emergency vet hotline

When Should You Call the Emergency Vet Hotline?

It can be very scary when your pet has a medical problem or emergency and your veterinarian is closed. Maybe it is a holiday, after-hours, or a weekend. Many pet owners want to know when they should call the emergency vet hotline. On one hand you don’t want to call too soon and bother them but on the other hand, you don’t want to wait too long. Here are tips to help you decide when to call.

First, what is an emergency? As an emergency veterinarian, I tell my clients an emergency is literally anything that causes you concern about your pet. You know your dog and cat best. You know when there is something wrong. If you are worried about something, then call. I’d rather pet owners’ call and ask. Maybe I can alleviate their concerns over the phone. Or maybe I can get the pet in sooner and more effectively treat the pet’s problem or even save their life.

The 3 Most Common Reasons Dog and Cat Owners Call the Emergency Vet Hotline

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of emergencies that can occur to dogs and cats. The links in the articles below can help you understand more about these common problems and what the problems may cost. The most common emergencies are as follows:

52 Reasons to Call the Emergency Vet Hotline

It is important to know when to call the emergency vet hotline. Below are reasons to call.

Toxins, Insecticides and Medications Ingestion

A big category of reasons to call is a pet that eats something they shouldn’t. Some items are extremely dangerous and toxic when ingested. Some items can be fatal. Some toxins can be effectively treated if your veterinarian knows about them immediately.

Call the emergency vet hotline if your pet ingests any of the following toxins or medications:

Just as it is important to know what is toxic, this article is also helpful to know what is nontoxic. Go to: Non-toxic Items Commonly Eaten by Dogs.

Dangerous Food Ingestion

Call the emergency vet hotline if your pet ingests any of the following foods:

Learn more about dangerous foods in this very good article.

Trauma and Accidents

The following problems can be life-threatening. Please call your veterinarian or veterinary emergency hotline if your pet suffers from any of the following:

Things that Can’t be Digested

Ingestion of anything plastic, metal, rock or fabric density that cannot be digested can become lodged in the stomach or intestines.

Dangerous Symptoms

The following symptoms can be life-threatening and can quickly lead to death. Please call your veterinarian or veterinary emergency hotline if you see the following problems with your pet:

  1. Unproductive vomiting or retching
  2. Seizures
  3. Trouble breathing
  4. New onset coughing
  5. Lethargy
  6. Trouble walking
  7. Inability to use the back legs or walk
  8. Falling over to one side
  9. Pale mucous membranes
  10. Straining to urinate or nonproductive urinations
  11. Straining to defecate
  12. Blood in the urine
  13. Blood in the vomit
  14. Blood in the feces
  15. Open wounds such as lacerations
  16. Vomiting and diarrhea
  17. Disorientation or other changes in mental awareness
  18. Pain
  19. Lameness or trouble walking
  20. Fever
  21. Hives or swellings
  22. Decreased appetite or anorexia
  23. Excessive itching

What Number Do You Call for the Emergency Vet Hotline

The best number to call when you have a dog or cat emergency is your veterinarian. If your vet is available or open, they may see you immediately. If not, their answering machine generally guides you to the best place to go in your area.

If you don’t have a vet, you can Google or use your smartphone to find “Emergency Veterinarian Near Me”. This should guide you to a veterinary close to your location. You can always ask the clinic you call for their recommendation for a hospital closest to your location.

What is an Emergency Vet? This article will give you an idea of what to expect when you walk in the door of an emergency clinic, how triage works, and the process works for estimates and payments.

Learn more about a Day in the Life of an Emergency Veterinarian.

How to Pay for the Emergency Vet Hotline or Emergency Visit

Most calls to veterinary clinics are free and do not cost you anything. However, there are pet toxin hotlines that can cost you $65 to $100 per call. For this cost, they provide you with information about the toxin or mediation your pet ingested and provides you and your vet with recommendations for treatment. Any treatment would be an additional cost.

If you visit an emergency veterinary clinic, the entire bill will be due when services are offered if you are visiting as an outpatient. If your pet stays in the hospital, a deposit is required and the balance will be due when you leave the hospital.

Having pet insurance can make it a lot easier to pay for an emergency vet visit. How much the insurance company pays will depend on your policy. Some polices may have a zero deductible and others $500 or $1000. This means you will need to pay this much before the insurance policy kicks in. Once the policy kicks in, how much the company pays depends on your copay (reimbursement plan). Some plans cover 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% of your vet bill. If you have a policy with a $500 deductible and they cover 80% of your bill, this means that if you were to have a big expensive emergency vet bill e.g. $5,000, you would pay the initial $500 deductible and 20% of the rest. The pet insurance company would pay 80% of the $4,500. This means you would pay $950 and they would pay $4,050.

Visit PetPartners and get a quote today to see if pet insurance is right for you.

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