As loving and responsible pet owners, we do all we can to shield our pets from injury, illness, and trauma. Unfortunately, some situations are simply out of our control. As such, when unexpected health crises strike, it’s essential to be proactive and prepared to ensure a seamless trip to the emergency veterinarian.
Do You Know Where to Go for Emergency Veterinary Care?
Perhaps you never thought about securing a trusted emergency veterinarian until today. Well, now is the time. Look up the nearest emergency veterinarians in your area and take down their contact information and address. This is highly beneficial to eliminate hassle in the event of an emergency, ensuring all you have to focus on is getting your pet there safely.
Do You Have a Copy Of Your Pet’s Most Recent Medical Records?
It’s imperative to always have a copy, or several copies of your pet’s most recent medical records in a convenient and accessible location. The emergency veterinarian may not be your pet’s primary veterinarian. As such, they do not know your pet’s medical history and may not be able to access it immediately. This is particularly true when the emergency situation occurs at odd hours when your primary veterinarian isn’t open. To avoid prolonged relief for your pet and ensure they receive the most suitable care, keep a copy of their medical records on you at all times. Your primary veterinarian may offer a pet health app to make accessing their records easier and more convenient.
How Will You Pay For Your Pet’s Emergency Veterinary Care?
Emergency veterinary visits often result in heavy expenditure. Not only do these trips involve more complex treatments, but there is often an additional charge due to the hospital’s extended hours and specialty, lifesaving care.
It’s important to be proactive about how you will cover your pet’s emergency veterinary care. You may research payment plans offered by your local emergency veterinarian in advance to ensure they have flexible repayment options, or you may want to look into starting an emergency veterinary care fund or pet insurance policy.
Be the most responsible pet owner you can be by mastering the art of emergency veterinary visit preparation.
