Emergency Care - What to Do For Your Pet

Emergency hospitals are very difficult to open, but are a necessity to pet health care. The issue comes about in financial backing. To operate an emergency pet health center, you have to maintain the same amount of staff but see fewer clients so the charges are usually a lot more to make up the difference. They have to pay the bills too, you know. Secondly, human emergency hospitals are subsidized by state and federal money while animal hospitals are not. Most emergency hospitals are just able to break even and the investors only make money through the appreciation of the land and building it occupies. A client's inability to pay can easily make this break-even business loose money and eventually fail.

All veterinary hospitals are compassionate about pets and realize the strain that strays put on Good Samaritans. People who care for strays and maintain their pet's health do have options though for the care of these animals. For spays and neuters there is a statewide program that veterinarians offer that can save $60 to $70 dollars per procedure. This program is supported by various organizations and funding. Your local veterinarian will have more information on low cost or reduced spaying and neutering. Also, there are multiple local rescue groups can offer assistance through local community donations and national grants. For vaccinations, in the spring, many veterinary hospitals offer low-cost vaccine clinics.

On the medical side there are two other great options, pet insurance and medical credit cards. Pet insurance is fairly new but it offers many different levels of plans that can help with normal yearly pet health procedures and/or emergencies. Your veterinarian will have information to help you decide which plan is best for you or what plans they currently accept. On the credit card side there is a wonderful company named Care Credit. If accepted for this card, depending on where it is used, you can get three to twelve months same as cash to help with emergencies.

There are certain drugs that you can use in emergencies at home if you have pet health incidents and there is not an emergency animal care clinic around. Anti-histamines can be used with allergic reactions. For vomiting and diarrhea you can use medicine to combat diarrhea. And for pain relief, aspirin can be given very sparingly. Do not give drugs such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen. These medications can cause severe ulcers in the stomach. Ask your local veterinarian about dosages to keep handy for your pet in case emergencies should arise. Also, when looking for a veterinarian, ask them about their emergency policies and their hours of operation. Remember, there are always options.

After the initial pet health exam ask for an estimate so you understand what the veterinarian is offering, and if that estimate is higher than you can afford don't panic. Ask for options, a lot of times there are treatments that are less expensive but can be much more labor intensive for the owner. Another option available to pet owners is to open a savings account or deposit money into your account at your veterinarian's office. Put a little bit of money in there each month to help pay for emergencies.