying to interact with them, if you can do so safely.

If your pet is a cat, drape a thin towel over their head to keep them from biting you. Do not pull the towel too tightly or you may risk causing breathing difficulties; the idea is simply to stop the cat from being able to bite while they're in pain. The draped towel might also cause them to feel safer.

6. Ask a capable family member to help with your pet

In some pet emergencies, you may need help with your pet. If you’re the only one at home and no one is available to help, you’ll have to manage as best you can on your own. However, if you can, have a family member or trusted neighbor help you take care of your pet during this emergency.

The person you choose should be old enough to respond appropriately to the situation and mature enough not to panic as well. They should also be able to get on the phone with a VEG ER vet and let them know you’re on the way.

VEG ER for Pets is open 24/7 for prompt, competent, and compassionate emergency vet care.

7. Load your pet into their crate or into your vehicle

If your pet is small enough to lift, gently pick them up and place them in a crate or carrier or directly into your vehicle. Make sure you support their back and do not let their head twist or drop if they're injured or unconscious.

How to move a large, injured animal

If your pet is too large to pick up on your own, you can lay out a towel or blanket, tuck it under them, and swaddle them into the car with help from a family member or neighbor.

Bring any relevant medications your pet is currently taking. If your pet ingested human food (i.e., chocolate) or human medications, bring in the packaging or medication bottle so the veterinarian can assess the ingredients.

8. Drive safely to the VEG ER for Pets vet

With your pet in the car, the vet alerted, and hopefully someone along to help you, it is now time to drive to the vet. Take care while driving and focus on the road, even though you’ll be concerned for your pet on the way. Getting into a vehicle accident will only make matters worse.

While you drive to the vet, have your helper call ahead and let them know where you are. Your helper may sit in the back with your pet if your pet is passive but should sit in the front if your pet is showing signs of aggression during the pet emergency.

VEG ER for Pets can help with your pet's emergency—open 24/7

The information in this article can help you get through the first few crucial minutes after your pet’s emergency and get them to the vet safely and in a timely manner. Treatment for your pet may vary depending on the type of emergency, the age and health of your pet, your primary care vet’s recommendations, and more. Don’t be afraid to ask your family vet as many questions as you need to in order to take the correct next steps for your pet. 

Our emergency vets at VEG ER for Pets are here 24/7/365 to help you and your pet with any pet emergency, day or night. At VEG, you will always speak and work with highly qualified and compassionate veterinarians who will do what is best to help your pet. For help with emergency situations with your pet, contact any of our convenient locations, and we will always be available to help you.