Lack of proper preventative and wellness care is one of the most common preventable causes of illness and emergency visits. Responsibilities of pet ownership include proper vaccination (especially in puppies and kittens!) and parasite control, socialization/training, grooming (proper care of the coat and nails), nutrition/exercise, and dental care. Comment below if you have had to learn the hard way about BAD PREVENTATIVE AND WELLNESS CARE!
Related posts:
- Fashion Emergency
- Protect Your Puppy from Parvovirus
- Preventive Health in Puppies
- My dog is afraid of the vet and tries to bite
- 3 Tips From The Emergency Vet That Could Save Your Pet's Life
Dog bites
CDC researchers concluded that in 2001, 2002 and 2003 there were 4.5 million American dog bite victims per year (1.5% of the entire population). (Sacks JJ, Kresnow M. Dog bites: still a problem? at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18836045
Dog bites send nearly 316,200 victims to hospital emergency departments per year (898 per day). (Holmquist, L. (AHRQ). Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Stays Involving Dog Bites, 2008. http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb101.pdf
In 2015, more than 28,000 reconstructive surgery procedures were performed because of dog bites. (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/2015-plastic-surgery-statistics-report.pdf
Getting bitten by a dog is the fifth most frequent cause of visits to emergency rooms caused by activities common among children. (Incidence of dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments, JAMA 1998;279:53;
TREES PET FIRST AID COURSE! This course is FREE and open to the public. We designed it for pet owners, dog walkers and pet sitters. If you pass the quiz at the end you can get a First Aid Certificate. Take notes and leave your questions and comments below :) Make sure to share with your friends that need to watch this!
Here are the 3 best pieces of advice from the emergency vet that could save your pet's life:
- DON'T WAIT TOO LONG TO GET HELP! If you wait too long, it could be too late. This is especially true for concerns such as laboured breathing, pale gums and weakness. You know your pet best, so if you are worried or concerned, "when in doubt, check it out!"
- PREVENT THE PREVENTABLE. Learn as much as possible about dangers that face your pet, such as household poisons, seemingly harmless objects (such as toys, clothing, garbage and rocks), other animals, and vehicles. Pets are like toddlers and they need a responsible adult/babysitter to protect them from danger. Puppies and kittens need to start their vaccines at 8 WEEKS (and they need boosters too!) to protect them from deadly diseases.
- BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. Have a plan in place, know your nearest emergency clinic, have the ASPCA phone number on speed dial. Know basic first aid training and CPR. But MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE FINANCIALLY PREPARED. The cost of medical treatment in an emergency, and the owners' ability to pay for it, is probably the most important factor that determines whether a pet will receive the medical care it needs. The best way to protect yourself is to have good medical insurance for your pet. Do your research.
**REMEMBER**: WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM, with the best interest of the patient as everyone's first priority. Let your vet do what he/she does best, and don't try to grab the steering wheel and obstruct your vet from doing his/her job. We are all in the same car, we are all headed to the same place, but only one of us has the driver's license (meaning, only the vet has the medical training and background to "drive the car").
Please remember to spay/ neuter your pet, and to donate to your local animal shelter- they really need your help!
Additional Resources:
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Hotline: (888) 426-4435
- Preventive Health in Puppies
- Meet "Oliver"
- Medical Insurance Can Save Lives
- 3 Tips From The Emergency Vet That Could Save Your Pet's Life