What does a vet do in an emergency?
We always endeavour to be there for you and your pet, including in an emergency. An emergency vet examines your pet to get an overall picture of its health and of the acute problem.
Typical measures that an emergency vet carries out, depending on the case:
- Stop bleeding (apply a dressing, suture wounds)
- Resuscitation measures (ventilation, defibrillator)
- Inject antidotes to treat poisoning (if a suitable antidote exists)
- Give pain relief
- Perform other investigations to find out the problem, e.g., ultrasound, blood test, X-ray, CT, MRI etc.
- Set up an infusion to stabilise the circulation
- Start emergency surgery
How can I contact an emergency vet?
The best thing is to contact us by phone beforehand.
If you are unable to reach us promptly in an emergency, you will find further ways of contacting us or alternative colleagues on our website or answering machine.
Which cases can I contact an emergency vet about?
There is no general definition of an emergency in veterinary medicine. Contact us if your pet’s life is in danger, e.g., due to a car accident or severe deterioration in general condition within a short time. Bleeding wounds or sudden severe pain or poisoning are also emergencies. Please bear in mind that only a few emergency veterinary surgeons and staff are present at night and at the weekend exclusively for emergencies and any inpatients. We ask you to understand that there is no time in the out-of-hours emergency service for treatments that can be postponed until normal working hours.
How quickly does the vet on emergency duty react in my location
In the best case, you will have someone on the phone within a short time that you can inform about the emergency.
- What exactly happened?
- What kind of animal?
- What state is the animal in?
- What symptoms is the animal showing and since when? (if not an accident)
Please inform the emergency vet roughly when you will arrive. That way, the emergency service and vet can prepare optimally for the situation in good time and make time-consuming arrangements to treat your pet promptly and appropriately.
Does the emergency vet do house visits?
We have all medications and equipment on site for looking after and examining veterinary emergencies. To provide your pet with optimal help, we strongly urge you to come to us. That is the only way we can perform necessary investigations such as X-rays or life-saving surgery immediately without losing valuable time. Our emergency vets therefore undertake house visits only after consultation and in limited emergencies.
How long is the wait in the emergency department?
In non-life-threatening acute cases, the waiting time can range from a few minutes to several hours. The order in which the patients are seen by the emergency vet is guided by how urgently they need treatment. Less dangerous diseases may sometimes involve longer waiting times.
Our vets will help your pet through the acute situation as quickly as possible. However, the emergency vet often carries out further investigations as part of the emergency service to find out the cause of the condition if this is unclear.
If the animal is in a safe and stable condition after the emergency treatment, you can make an appointment to see another vet during regular clinic hours for full investigation. Alternatively, we can admit your pet for observation to carry out further investigations. It is sometimes even necessary for your pet to stay with us as an inpatient.
What is the best way for me to transport my pet to the emergency veterinary service?
Cats:
Put your cat in a readily accessible basket. Please remember that your cat can bite in this situation out of fear or pain even if it would not bite when healthy. Use blankets to lift your injured cat and put it in the basket. That way, you protect yourself against possible bites.
Dogs:
If a spinal injury or broken bone is suspected, place your dog on a stable surface. A board or the cover of the car boot are possibilities. A transport crate is also suitable for smaller dogs. Secure your dog during the car journey so that he doesn’t slip as this could make the injuries worse. If necessary, put a muzzle on your dog to protect yourself from being bitten.
Birds and rodents:
Put the animals in a smaller cage or special small transport crate. These can usually be secured easily on the car seat. Darken the cage with a blanket to calm your pet.
Do not take your pet out of the crate to stroke it in the emergency waiting room.
What does treatment by the emergency vet cost?
The costs of emergency treatment are based on the statutory binding Veterinary Fee Schedule for (GOT). The vet calculates the costs of the necessary services using this fee schedule. Treatments provided by the emergency service must be paid for immediately.
Do I need certain documents for the emergency vet?
No documents are required for an emergency patient. Vaccination records can also be shown to the emergency vet later. In the case of poisoning, e.g., due to tablets or cleaning agents, we need the exact name of the product. The best thing is to bring the packaging with you or give us the information when you phone.
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