Sausage dogs, dachshunds, doxies, wiener dogs… While they might have lots of different names, that unique dachshund shape makes them one of the most recognizable dogs around. Dachshunds are also incredibly popular, often ranking high among the top breeds in the country.
Many sausage dog fans love their cute appearance and small stature, while others praise their feisty spirit and fierce loyalty. But how much do you know about wiener dogs? Keep reading to learn some fascinating facts about dachshunds!
Badgers Beware!
One of the most surprising dachshund facts is that this breed was custom-made to dig its way into badger dens and chase them out. In fact, ‘dachshund’ means ‘badger dog’ in German, with a breed history that dates back around 600 years.
Their low, long bodies made dachshunds perfect for tracking scents and squeezing through badger burrows. But, they didn’t just hunt badgers. Over the centuries, breeders also created smaller versions, with mini dachshund facts explaining that these were bred for hunting rabbits, hares, and foxes.
Little, Loyal, and Loud
With their stubby legs and long sausage-like bodies, dachshunds aren’t made for strenuous exercise. But don’t let that cute wiener dog packaging fool you. While dachshund fans will love these adorable wiener dog gifts, anyone who’s owned a sausage dog will know how loyal and protective they can be.
As for their big-dog bark, another of the most interesting facts about dachshunds is that breeders made sure their bark was loud enough to resonate from inside the badger dens. Nowadays, this makes wiener dogs perfect for scaring away intruders.
Dachshunds Inspired the First Olympic Mascot
With their big personalities and admirable qualities, it’s no wonder that the wiener dog was the inspiration for the first official Olympic mascot.
We can thank German graphic designer Elena Winschermann this, who created a rainbow-colored dachshund called Waldi as the symbol for the Munich 1972 Olympic games. As well as being a cheerful and positive symbol of Germany’s past and future, Waldi represented desirable athletic qualities like agility, resistance, and tenacity.
The Wiener Came Before the Wiener Dog
If the other wiener dog facts on this list surprised you, how about getting your head around this one – wieners were named after dachshunds long before dachshunds were called wiener dogs.
Now, we all call dachshunds wiener dogs or sausage dogs because their long bodies resemble hotdogs. But the original name for the hotdog was a dachshund sausage, so-called because it looked like the dog breed. Later, the name hotdog became more popular while the name wiener dog stuck when referring to dachshunds.
Fascinating Facts About Dachshunds
Which of these facts about dachshunds surprised you the most?
Even if you’re a dachshund lover or a proud doxie parent, you might not have realized how much of a long history this dog breed has. Or indeed, that every part of a dachshund, from their low body to their loud bark, was fine-tuned for hunting.
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How active is your dog? The truth is that many people know how to choose the right dog breeds, feed them, and protect them from diseases, but they know very little about taking care of their fitness.
If only they knew the importance of exercising their pets, they would create workout routines that incorporate them.
Exercising with your dog has a lot of benefits, ranging from health to general well-being. However, you also need to know what suits both of you to avoid putting your pet through unfavorable conditions. For instance, your dog may only be looking for fun during the workout while you are looking to meet your weight loss goals.
Some of the exercises that you can try with your favorite pet include the following: on-leash and off-leash walks, swimming, running and biking, brain exercises, agility, lure chasing, and fly ball.
Read on to understand why you should be exercising with a dog whenever you have the opportunity.
Exercise Eliminates Behavioral Problems
If your dog has behavioral problems that are difficult to correct, you may want to try regular exercises and see how much it helps. Sometimes, they behave weirdly because they are stressed or do not like their environment. Activities allow them to try something different, and this is likely to change their behavior.
Anxiety and excessive barking are some of the most common behavioral problems among these pets. You will notice that dogs bark even when there is no reason to do so. This behavior can be annoying, especially if you do not like the noise and disturbance that comes with it.
Help Your Dog Attain the Right Weight
Like humans, animals need to be in the right shape to enjoy a comfortable life. If your dog is too fat, you can be sure that it will not behave the way it should. Excess weight puts too much pressure on their body system, which alters the way they react to situations.
