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Having a sick or injured dog is one of the hardest parts of being a dog owner. If your dog has or eaten something toxic, injured while playing, or worse, been attacked by another dog or hit by a car, they likely will need emergency treatment at a veterinary hospital. If a human is very sick or injured, you can call 911 and be transported to the hospital via an ambulance. But for sick and injured dogs, the options looks a bit different. If you need to bring your dog in for emergency care, here are tips for how to best transport your dog to the hospital.
What to Bring to the Veterinary Hospital
When bringing your dog to the hospital, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible with information about your dog’s health. Bring copies of your dog’s veterinary records, including their vaccination history. It’s helpful to have records in an easy-to-find location, so you can easily grab them before going to the vet hospital. You’ll also want to have a leash and a well-fitted collar or harness for your dog. If your dog takes any daily medication, bring those with you as well. This makes it possible for the emergency veterinarians to know what dosage your dog has taken, which can help them know what other medications are safe or unsafe to give your dog.
Call Ahead
If you need to bring your dog to a veterinary hospital, call ahead and let them know you’re on your way. This can help the veterinary hospital staff be ready to treat your dog quickly when you arrive at the hospital. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, some communities have experienced veterinary shortages that impact access to emergency care. By calling ahead, you might be able to get an estimated wait time before your dog will receive treatment, or learn if the hospital is full, and they can’t see to your dog at this time. In this case, clinic staff will be able to let you know if they’re diverting patients to other animal hospitals or urgent care clinics in the area.
Traveling in the Car
When you’re on your way to the clinic, it’s important to keep your dog calm in the car. If you have a crate or carrier for your dog, that’s the safest way to transport them. A crate will prevent your dog from moving around while driving to the hospital, which can keep your dog calm and prevent further injuries. If you can’t fit a crate in your car, or you’re unable to get your dog into the crate because of their injury, use a dog seatbelt or car harness in the backseat. This will help keep your dog still for the drive, which can prevent additional injuries from occurring while getting to the vet. If possible, have someone your dog is familiar with ride with them in the backseat. Have them continue to monitor your dog’s condition while traveling to the veterinary hospital.
Transporting Without a Car
If you live in an urban area, you may not have a car to bring your dog to the hospital in an emergency. In this case, one option is to see if a friend or family member nearby would be able to drive you and your dog. For transporting your dog independently, many ride-share companies like Uber have a pet-specific option that allows you to request a car for you and your dog with a driver who allows pets in their vehicle. Some areas also have pet taxi services that can be scheduled in advance or called in an emergency. If you don’t have a car of your own, plan ahead by looking at options in your local area, so you’ll know what your options are in the event of an emergency.
Try Not to Panic
Having a sick or injured dog is scary and upsetting. While traveling your dog to the vet, it’s important to try and remain calm. Our dogs look to us for guidance. If we’re upset, our dog is likely going to pick up that and worry. If you’re able to manage your own anxiety, you’ll be better able to explain symptoms or details about how your dog was injured to the hospital triage team. Your ability to remain calm can also help your dog not to be panicked while you get to the clinic and when they begin receiving treatment.
Respect Your Dog’s Personal Space
It’s natural to want to comfort your sick or injured dog. But at the same time, you’ll want to respect your dog’s personal space. Many dogs don’t enjoy being hugged at the best of times, and most find it unpleasant or upsetting when sick or injured. Just like people, dogs who are sick and injured are more likely to be irritable and uncomfortable being handled. Provide comfort to your dog with soothing words and gentle petting. However, pay close attention to your dog’s body language to make sure they’re enjoying the petting and avoid smothering your dog or invading their personal space while getting to the hospital.
Consider Bite Risk
Even the most gentle dogs who are socialized and well-trained can get scared and resort to biting. If your dog has been injured and is being transported to a veterinary hospital, it’s a good idea to put a muzzle on your dog before lifting and moving them. Moving your dog could cause unintentional pain and your dog could snap or bite. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to muzzle train dogs in advance, so they’ll be calm and comfortable wearing one in a medical emergency. However, sick dogs who are vomiting should never wear a muzzle as it can lead to choking.
Safely Lifting Your Dog
If you have a large dog who is unable to walk on their own, you can utilize sheets or blankets to help get your dog to your car safely. For dogs who are struggling to walk, you can put the blanket under their abdomen and lift, taking your dog’s weight off a sore or injured leg as they move towards the car. If your dog is injured and cannot get up, you’ll want to create a stretcher to lift your dog to the car. The goal of a stretcher is to lift your dog’s body evenly without causing other injuries. Very large dogs will likely require multiple people to lift them.
Most dog owners don’t have a stretcher at home, but you can create one in an emergency using a sturdy flat object, such as a board, that will hold your dog’s weight. The goal of a stretcher is to keep your dog immobilized and prevent twisting of your dog’s neck and back, which could cause further injury. In the event of a serious injury, call the veterinary hospital and seek advice about how best to transport your dog with their specific injury and what symptoms you’re seeing.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.