Introduction

The holidays are here, and that means you’re going to be spending a lot more time with your family. You’ll also be spending more time with your pets, which is great! It’s important that you have some plans in place so that if something happens during the holidays, you know what to do right away. This guide will give you some tips on how to deal with emergencies when vets may not be open or available for your pet during this busy time of year.

Make sure you write down your veterinarian’s emergency number.

If there is an emergency and the veterinarian isn’t open, you will need to get your dog to a local emergency animal hospital. Make sure that you have their phone number with you at all times and that it’s written down in multiple places. You should also write down the name of the hospital as well. If possible, keep a copy of this information on your person as well so that if something happens while out walking or running errands, you can call right away instead of trying to find their number in the dark or by candlelight!

Keep an eye out for a pile of vomit.

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• Keep an eye out for a pile of vomit.
• If you see it, get your pet to the vet immediately. It might be something very serious, like pancreatitis or even cancer.
• If your pet has been vomiting for more than 24 hours and hasn’t eaten in at least 36 hours, you should call their physician immediately as well. This can be indicative of a gastrointestinal issue that can lead to dehydration and other complications if left untreated.

Find out if there is an emergency vet in your area.

Here are some other options for finding a vet that can help you with your pet’s emergency:

• Call around to local veterinarians in your area and see if they’re open. Vet clinics often keep their own hours, so it’s worth calling even if the receptionist says they’re closed. You might get lucky and find an emergency clinic or vet who can help you out—and possibly even give you a discount on their services since they’ll be working during off hours. If this doesn’t work, proceed to option 2!
• Search “emergency vets” online. If there’s one near where I live, surely there must be one near yours too! Just make sure to call ahead before heading over so that no time is wasted driving around aimlessly looking for it (especially in snowy conditions). And again: ask about any possible discounts to paying cash upfront versus using insurance plans (if applicable).

Keep calm and keep your pet as calm as possible.

It’s best to keep your pet calm and quiet, as they will pick up on your emotions and get stressed as well. Speak with them in a soothing voice, and offer lots of reassurance if they seem afraid or upset.

Try to stay calm yourself, since your pet will be able to sense how you are feeling.

Don’t assume it will get better by itself.

• Don’t assume it will get better by itself. If you don’t know what is wrong, it could get worse. Even if your pet seems to be getting better on its own, that doesn’t mean everything is normal or back to normal. You should still take him or her in for a checkup with a vet as soon as possible.
• Call around for prices before deciding on a vet clinic. Some places charge less than others for the same services, so asking around can save you some money and time later on.
• If money is an issue and there isn’t anyone else who can help financially at the moment, consider asking friends or family members if they would donate any unused gift cards from their holiday shopping sprees so that they can be used towards paying for your pet’s vet bill instead of going straight into someone else’s pockets!

Before the holidays, make a plan so that you know what to do in case of an emergency.

It’s always good to have a backup plan in case your regular veterinarian is closed. If you have an emergency, here are some things you can do:

• At least a week before the holidays, make sure that your pet has all of their vaccinations up to date. This includes rabies and distemper vaccines as well as any other necessary shots for your pet’s age and breed. Make sure that these are not expired as well!
• Talk with your vet about what kind of emergency care they recommend in case there isn’t an open vet nearby during the holidays. They may recommend taking them straight to an emergency clinic or even having them brought home by taxi if necessary! The last thing you want is for your pet to suffer needlessly because of lack of preparedness on your part!
• Make sure that everyone knows where the nearest animal hospital is located so that they can take their furry friend there if needed (or even follow behind). You should also have directions printed out just in case someone gets lost on the way there…

Emergencies can happen at anytime, but hopefully this guide will help you know what to do in case one happens during the holidays.

Even if you don’t have an emergency with your pet, it is still a good idea to keep the phone number of your nearest emergency vet clinic handy. Emergencies can happen at any time. Keep the address and phone number of all local emergency clinics in case you need them. In addition, having copies of your pet’s vaccination records and medical history on hand are also helpful for emergencies.

While some vets offer 24-hour care during the holidays, other clinics may not be open as regularly. You might want to check ahead before going out for dinner or drinks with friends so you know what will be available should something go wrong with your pet while away from home or work during this time period.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has helped you to prepare for an emergency during the holidays. You may not be able to control when and where emergencies happen, but you can control how prepared you are when they happen!