Are YOU Prepared for a Pet Emergency?
If you read about our mystery bite scare with Chuy Chihuahua, then you know my husband and I have been putting together an emergency contact sheet for Chuy. We realized we aren’t prepared if something major were to happen to the little guy. We just moved to a new house and didn’t even have the Vet ER numbers on the fridge. We wasted valuable minutes looking them up. That is unacceptable! How can you best prepare for an emergency with your Irresistible Pet? One way is to keep valuable information on hand with an emergency contact sheet.
Pet Emergency Contact Sheet: What YOU Need!
I recommend putting this information on a dry erase board on the fridge OR creating a one pager you print and hang on the fridge for easy access. The important part is that you make it easily accessible for all family members in case of an emergency.
1. Vet Emergency Room Contact Info
We have 2 main ER’s by our house and we have both of them listed. It’s wise to have more than one in case one hospital can’t take your pet due to a major surgery or emergency. Trust me, we’ve been turned away before.
2. Your Veterinarian’s Name and Contact Info
Keep your current vet’s name, phone number, address, and any other contact info on your contact sheet. They should be your first point of contact if it’s within business hours.
3. Pet Insurance Info
Do you have pet insurance? If you don’t, it’s definitely a wise investment for your irresistible pet! On your contact sheet, make sure to list the name of the pet insurance company, the telephone number , policy number, and any other important info you may need.
4. Your Pet’s Name and Vitals
Keep your pet’s name, weight, color, special markings, and breed on your contact sheet. The name might sound silly but what if you are passed out or not home and it’s a neighbor that is helping save your pet?
5. Location of Pet’s Medical Records
Put a note as to where your pets medical records are located. We keep all of Chuy’s important documents in our filing cabinet in our home office. It’s good to note this in case of an emergency. My husband would probably not even know where to look! LOL
6. Your Pets Medications
Put a list of your pets medications such as their heart worm routine, flea/tick medications, and any other pet meds they take. Also, list any known allergies on the sheet.
7. Animal Poison Control Phone Number
The Animal Poison Control Center is the best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435.A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card. I used this service once when Chuy stole my chocolate chip cookie cake off the table! They saved the day!
8. Quick Reponse Medical Advice
This may depend on the breed of your pet but we recommend putting together a list of quick medical fixes for your pet. For example, we know that keeping a dose of Children’s Benadryl around for Chuy Chihuahua can be lifesaving. On our sheet, we will put the dosage amount and what it should be used for. You might want to consult with your vet on what you can keep on hand for your pet.
9. Your Pet’s Food Routine
It’s a wise idea to list what type of food your pet eats, how much per day, and how many times per day. When you are panicked the vet may ask and sometimes it’s not easy to remember things that you should know off hand. Chuy has been eating Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food since he was a puppy but in a state of panic, I may not think that fast!
I’m sure I’ll think of more things to add to the list! What else would you add to your emergency contact sheet for your Irresistible Pet? Leave a comment!
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