Coming to an ER Near You

Did you know?
I thought I'd continue in a similar vein as last week in the Emergency Preparedness post, but this time move to thinking about having to bring your pet to the emergency room for care. I know, none of us want to think about the possibility of our beloved four legged animal having to make a trip to the ER. However, if you have thought about it and considered some steps you might need to take before heading our way the trip may be more beneficial to you and your best furry friend. A recent AAHA article was forwarded to me by our Hospital Administrator and while it was a good article there were a few other items that our vets and techs mentioned that are great pieces of information to pass on to animal owners everywhere.

Let me tell you why.
Often, in the haste to bring an animal in for care, owners can forget to bring some vital pieces of information that would be helpful to the treating veterinarian in determining the best way to care for the animal.

Here is a list of items and info:

• Bring any medication currently prescribed for the animal in their proper vials with the prescription label so we know type, quantity, and frequency of administration.


• If the animal has ingested something bring the packaging (e.g. Decon, chocolate, gum) or a sample (e.g. piece of the plant).


• Bring vaccination records for puppies and kitties - especially if they were within the last few days.


• Bring any blood work results and/or x-rays from a recent visit to your family vet.


• This is kind of a gross one, but a fresh fecal sample can be helpful for a dog with diarrhea. I know the smell isn't pleasant, but we are used to it.


• Know the name of your family veterinarian and the name of the hospital where you take your pet for routine care. We like to send a letter to let them know we treated your animal. Grab their magnet from the fridge if you have one.


• Small animals are best transported in a carrier. They are less likely to try to escape your arms and injure you or themselves. Especially if you are the only one in the car and trying to drive.


• Wrap small animals in a blanket if you don't have a carrier.


• Animals that can walk, but are too large for a carrier, need to be on a leash. We want to prevent animals from getting too friendly in the lobby and causing a problem.


• For large dogs that are injured we can come out to your car and help put the animal on a gurney to transport inside.


• Remember that any animal that is injured may behave differently than normal and if in pain may try to bite or scratch. Keep your hands and face away from the head of the inured animal. Let them show you what is comfortable.

Hopefully these tips will make your trip to the ER a little less painful.

The moral of the story...help us help you.