A first aid kit will be a great help in anticipating and dealing quickly with the first signs of a veterinary emergency.
To give you every chance of success, our out of hours vets tell you what you absolutely must put in the kit.
We'll also give you some initial advice on what to do if your pet is ill or the victim of an accident.
Ideally, your emergency kit should contain the equipment you need to manage wounds and sores, and a range of essential medicines so you can act quickly, without waiting for a vet's consultation.
Here's what your pet's first aid kit should contain:
If your pet has a significant medical history, you can add to the kit the medicines appropriate for its condition, such as diuretics for dogs with heart disease.
How you manage a wound depends, of course, on how serious it is, and therefore on its size, depth, location and the extent of bleeding.
Nevertheless, even if you will certainly have to contact the vet urgently, you can take action.
In the event of bleeding, use sterile woven compresses and apply pressure to the bleeding wound.
If the bleeding is not too severe, you can use a disinfectant-impregnated compress to clean the wound.
Does your pet seem very tired, downhearted or lethargic? He may be ill.
Often, the presence of a fever is the cause of the droopiness. You can start by taking your pet's temperature.
Normal body temperature for dogs and cats is between 100°F and 102°F.
The situation becomes a real veterinary emergency when the temperature rises above 104°F or falls below 99°F.
In our services in London and Manchester, vomiting and diarrhoea are frequent reasons for emergency consultations.
Although these symptoms very often require veterinary intervention, you can start to manage them at home, with your digestive plaster casts.
So that you don't have to search for the right dose to administer on the big day, we recommend that you ask your vet about the right dosage for your pet.
Self-medication is a frequent cause of visits to veterinary emergency departments.
Beware: the vast majority of human medicines are not suitable for your pet. Never administer a tablet or sachet without your vet's authorisation. If your usual vet is not available, contact us on 033 0027 0670.
If you have any medicines in your pet's pharmacy, make sure that the expiry date has not been reached or passed.
If your pet has received treatment for a previous illness, do not give the previously prescribed treatment, even if the symptoms are identical.
Several radically different diseases can have similar or identical clinical signs!
If in doubt, remember to contact your vet. If you are unavailable, our emergency switchboard is available 7 days a week. We'll be happy to help!
If your emergency occurs during a veterinary clinic's normal opening hours, contact your usual veterinarian directly. He or she will take care of your pet, especially if the situation is urgent.
If he is not available, you will be referred to a suitable service in London.
Do you have a problem with your pet outside your vet's opening hours? Our teams are on hand to answer your questions and concerns, and give you initial advice.
We have been working exclusively in veterinary emergencies since 1982. We're here to help.
If the situation requires it, you can consult an out of hours vet in London.
For your pet's comfort, we can arrange for the vet to come to your home and take care of your pet in the peace and quiet of your own home.