Do you refer to your dog as your baby? Many of us love our pets and consider them to be an important part of the family. Many of us spare no expense in making sure that our pets are properly cared for. We purchase the best food, and buy the top of dog accessories, but no one can seem to remember the last time you were in a vet's office.
Do you even know who to call in the event your pet has an emergency situation? Most accidents seem to occur on a Friday at 4:52 pm. Your local veterinarian's office may be closed; and you may only reach the voice mail, or answering service.
Sit for a moment, and think when the last time your dog received medical care. Look for all immunization records, and previous bills and statements of all services received. Locate your pet insurance statements. Set the proof of insurance letter or card aside.
Local Veterinarian
If your last appointment was with your local veterinarian look up their contact information. Print or write out their regular business hours, and location. Contact the office; ask them if you can request your dog's care records. Offer to send them a self addressed stamped envelope, or drop by the office and pick it up. When speaking with the office ask for a referral for after hour or emergency care hospital. If you do not receive any names, search for an animal hospital.
Emergency Care
Use Google and type in animal hospital and your zip code for a list of after hour care emergency centers. Print off this list and set it aside. Contact these hospitals and ask them for their hours. Be sure to hand write this information onto the list of locations. Services that usually are administered in the animal hospital are x-rays, hospitalizations, prescriptions, lab costs, and diagnostic costs.
File for your dog.
Now that you have all of your proof of pet insurance, medical records, and updated emergency information for your city you can relax. Place all of this information with your family files, in its own special folder. Easily identify this folder by labeling it with your dog's name. Snap a Polaroid or have a digital picture printed out of your dog. Include this picture in your file. If your dog were to become lost, you have a digital picture on your computer and a copy in your file. If an emergency were to occur, you have everything you need to help make things go as smooth as humanly possible.
Choosing to have a dog is a serious commitment that should not be taken lightly. Dogs needs so much love, attention, and the best food and preventative medical care that you can afford. Even with the best care, accidents and hazards are a normal part of life. Make it a priority to keep your dog's emergency information up to date and easily accessible.