Dogs do use calories during workouts, which helps them be in the best shape to enjoy a wide variety of activities. Whether you keep them for sports, hunting, or any other reason, you want to make sure that they are fit and flexible. It all depends on how active they are.
It Improves a Dog’s Health
When you look at this nylon dog leash from Dog’s Love Store, you notice that dog exercise equipment is designed to help them achieve various health goals. You’ll be getting the perfect balance between giving you dog freedom and controlling its movement. Exercises help their bodies to create a hormonal balance that keeps diseases at bay.
You may have once visited a vet with your sickly dog, and they asked you to exercise them. This may baffle you, but some of these common diseases can be eliminated through simple exercises. For example, dogs may suffer from joint pains because of inactivity but will be alright once they start exercising.
Exercises Improve the Digestive System
Another reason you should exercise with your dog is to help him improve his digestive system. Usually, dogs experience digestive problems relating to the composition of the foods that they take. This can lead to stomach bloating and abdominal pains, which can sometimes get unbearable for the poor animal.
Through exercise, the body can produce necessary enzymes that make it easy for the digestive system to function optimally. It also helps to cut infections in the stomach and intestines, allowing a dog to eat various kinds of foods without suffering from indigestion. Proper digestion means that all nutrients are absorbed, and so, your dog will be even healthier.
Boost Your Dog’s Confidence
Any reliable vet will tell you that improving a dog’s confidence is no mean task. You have to use various activities and spend a lot of time to make them change their attitude. However, you can also use exercises to achieve the same results without spending too much time.
As you work out with the dog, you understand that they are part of your life, so they start acting in the same manner. You will notice that they will be more confident when going out and even when confronted by other dogs. They will also know how to defend themselves in various situations.
Makes a Dog More Loyal
A loyal family dog is one of the best pets that you can ever have. When they take commands from you and execute them, you know that you have a friend that will help you improve the quality of your life. For example, if your dog’s main role is to boost security, you want to make sure that they do not take instructions from anyone else but you.
Since you are the only person who issues commands during training, they will learn to only listen to your voice. They will respond to every instruction the same way they respond when you ask them to run or jump during exercise sessions. By building loyalty, you create a relationship that benefits both of you.
Strengthen Your Bond
Do you want to strengthen the bond between you and your dog? There is no better way of doing this than taking him with you whenever you go out to exercise. Whether you are walking around the neighborhood or running and biking, taking him with you will make him feel part of your life, and that is how he gets more attached to you.
This method works best when you are dealing with a new dog. Maybe you bought or adopted a pet, and you have no idea what they like. To understand them better, you will want to take them out to play and see the activities that they like.
Leads to an Obedient Dog
Obedience is one of the first characters you would want to instill in a dog, whether you are breeding a puppy or buying a grown-up pet. Without obedience, you will find it difficult to coexist, especially when the pet is too aggressive. You want to ensure that they follow your rules.
Obedience has everything to do with feeding, playing, interacting with other humans, and undertaking any other activity. Although dog trainers spend a lot of time trying to make dogs obedient, you can do it through exercises. Use the training sessions to let your dogs understand what you expect from them and teach them to respect your rules.
Once you know how to use exercises to instill obedience in your dogs, you will notice that they become easy to manage. They know when they should be feeding and when they should be playing. They also know when it is time to lock them up, so they will not give you problems.
Better Socialization for Your Dog
Sometimes, you may notice that your dog likes spending time alone, even when there are other pets in the same area. They may also become uncomfortable when there are too many people around, which can lead to other serious problems. Through exercising, you can help them to get used to being around people and other dogs.
Socializing starts from the time you introduce group activities during the training sessions. For instance, when you are playing fly ball with your dog, you will have to spin the ball and let them run after it. That is how they learn to include others in their activities.
