It’s easy to get lost in a panic if your animal has been hurt, especially if the injury seems serious. As their owners, though, our composure directly affects how our pets feel. You can take command of the stressful situation to ensure your pet doesn’t suffer further damage and that you don’t get hurt in the commotion, either.
Stay Calm
Amidst the panic, it’s crucial for you to stay calm, even though you might be freaking out on the inside. Keeping level-headed doesn’t mean caressing your animal, though. While you’ll instinctively want to soothe them, their high stress levels could cause them to lash out without a second thought.
To keep yourself safe so you can in turn take proper care of your pet, wrap them in a blanket or place a muzzle on their snout to avoid bites and scratches.
Check for Injuries
Once you’ve created a safe environment for yourself, you can then move on to evaluating their condition. It’s possible for your pet to be suffering from more than one thing at a time, so do a full-scope examination of their body, checking for bleeding, broken bones, agitation, breathing difficulties, and wounds.
Handle with Care
Naturally, you’ll have to move your animal carefully to avoid creating more harm. To do so, place them in a pet carrier or lay them on a towel–whatever you can do to keep their weight evenly distributed. Support their head, neck, and pelvis to lift them onto the makeshift stretcher, and phone a friend for assistance if your pet weighs over 30 pounds. If you don’t feel like you can safely transport your pet to the emergency clinic, contact your veterinarian for support.
Call your emergency veterinary hospital for immediate care around the clock if you suspect your pet is injured.
