What to Bring to the Emergency Vet

During a pet emergency, it can be hard to focus on anything except the situation in front of you. If you have to visit the emergency vet, remember to bring what you need. This guide can help you with the logistics of what to bring to the emergency vet, providing quick, easy information when you need it.

Medical Records

The next time you visit your regular veterinarian, try to get either an electronic or a physical copy of your pet’s medical records. These will be important for an emergency vet, and can help them treat your pet quickly and confidently. Storing a copy in your email means that you will always have it with you and can easily forward them onto the emergency vet during a visit.

List of Medications

It’s very important to have a readily available list of the medications your pet is taking. Certain medications may interact with others, and the emergency vet needs to know which should be off limits. Be sure to include the dosage your pet takes and the last time it was given. 

Your Information

Don’t forget to pack your ID and emergency contact details. You will need to fill out paperwork, and it would be helpful if you could access this information easily. Include your regular veterinarian’s contact information in case the emergency doctor needs to contact them. 

Pet Supplies

Bring a secure leash or pet carrier for transporting your pet to the emergency clinic. You should also pack some food and portable bowls, in case you are gone longer than you expect. It is a good idea to bring a blanket or a favorite toy to comfort your pet during this scary situation. 

Medical Samples

If your pet is vomiting or having diarrhea, try to bring a sample if you can. If you think your pet ingested something, try to bring a piece of it with you. This will help the emergency vet with a diagnosis, which can expedite treatment.

Things to Do

Here’s a quick list of things to do during a pet emergency to get the care your pet needs as soon as possible:

• Call the emergency vet to let them know you’re coming and what kind of emergency you’re experiencing.
• Create a bag of emergency supplies (you might want to do this ahead of time so you can easily grab it when you need it).
• Bring payment with you. You can use various types of payment (cash, debit card, and credit card. You may want to sign up for pet insurance now so it can help cover some of the costs of emergency care. Or apply ahead for veterinary care finance programs such as CareCredit or Scratchpay to be ready.

This guide can help you create a checklist of what you need to bring to the emergency vet, and have that ready so that you can focus on getting your pet the emergency care they need.

Emergency Pet Care When You Need It

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing quality veterinary care. We hope you never need to use these services, but we are here to help you through a pet emergency if you ever have one. Call (248) 334-6877 if you’re experiencing a pet emergency.