You can make it much easier if you bring more than one dog to the training session. If you own one dog, you may want to ask your neighbors to join you in the exercise so that the animals can share in the fun. You will notice that after a few sessions, the dog that loved to spend time alone will be looking for friends to play with all the time.
Your Dog Gets a Sharper Mind
Dogs may not be as attentive and sharp as you want them to, which happens a lot. It may be because of their health or environmental factors. Sometimes, their minds are clogged, and they only need an activity that will help them open up.
Some people recommend various therapies to help dogs develop sharp minds, but very few can beat the power of exercising a dog. If you can get them to be alert and attentive during exercises, you can achieve the same in every aspect of their lives.
Dogs with sharper minds can be good companions wherever you go because they act on their instincts and know how to stay safe even when you are not looking out for them. They can also help you to meet your fitness goals during exercises.
Importance of Exercising Your Dog
From these benefits, you have more reasons to embrace the importance of exercising your dog. It may not be very easy if you have never done it. If that is the case, get an expert to help you initiate your dog into a workout routine.
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A dog is the best companion you can ever have at home – but they’re not humans, and sometimes their behaviors can get out of hand. Disobedient dogs portray various annoying behaviors, including attacking other dogs and nervousness.
If you notice some unusual and annoying behaviors with your lovely friend, it’s a good indication that you need to take them to obedience school. Sometimes your dog doesn’t need to portray bad manners for you to enroll them for obedience training. Any dog needs training so it can bond well with the human way of life.
Are you wondering whether you should take your lovely pooch to obedience school or not? Here are some reasons to do so.
Your Dog Is Stingy
If your dog growls and snarls when you get closer to their possessions, you need to enroll them in some training program. If your dog gets snarly when you get close to their toys or food, they’re portraying a behavior known as resource guarding. The dog portrays this behavior because they believe they’re protecting something they hold in high value.
Most dogs portray resource guarding behavior because you’ve gotten them used to getting whatever they want whenever they show their teeth. Take your dog to an obedience trainer who’ll teach them lessons on when to leave and take things.
A Young Dog Needs Obedience School
It’s a good idea to start training dogs when they’re puppies because they haven’t learned any bad habits yet. The right age is between 8-12 weeks until they’re about 6-12 months of age. It’s much easier to train a young dog than an older one.
Don’t wait until your little friend starts to annoy you before taking them to school. Treat your puppies like little kids that are easily distracted and uncoordinated. It might be too late to wait until your dog is old enough, as some obedience trainers only admit puppies.
Your Dog Bites
If your dog starts to bite you and is aggressive to everyone, including other dogs, it needs some pet training. A dog that hasn’t been socialized will feel anxious and aggressive to people and situations they find threatening. That feeling of fear and sense of insecurity will make them start biting to protect themselves.
Taking your dog to obedience school and socializing them is the best way to reduce their anxiety. They’ll learn to behave around others and be more-friendly to their owners and people around.
Obedience School Helps Foster Relationship With Your Dog
The main reason why many people choose to own pets is so that they develop a lovely relationship. But that won’t happen if your dear friend is aggressive and doesn’t allow you to take a step near them. Consider attending obedience school together with your pup as the classes focus on both the pet and the owner.
Many obedient schools have lessons for dog owners as well. They’ll teach you how to teach and bond with your dogs.
They’ll also educate you on various dog breeds and their behaviors, so you know how to handle them. For instance, you’ll understand a Presa Canario breed’s behaviors versus a Cane Corso breed. This way, you know how to train and interact with them individually.
Instilling positive reinforcement on your dog enhances the relationship between the two of you. Proper training enables you and your dog to understand each other. It’s an excellent chance to teach your dog new commands and interact easily.
Your Dog Barks Unnecessarily
If your dog often wakes you up in the middle of the night with some anxious barking, you know how annoying this can be. There are many reasons why dogs bark but excessive barking can be disturbing.
They might be scared or simply marking their territory. Other times, the dog might be alerting you of intruders. Others are just vocal and will bark even when a plate falls from your kitchen sink.
