Prepare before you need help: save your veterinarian and the nearest emergency veterinary hospital’s contact details, keep your pet’s medical information accessible, assemble a basic first-aid and evacuation kit, and practice safe transport. If an emergency happens, call a veterinary professional promptly; first aid is temporary support, not a replacement for veterinary care.
How do I prepare for a veterinary emergency?
Make a one-page emergency reference and keep it somewhere household members can find quickly. The AVMA’s 2025 Pet First Aid brochure includes a fill-in form for pet and owner details, veterinarian and emergency-hospital information, and emergency numbers.
- Write down your regular veterinarian’s number and the nearest emergency veterinary hospital’s phone number and address.
- Add pet poison-control contact details. Confirm the numbers and local hospital hours directly; availability and location vary.
- Keep directions to the emergency hospital with the contacts, and make sure other household members know where to find them.
- Record your pet’s species, breed, age, sex, weight, diagnoses, current medications, and relevant veterinary history. Include known allergies.
- Keep the information in a form you can take with you, such as a printed copy in the kit as well as an accessible digital record.
Tell your veterinarian what supplies you plan to keep and ask whether your pet’s health conditions or species call for specific additions or precautions. AVMA advises tailoring a basic kit with veterinary guidance; ordinary household first-aid items may be useful, but that does not make every human first-aid treatment safe for animals. See the AVMA’s emergency-preparedness guidance.
What should I keep in a pet emergency kit?
Keep first-aid supplies together in a clearly marked, easy-to-carry container. AVMA’s checklist includes the following examples; choose items that fit your pet and ask your veterinarian how to use them.
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- A copy of your pet’s medical records and a current medication list; include any medications your pet needs.
- A digital thermometer.
- A spare leash and collar.
- Clean towels, disposable gloves, and blunt-end scissors.
- Gauze, nonstick bandaging material, and tape.
- A flashlight and tweezers.
- Saline and an eyedropper or needle-free syringe.
Check the kit periodically so records and medication details remain current and supplies are available when needed. Do not add or administer medication, activated charcoal, or hydrogen peroxide as a do-it-yourself poisoning treatment; use them only if a veterinarian or poison-control professional specifically directs you.
How should I plan for transport and evacuation?
Prepare for both a quick trip to a clinic and a household evacuation. Ready.gov’s It’s Not Luck! guidance recommends planning for pet identification, food, water, medicine, grooming supplies, first aid, sanitation needs, and a travel bag. Keep a crate or sturdy carrier available; where possible, have one carrier for each pet.
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- Make sure your pet has identification and include the pet in the household emergency plan so family members know how to keep the animal with them and reunite with it if separated.
- Keep food, water, medications, sanitation supplies, and identification with the evacuation supplies. Plan how to store and carry enough for your circumstances.
- Practice getting your pet into the carrier calmly before an emergency. Check that the carrier is appropriate for the animal’s size and can be carried safely.
- For a small injured pet, use a carrier for transport when feasible. For a larger animal, move it carefully with suitable stretcher-like support if needed.
- Ask another person to help when possible. Pain and fear can make even a familiar pet react unpredictably; keep your face away from the animal’s mouth.
For an injury, confine and move the animal carefully. Poorly applied bandages or splints can cause harm, so leave those procedures to veterinary professionals if you are unsure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should I do when a veterinary emergency happens?
Call your veterinarian or local emergency veterinary hospital and describe what is happening. Calling ahead gives the staff a chance to prepare for your pet’s arrival. Follow their instructions and arrange prompt care for urgent symptoms. AVMA’s brochure emphasizes that first aid is not a substitute for veterinary care, though it may help keep an animal alive until professional care is available.
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If your pet may have been poisoned
Contact a veterinarian, emergency clinic, or poison-control professional immediately for directions. Have the following information ready:
- Your pet’s species, breed, age, sex, and weight.
- The substance or product involved, its packaging if available, and the estimated amount.
- When the exposure happened and what symptoms you have noticed.
Bring the container or packaging if you go to a clinic. Do not induce vomiting or give medication unless a veterinarian or poison-control professional tells you to.
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If a wound is bleeding
Apply firm pressure with a clean cloth or towel. If blood soaks through, place more layers on top rather than removing the original cloth. Severe bleeding requires immediate veterinary care; call ahead while arranging transport.
If you suspect heatstroke
Warning signs can include heavy panting, drooling, weakness, confusion, vomiting or diarrhea, and abnormal-looking gums. Seek veterinary care promptly. While travelling to the clinic, begin cooling with room-temperature wet towels; do not immerse your pet in cold water.
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If your pet has a seizure
Move nearby hazards away, do not restrain your pet, and keep your hands away from its mouth. Time the seizure if possible, then contact a veterinarian or emergency hospital for guidance.
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