You should find a vet before you really need one. This is especially the case if you have a pet that’s not the traditional variety of family pets. If you own a lizard, bird, hamster, turtle, or any number of animal along those lines, it’s important you realize that not every veterinarian will have the skills to treat yours. It’s best to call around your area to find a vet that has experience treating your given pet.
Even if you do have the traditional type of pet like a dog or cat, you should still look into locating a veterinarian for all your pet’s preventive care, as well as a few options for those stressful emergency visits. The last thing you want to be doing is frantically searching for a 24-hour emergency vet at 11 pm at night after your Labrador retriever puppy just swallowed a spark plug — a spark plug!
Search For an Accredited Vet Hospital
When to go to the vet
- Open wounds or cuts that won’t stop bleeding
- Limping caused by broken bones or internal injuries
- Swallowing of foreign objects or poisonous substances
- Allergic reactions that cause swelling, rashes or respiratory problems
- Heat stroke or hypothermia
- Trauma to the eyes, nose or ears
- Any noticeable loss of fur with no apparent cause
- Bites from poisonous animals such as snakes, spiders or scorpions
- Excessive vomiting or diarrhea
- Problems breathing or blocked airways
- Exhaustion, lethargy, loss of consciousness
- Any other signs of abnormal behavior or injuries
Veterinarian Qualifications
Don’t let your family’s pet be treated by an unqualified or inexperienced person. With the well-being of your pet in mind, become familiar with this list so you know exactly what a qualified vet looks like. These qualification prerequisites include the following:
- 4 years of undergrad and 4 year at an accredited veterinarian college
- Must have a degree in Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine (DVM)
- Be licensed by the state veterinarian board of the given state of practice
- Pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE)
- Internal Medicine
- Surgery
- Preventive Medicine
- Toxicology
- Dentistry
- Behavior
- Pathology
More About Pet Health
Dog Health Checks You Can Do At Home
It can seem like a long time in between vet appointments, particularly during a pandemic. You may not get the face-to-face contact that you need to get the same standard of care for your pup that you are both used to. Most vet visits have been restricted to trips to a pet emergency hospital, so ... Read more
The Complete Guide to Taking Care of Your Pug During Winter
The pug breed is brachycephalic, which makes it more sensitive to lower temperatures, and allows it to catch a cold easily. These dogs have breathing difficulties, and things can go from bad to worse during the winter. Unless you keep your dog safe from the cold and provide treatment as necessary, the winter season could ... Read more
Understanding the Importance of Pet Insurance
Author: Allen Brown Despite our best efforts to keep our pets fit and healthy, so they can live a long and happy life, unexpected medical situations can always happen. Any serious health issue affecting your little companion can result in a costly medical treatment, which most pet owners are unprepared for. To avoid going into ... Read more
Top 4 Vitamins And Supplements That Boost Your Puppy’s Health
Raising puppies can be a demanding but fulfilling task for owners. Aside from providing behavioral training, you also have to make sure they grow into healthy adult dogs. But once you’ve completed their recommended vaccines, the next thing you’ll probably wonder about is giving them nutritional supplements to keep them healthy. Puppies are susceptible to ... Read more
4 Essential Pet Treatments For Your Fur Babies
Taking care of your pets can be likened to having a new baby at home. Dogs are cute and nice to have, but they also come with a lot of responsibility. You need to give your fur babies some tender, loving care, so they can live a long and happy life in your home. It’s ... Read more
Ways to Calm Your Dog’s Stress
Just like people, dogs can get stressed out. Dogs may become stressed for a number of different reasons and experience stress to varying degrees. Whatever the cause or intensity of your dog’s stress, you surely want to find a solution that helps your dog to be more relaxed and happier. Here’s what you need to ... Read more
Hi my daughters robotsky hamster is very sluggish, her eyes are closed and she wont open them, I usually cannot hold her but she is letting me pick her up, I can’t get her to get a drink all she wants to do is sleep and every so often she will run away, is there anything I can do to help her?
Hi I was wondering if u could help me out my hamsters eye is closed on one side, but he is acting normal.
Should I be worried?
Groups like IMOM and RedRover also allow you to apply for financial aid if you can’t afford veterinary care for your pet.