Understand what triggers their barking and let a professional trainer help you come up with a course of action. Sometimes, the solution to this problem may be as simple as keeping your dog busy, so they forget to bark.
If they bark whenever a family member arrives from work, train them to move to some part of the house so they don’t see each other. You can also introduce a toy and get them to play around the same time they usually bark.
Your Dog Chews Things
Every dog owner has at one point came back home to a shock of a lifetime. Your beautiful couch has been torn down to pieces, and the culprit is none other than your lovely dog. Dogs can chew anything from your clothes to your favorite pair of shoes.
If your dog seems to be developing this behavior, an obedience school may be the solution. You can also try practicing a new command to eliminate boredom, which can cause chewing.
Also, consider introducing your dog to a new activity. This way, they’ll be too tired to remember to chew the house down whenever you leave them alone.
Your Puppy Jumps on Guests
Just because you love dogs doesn’t mean everyone does. Some people feel uncomfortable near dogs, and it will be a shame to see your dog jumping on them, trying to cuddle. A dog that jumps on strangers is also in danger because someone can take them away.
Keep your dog safe and accord your guests the respect they deserve by enrolling them in obedience training. They can learn common commands such as teaching them to sit whenever there are guests around. Reinforce this behavior by giving them some treats and praises whenever they behave well.
Is It Time for Dog Training?
There are many ways to train your dog and get them to behave. Even dogs that have been to obedience school before can still portray some unpleasant behaviors. So, theirs is no specific period or age to enroll your dog in some obedience training.
Need more help understanding your dog and growing a stronger relationship? We have you covered with more educative content in this blog.
When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes? Tips to Teach Your Puppy This Basic Habit
Puppies are born with the capability to open their eyes at birth. When they were born, they cannot see or even move their eyes, but after a few days, their eyes can move and they can see. It is during the third month of life or shortly after birth when do puppies open their eyes. However, it is not just the newborn puppies that open their eyes after three months. Even older dogs and cats can do this.
If you have ever watched a newborn puppy try to hold its eye open, you probably know that is very difficult to do. To begin with, newborn puppies cannot fully stretch their eyelids to open them. It takes a lot of strain and effort on their part. Also, when they are being born, the eyes are very sensitive and the slightest touch or movement will send them into shock. Therefore, they do not know how to distinguish between light and dark.
When they become older, they can hold their eyelids open.
However, they do not have the same confidence that they once possessed, and they often do not like to be touched. Their temperament also makes them have a high prey drive. Therefore, when a veterinarian comes to take a look at your newly born puppy, they are not going to just go along with the routine of grooming and nail clippers. The first thing that the vet is going to do is to check out your newborn puppies’ sight.
He will gently lift the eyelid of the puppy and examine the inside of the eye. For him to have a better view of the inside of the eye, he may lean forward and look into the puppy’s eye through his glasses. He will also look through the puppy’s chin and check out the throat. He may even reach behind the puppy and carefully feel the back of the head. He may use one of his fingers to gently feel the corner of the mouth and the side of the nose as well.
When the vet has checked out everything and your newborn does not appear to be in any discomfort, he is going to start evaluating when do puppies open their eyes. He will want to start with the right side. Puppies who sleep well and wake up easily are going to be able to go right back to sleep. However, if your puppy is having a hard time getting back to sleep, the vet may begin to rotate both eyes. This is done so the puppy can get used to seeing both eyes at once.
Once the evaluation is complete and the puppy’s sight has been assessed, the vet will give him a prescription for eye drops.
These drops will help to reduce inflammation and redness. At this time, you are going to want to begin training your puppy. You want to establish eye-hand coordination by holding onto your puppy’s hand as he stares into your eyes. Be sure to praise him each time he follows your command.
When do puppies open their eyes? About six weeks after the puppies arrived home, it will become easier to teach them. Be patient. It will take a little time but you will eventually be able to have your puppy see you and look directly at you.
