Is it a Dog Emergency?

Throughout my years as a veterinary technician and pre-veterinary student, I came across many cases that canines were brought into the emergency clinic when this visit was not needed. On the other hand, there were just as many cases when a canine was not brought in on time. As a canine owner myself, I know it is sometimes however to understand our furry child's needs. Questioning my actions sometimes with a background in veterinary medicine, I can understand why canine owners are many times confused on what and when to call upon the emergency clinic. Here is a guide to understand what a dog emergency is and when a visit to the clinic should be taken.

First of all, it is important to make sure that a canine owner knows where to take a sick canine. When first adopting a canine, it is important to get a checkup by a local veterinarian. By doing this early on, the owner can get to know the veterinarian on call and also know the services that are offered. While some veterinary hospitals have emergency services available, other cities may have a designated hospital for emergencies. During the first veterinary visit, make sure to ask about emergency services that are available to find out which one is available in your area. It is also important to talk about the price that is pre-set for after normal business hour visits. For example, in my area, there is only a 24 hour emergency clinic and most veterinarians will come in after hours. Therefore, there is around a $70.00 charge just to step into the clinic with a canine. This charge is preset and does not include the visit expenses and medications. On the other hand, the veterinary hospital I used to work for had a veterinarian that would come in if there were an emergency at no extra charge. Just be prepared ahead of time.