Be Prepared For A Pet Health Crisis

Whenever we leave our children in the care of a babysitter, neighbor, or family member, we make sure that the caregiver is prepared for the worst. We leave our mobile phone numbers, insurance information, doctor's phone number, dentist's phone number, and so on.

When we are around, we make sure we always have access to a first aid kit, and most of us either have a medical advice handbook or we have a mental list of the best websites to check when something is amiss.

So why don't we give the same benefits to our pets? Just like small children, pets can ingest toxic materials, be confronted with an attack by another critter, or fall ill. If you're a responsible pet owner, you need to be prepared for the worst. How, you ask? Let me clue you into what I do to prepare for a pet's medical crisis.

You will, of course, want to make sure that each of your pets receives a regular checkup--just like you and your kids--with a reputable vet in your area. You will want to develop a friendly relationship with your vet so you know how to approach a medical emergency.

You need to know the answers to some vital questions. Would your vet want you to call him/her on their mobile phone? Would s/he recommend a particular pet hospital for evening and weekend hours? Would they be willing to come to your house? Are there certain conditions they won't or can't treat? Get to know your vet, and when you're in a tight spot, you won't have to guess what to do.

Keep a first aid reference for pets in your home. Because we live in an age where we rely on the internet for information, we can be baffled if we find conflicting advice when we use a search engine.

I have a hard-copy reference because I can nab it off my shelf and use the index or table of contents to find specific answers about what my pet is experiencing, all documented by someone I know is an expert. With internet sources, you just don't know where the information is coming from.

Make yourself aware of toxic materials that dogs and cats cannot ingest and learn how to perform basic maneuvers, such as those used to induce vomiting. For example, a common over-the-counter liquid used to ease nausea and vomiting contains compounds chemically similar to aspirin that cats cannot digest, but dogs can. This medicine can therefore be given to dogs to treat vomiting, but it is dangerous to cats. Knowing these bits of information can save your pet's life.