After about a month, you should be able to take your puppy out and look at him. At that point, you should be able to train him to stay on his own. It is also important to remember that puppies learn through experience. As your puppy sits on your lap and looks into your eyes, he is actually seeing you. Eventually, he is going to look right into your eyes. That is when he learns to respect you and trust you.
Dog Pregnancy Calculator – A Useful Tool For New Puppy Owners or Breeders
This dog pregnancy calculator from Omni will help you give information an estimate of the due date. So when your dog will give birth? using the calculator not only to know when to expect but you can prepare for the new puppies coming.
Dog Pregnancy Calculator
Share your result on social media to show that you expecting new family members!
Using A Dog Pregnancy Calculator
A dog pregnancy calculator is a tool that helps dog owners keep track of their dog’s growing belly, during early stages and at full term. This tool is very convenient to use. You simply input the month of birth of your dog and then the dog pregnancy calculator will tell you what the estimated delivery date might be. The dog pregnancy calendar is very similar to pregnancy calendars used by women. A calendar can help you keep track of your own pregnancy and the progress of your dog.
Your dog pregnancy calculator uses different values for your dog’s age, breed, weight, and number of puppies to calculate your dog’s fetal growth. This is why it is called a dog pregnancy calculator. It takes into account a wide range of critical factors that can affect the outcome of your dog’s pregnancy. By using this dog pregnancy calculator you can find out if you are being too careful with your dog’s health.
By using your dog pregnancy calculator, you will also get to see how many weeks along with your dog’s pregnancy you are. Using this valuable tool allows you to plan and make decisions about additional vet care that you will need. You can also work out your financial implications of having a dog pregnancy.
Planning your dog’s pregnancy ahead of time can really help with keeping track of your dog’s progress throughout the months of pregnancy.
You can monitor your dog’s temperature, blood pressure, heartbeat, and other vital signs. By seeing this data in a chart, you will be able to check whether your dog needs any special attention or any vaccinations. In addition to monitoring these vital signs of your dog, a dog pregnancy calculator can also help you to learn more about how your dog is feeling. You can determine whether your dog is anxious scared, depressed, or timid and can learn more about any unusual symptoms.
If you choose to use a dog pregnancy calculator, you can use it before your dog gives birth to learn whether your dog has any early fetal indicators. By using this tool, you can see if your dog’s weight has increased or decreased by the time of delivery. This will help you to have an idea of your dog’s normal weight gain or loss throughout the pregnancy. This essential knowledge will allow you to adjust your dosage of medicine to suit your dog’s needs.
The most basic of dog pregnancy calculators only require your dog’s weight gain or loss at the time of delivery to calculate your dog’s chances of having puppies. More elaborate dog pregnancy calculators will allow you to calculate the likelihood of multiple pregnancies. They will also give you the statistics regarding Pregnant dogs. Some will even give you information about the father (if sired) of the dog. These statistics are essential when choosing a dog and can greatly improve your dog’s odds of having puppies.
Your dog pregnancy calculator is an essential tool that should be part of your dog’s healthcare regimen.
It can help you keep track of your dog’s weight gain or loss during the entire pregnancy. Also, you can use it to monitor your dog’s progress throughout the nine months of the pregnancy.
Keep in mind that your dog pregnancy calculator is only as accurate as of its creator. If you find an inaccuracy in the calculations, you are not stuck with it. You can always update and try another dog pregnancy calculator. Alternatively, you can just keep using the one that works for you. Either way, you’ll be doing your dog and yourself a favor by taking the time to learn how to accurately calculate your dog’s pregnancy rate.
A dog pregnancy calculator is one of the tools dog breeders use to keep track of the pregnant dog’s growing condition.
What is the approximate Average Length of a Dog Pregnancy? Well, the average pregnant dog usually takes up to three months to give birth, which is if she’s doing everything right. If you have any doubt as to your dog’s ability to become pregnant, consult with a veterinarian.
