Okay, let’s lay it all out on the table.
Pet emergencies don’t care if it’s convenient for you.
They’ll show up at 2am on a work night. Or right when you’re running late to drop the kids at school.
Your dog eats something he shouldn’t have? Suddenly you’re racing to the emergency vet.
Your cat goes limp and can’t use her legs? Off to Google you go trying to find the nearest emergency clinic that’s open.
It’s never a good time for a pet emergency to happen. And panicking doesn’t help.
Here’s the good news.
Most “pet health scares” aren’t actually emergencies if you know what to do. Staying calm, acting quickly and having a plan ready can ease any scare your pet throws at you. And that’s not all…
The best vet bill coverage plans remove the financial stress from the equation altogether.
Read on to learn about:
- Why Pet Emergencies Pop Up So Often
- The Most Common Pet Health Scares (And How To Handle Them)
- How Vet Bill Coverage Plans Keep You Protected
- How To Build Your Pet Emergency Action Plan
Why Pet Emergencies Are More Common Than You Realise
Let’s get one thing straight: vet trips don’t discriminate.
Millions of pet parents face a vet-related emergency every year. And most of them aren’t ready for it.
According to Gallup, 52% of pet owners said they either declined or skipped veterinary care for their pet. The primary reason? Cost.
Yep, you read that right. More than half of pet owners have avoided going to the vet because they simply couldn’t afford it.
But wait, there’s more…
A study done by MetLife revealed that as many as 70% of owners admitted to delaying or skipping veterinary visits for financial reasons. Nearly half of them regretted it afterwards.
Imagine that.
You’re watching your pet suffer because you know you can’t afford the vet. What’s worse is that nearly HALF of pet parents have been in the same situation.
Nobody should ever have to put money over their pet’s health. That’s why vet bill coverage plans were created.
Finding the best pet insurance before an emergency occurs is one of the best decisions you can make as a pet owner. Insurance removes the cost barrier between you and your pet’s necessary care.
The Most Common Pet Health Scares (And How To Handle Them)
Not all health scares are emergencies. In fact, most of them aren’t.
But that doesn’t mean they’re not scary. If you know what to look for and how to react, you won’t ever have to ‘guess’ what’s wrong with your pet again.
Here are the most common pet health scares. Each one includes what to do if it happens to your pet.
Vomiting & Diarrhoea
This is by far the most common pet health scare. From eating grass to poisonous foods, vomiting and diarrhoea are the number one reason pet parents jump into action.
Most of the time, it’s not serious. But internal bleeding, organ failure and poisoning can all cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
If your pet vomits or has diarrhoea once and seems fine afterwards, monitor them closely but you can calm down.
If the vomiting or diarrhoea is severe, has blood in it or lasts longer than 24 hours — head to a vet immediately.
Make sure your pet has plenty of water to avoid dehydration. You can also withhold food for a few hours to help their stomach settle.
Poisoning & Toxic Ingestion
Ingesting something poisonous is pretty common. Chocolate, grapes, toxic plants and human medications can kill your pets in mere hours.
Speed is essential here. If you think your pet may have ingested something poisonous contact your vet or animal poison control centre immediately.
Do NOT attempt to make your pet vomit without instruction from a professional. You could make the situation worse.
Write down the emergency numbers for your vet clinic and a poison control specialist. Stick it on your fridge with a magnet so you always know where it is.
Seizures
If you’ve never seen your pet have a seizure before — it can be scary. Just remember to keep calm and take notes.
Do NOT put your hand in your pet’s mouth.
Move any surrounding furniture that could harm them if they thrash around. Time the seizure if possible. Most seizures will end within 2 minutes.
After the seizure ends, keep them calm and quiet. Call your vet ASAP to let them know what happened. Seizures have many causes that your vet will need to check.
Breathing Difficulties
Difficulty breathing, heavy panting or wheezing is never normal. Heatstroke, allergic reactions and other illnesses can cause your pet to have difficulty breathing.
If your pet is having any type of difficulty breathing, head to your nearest vet right away.
How Vet Bill Coverage Plans Keep You Protected
Unless you’re made of money, you already know that vet visits are expensive. Even with pet insurance, most vet visits will cost you.
That’s why vet bill coverage plans are so important.
With a quality coverage plan in place, you’ll never again worry about how much an emergency vet visit will cost. Popular vet bill coverage plans include coverage for…
- Emergency veterinarian visits and hospitalisation
- Diagnostic testing & lab work
- Surgery and specialist care
- Prescription medications and treatments
That’s just SOME of the benefits of having a vet bill coverage plan waiting for you when you need it.
Building Your Pet Emergency Action Plan
Knowledge is power. If you know what to do ahead of time, you won’t ever panic if something happens to your pet.
Here’s how to build your own Pet Emergency Action Plan:
STEP 1: Research vet bill coverage plans that fit YOUR budget and pet’s needs.
Don’t wait until your pet is sick or injured to look into insurance options. Do your homework today so you’ll know which plan(s) to pick when the time comes.
STEP 2: Program your vet’s phone number and emergency animal hospital’s number into your phone. Include the animal poison control hotline too.
STEP 3: Build your own Pet First Aid Kit.
Pet first aid kits don’t have to be expensive or complicated. Start with the basics: bandages, antiseptic wipes, digital thermometer and blanket.
STEP 4: Educate yourself on the warning signs.
Every pet is different. Learn what’s normal for your furry friend so you’ll be able to recognise when they’re not acting right.
STEP 5: Keep calm and carry on.
Your pets feed off of your energy. If you panic, they’ll panic too.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
The Takeaway
No pet parent wants to think about their beloved pet experiencing a health emergency.
But they happen. To almost everyone at some point.
By knowing the signs of common health scares, reacting quickly and having vet bill coverage plans set up before emergencies happen… you can confidently handle ANYTHING that comes your way.
The biggest lesson pet parents can learn is to always be prepared.
Pet emergencies won’t happen during convenient times.
They’ll happen when you least expect it.
So prepare NOW. Not later.
- Learn about the warning signs for common pet health scares
- Keep emergency numbers in your phone
- Invest in vet bill coverage plans that fit your needs
- Build a pet first aid kit
- Stay calm and react quickly
