If you need emergency care for your pet, the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) offers listings for emergency clinics in the United States, Canada and other countries. You can also search for an American Animal Hospital Association-(AAHA) accredited hospital to ensure the highest standards and best care for your pet. The AAHA is the only organization that accredits animal hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. Other important contact numbers appear at the bottom of this page.
Talk to your vet before you ever leave home about potential problems that could affect your pet while traveling. He or she is skilled to provide insight about common injuries and illnesses that pets can likely encounter on the go.
Additionally, be sure to keep your vet’s contact information handy in case you need to call for help or advice while away from home traveling with your pet. It’s also a good idea to take along numbers of pet emergency organizations, such as the National Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435.
Here are a few tips to consider, pet first-aid items to take with you, and emergency contact information for pets should your pet become injured or lost:
- Always take along information about your pet, including photos, breed, age, sex, color, and medical records.
- If you are staying at a pet-friendly accommodation and your pet needs to be seen by a professional, check with the front desk about local veterinarian recommendations.
- Pets often encounter minor gastrointestinal discomforts because of motion or eating prior to traveling. If your pet has diarrhea or is vomiting, try not giving food or water for several hours to see if the problem subsides.
- If you observe a condition in your pet that you feel needs medical attention, you should make the appropriate contact with a local vet or pet hospital. Check this website for veterinarian and pet hospital listings or the local phone book in the town where you’re traveling.
Pet First-Aid Kit
Minor injuries and illnesses can usually be treated with the proper first-aid. Be familiar with the items you pack in your pet’s first-aid kit in case you need to use them. Here’s a list of some of the more common items:
- Powder Styptic (toenail bleeding)
- Latex Gloves (personal protection from blood)
- Sterile Gauze Bandage (wrap wounds)
- Eye & Skin Wash (flush wounds)
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment (wound)
- Hydrocortisone Cream (rashes, itching)
- Iodine Antiseptic wipes (sterilization)
- Insect sting wipes (apply to insect bites/stings)
- Adhesive Tape (secure bandage)
- Gauze Pad (apply to wounds)
- Scissors (trim hair and cut bandage or tape)
- Hand Wipes (personal cleanup)
- Antiseptic Towelettes (clean wound or hands)
- Cotton Swabs (apply ointments or creams)
- Pet Care Card (detailed first aid instructions)
- Pet Emergency Card (record your vet’s emergency #’s)
- Plastic Forceps (splinters/tick removal)
Get Help Locating Your Lost Pet
AKC-CAR (Companion Animal Recovery)
24-hour recovery services for micro-chipped and tattooed pets
(800) 252-7894
5580 Centerview Drive, Suite 250
Raleigh, NC 27606-3389
Tattoo-A-Pet
(800) TATTOOS
(800-828-8667)
1-800-HELP-FOR-PETS
(310) 652-9837
Awolpet.com
(888) 743-6465
Pets 911
(888) PETS-911
Pet Finders
(800) 666-5678
http://www.petfinder.com
Help Me Find My Pet
(866) 699-FIND (3463)
http://www.helpmefindmypet.com/
Emergency Preparedness
If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding, you should be prepared with a well thought out plan to evacuate and have the supplies and emergency shelter you need for you and your pet. Consider these tips for Emergency Preparedness.
PetTravelCenter.com is an Internet resource website and online community serving the pet travel industry and pet lovers everywhere. Information about pet-friendly accommodations and destinations, RV parks, dog parks and campgrounds, tips for traveling with pets using various modes of transportation, recreational activities with pets, articles by pet experts, a photo gallery to post images of your pet travels, and special features, including a monthly newsletter for PTC Club members, are included in the site.