A dog pregnancy calculator can determine how many puppies your dog will be able to carry during her pregnancy. By inputting the number of puppies to be born, the pregnancy calendar, and the estimated time left for conception, you get the result of how many puppies are on the way. This can help you decide if you still want to bring your dog into the world or if you should just wait a little longer and try again. It also helps you estimate how big your dog will grow to be.
Can your dog be pregnant even if she has been urinating regularly?
A dog pregnancy calculator can tell you this, too. Most of these pregnancy calculators come equipped with an “estimate time” function. You can input the estimated date of conception and the date of birth of your dog. The calculator will then show you if the result will be successful or not. Note that these do not work in cases where the dog has already been given birth.
How soon should you get your dog tested by a veterinarian? Like humans, dogs can have various pregnancy signs. You don’t need to be a specialist to tell if your dog is pregnant. If you have a friend who has a dog, ask her about her dog’s behavior. In most cases, observant dogs will let you know when they’re pregnant. However, you need to take your dog to the veterinarian to be sure.
Can you have more than one dog?
Yes, dogs are capable of conceiving multiple puppies. But this process does take longer. You can either choose to keep all of your dogs during the pregnancy or get your dog a temporary “puppy loan” from a reputable breeder.
What health risks might arise during the entire process?
Giving birth is not entirely safe for both the mother and the puppies. They can suffer from dehydration, complications arising from anesthesia, and even death. The mother can suffer from shock, depression, and behavioral problems as well. All dogs undergoing dog pregnancy should be taken to the veterinarian for checkups.
Can you induce your dog to get pregnant using drugs?
Yes, certain drugs can be used to induce the dog to become pregnant. But these drugs have various side effects and they also put the life of the puppies in jeopardy. The best way to induce a dog to become pregnant is by using a dog pregnancy calculator.
How is the conception of the puppies influenced by the time of the year? The conception of the puppies during the warmer months of the year is much easier compared to the wintertime when the air temperature goes below freezing. You should try to get your dog to have an estrus cycle where the dog is most fertile. Puppies usually get their chance to conceive once they reach approximately 8 weeks of age after their mother has given birth.
What are the signs of the development stage of the puppies?
Various signs are indicating the development stage of the puppies like wheezing or coughing, whining or howling, decreased appetite, and increased urination. The dog pregnancy calculator will help you monitor your puppy’s development stage through these indications.
What are the things that should be avoided by the owners when their dogs give birth to them? Do not fail to give your dog a sufficient amount of rest after having given birth. When your dog gives birth to your baby, she needs more time to recover since she is not used to having babies. The dog pregnancy calculator can be very useful for owners who want to monitor the changes that their dogs are going through after having given birth.
During the entire process, you should keep track of every single symptom your dog exhibits.
The veterinarian will give you the complete details about the changes your dog is going through. By giving your dog regular checkups, it will be easier for you to notice any possible problems that your dog might have during the pregnancy. Remember that having a puppy is fun but it also has its own set of responsibilities. Keeping an eye on the development of your puppies and seeing to it that your dog receives proper care from the vet is very important.
How To Using a Dog Pregnancy Calculator
It is easy for dog owners to get excited when it tells them their dog has had a dog pregnancy. However, the same can also be said for dog owners who are not dog owners. Now, dog pregnancy and labor can occur just as easily for dogs as for us humans. Luckily, though, this does not need to be a worrisome matter if you learn how to properly handle and plan for it. To begin, let’s break down a dog pregnancy timeline.
First, let us discuss how your dog pregnancy works. During the entire nine-month dog pregnancy, the puppies cannot have puppies. This means that, for the first three weeks, your dog is nursing or nursing for every dog week. At the end of the third week, the puppies will be able to have babies. This will happen in weeks five, six, seven, and eight – but the earlier the better!
One thing to remember about puppies during pregnancy is that they are very sensitive to changes in their environment.
