If your pet is hit by a car, it is an emergency situation that requires immediate assessment and treatment by a veterinary professional. You should never try to treat your pet at home, even if their injuries are minor or you don’t think they have any injuries. Here are the most important steps to take if your cat or dog is hit by a car in Bozeman, MT.
Stay Calm
While seeing your pet injured is traumatic, it’s important to remember that panic can cloud your judgment and prevent you from acting quickly. Staying calm can help you move faster to get your pet the help they need.
Handle Your Pet Gently
As soon as you can safely get to your pet, remove them from the road and out of danger. Handle them gently and use a blanket or towel to move them. If you have a flat, rigid surface like a board, piece of cardboard, or the plastic tray from their pet crate, you can use that to transport your pet.
Assess Your Pet’s Injuries
When you and your pet are out of immediate danger, quickly assess their injuries. Look for bleeding, broken or exposed bones, lacerations, and injuries to the head and/or eyes. Assess your pet’s breathing and heart rate. If your pet is bleeding, use a clean cloth, towel, or piece of clothing to apply gentle pressure to the wound.
Call an Animal Hospital
Call the closest emergency animal hospital to your location. Let them know that your pet got hit by a car, and do your best to describe your pet’s injuries. They will ask you questions to assess your pet’s health and give you instructions to follow as you’re transporting your pet to their location.
Do Not Treat Your Pet at Home
It’s normal to worry about the cost of an emergency veterinary visit. However, treating your pet at home can put his life in further danger. Even if they seem fine, they may have internal injuries that you can’t see. Even a minor injury can become very serious very quickly without professional veterinary care. Immediately take your pet to a veterinary hospital if they are hit by a car. Do not give them any medication or sedatives.
Finding an Emergency Animal Hospital After a Car Accident
The sooner you take your pet to an emergency animal hospital after they are hit by a car, the better the chances of survival. Call the closest animal hospital to let them know you’re on your way and give them as much information as possible about your pet’s condition. Follow their instructions carefully.
At Pet Emergency Trauma Services, we specialize in pet emergency services, urgent pet care, and after-hours medical care for pets in Bozeman, MT, including critical care, hospitalization, diagnostic services, and surgical services. We open at 7:00 a.m. on Fridays and provide 24/7 emergency care through Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. We are closed from 7:30 a.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:00 a.m. Call us now to let us know you’re coming in for a pet emergency.