This includes the temperature, the lighting, and even the smells around them. This sensitivity means that they will more than likely try to get away from you, especially if they are whelping. A good way to distract your dog is to place a few cookies or small pieces of cutlery in his favorite place. If he starts to nurse, you can distract him again by placing a dog biscuit nearby.
During the first trimester of the pregnancy, the puppies are most sensitive to changes in their surroundings. Because this is the most active time of the pregnancy, it is recommended that you keep your dog in a crate or dog cage all day. Leave your dog in there all night, but don’t let him go home. Instead, spend some quiet time with your dog and just play with him. He will be content knowing that you are nearby, and he will sleep better at night.
As the week progresses, the puppies will start to eat less.
They are still nursing, so the amount of food they are eating is significantly less than the amount they were eating during the last trimester of the pregnancy. You will probably notice that they aren’t as exciting as they used to be and may seem a little down. Don’t worry, though – these are just early signs that the pregnancy is progressing correctly.
About two weeks into the pregnancy, the puppies will be born. At this time, they will begin to gain weight. The weight gain will continue as they enter the second and final trimester of the pregnancy. When you add up all of the weight gains over the first trimester, you will see how many months it took to bring these new puppies into the world.
At week five, the pregnancy is complete.
The dog is born healthy and is ready to take on all of life’s challenges. Now it is time to decide what dog food to give your dog. Since the pregnancy has been long, you must make sure that you are feeding your dog the proper dog food for a nine-month period.
Your dog pregnancy timeline starts with week one. From there, you will be able to tell how far along in the pregnancy your dog is. Note that all puppies, even those who have only had one pregnancy, can have more than one delivery within their nine-month period of life. Keep track of how many trips to the vet that you need to make during the nine-month period. If you keep track of your dog’s pregnancy, you will be able to determine when it is time to give birth.
When your beloved animal is in an emergency, it can cause panic, stress, and anxiety for both pet and owner. If you’re unsure of what to do, it can be a dreadful experience.
However, there are ways to prevent and prepare yourself for a possible animal emergency. Take a look at some of the information below on what you can do during an emergency.
Call Your Vet
It’s important to call your vet straight away in any pet emergency. Always keep your regular vet’s contact number stored in your phone, along with a local emergency vet.
Your vet may be able to offer advice on how to handle the emergency before taking your pet to the clinic. For example, if your pet is bleeding, it’s important to apply pressure to the wound.
Make Sure Your Pet Is Safe
you must move your pet to a safe location while arranging veterinary care. Some pets can get spooked by an accident or feeling unwell and may attempt to run away or hide.
For example, if your pet has been run over by a car, move him out of the road and out of sunlight and keep him on a lead at all times. If you’re at home, you may want to crate your pet or move him to a small, secure room like the bathroom.
Take Everything You Need
Before rushing out of the door, be sure to collect everything you need to take with you. Take your phone, keys and wallet- you don’t know how long you may have to wait.
It can also help your vet to take samples if your dog is unwell. If you know your dog has eaten something, you could take a sample of it with you. Similarly, if your dog or cat has diarrhea, it can help to collect a stool sample for your vet to examine.
Be Careful With Your Pet
Your pet may already have anxieties about traveling in the car and a pet emergency will just magnify those worries. You may notice that your pet growls or attempts to bite you when you move them because they are in pain or scared.
You or your vet may need to use a muzzle for dogs unless the dog has breathing difficulties. A blanket can be wrapped around a cat to avoid scratches, bites or it running away.
Stay Calm
The best thing you can do for your pet is to stay calm. As you drive to the vet clinic, keep your eyes focused on the road. You don’t need a car crash to add to your list of problems.
Talk to your pet reassuringly along the way and ask for assistance from the vet receptionists if you need help getting your pet inside safely.
How to Handle an Animal Emergency
It’s difficult to keep a clear head when you’re dealing with an animal emergency but your pet will thank you for it if you do. Avoiding panic will allow you to remember what to do for your pet when you’re needed the most.
Take a look at more of our articles for more tips on caring for your pets.
