Owning a pet is a huge responsibility. When you adopted them as a puppy or as an elder, you agreed to take on the task of caring for them. Besides feeding them, giving them water, walking them, and giving them love and attention, you need to ensure that they receive the proper veterinary care. Sometimes, that may mean acting quickly in the event of an emergency. In fact, according to PetKeen.com, 33% of pets need to see a local emergency vet every year. Here's how to know if yours does.

Physical Trauma

Severe injuries require immediate care. In our experience, a common cause of severe injuries includes your pet being hit by a car or other vehicle, for example. In this situation, you must immediately bring your pet to see a local emergency vet. They can take X-rays of your pet to see the extent of the injury and to determine the next course of action. If your pet encounters any sort of severe injury or accident, don't hesitate to bring them in. The clock immediately starts ticking as soon as they are injured.

Eye Injuries

Just like people, eyes are an important part of your pet's body. If there's any kind of eye injury, bring them in to see the vet as soon as possible so that they can try to save your pet's eye. Otherwise, even a minor injury might worsen. At its worst, it might get infected and require the removal of one or even both of the eyes.

Lacerations or Bite Wounds

Lacerations can happen in several different ways. Your pet might have gotten into a fight with another household pet and lost badly. Not every injury is the result of aggression as they could have hurt themselves while playing or running. Just like people, the injured area can get infected if left untreated. If you see that your pet is bleeding, you need to bring them in for an emergency visit.

There are other reasons for an emergency vet trip. Your pet could have eaten something poisonous, for example. The main thing to remember is that you shouldn't wait. Fast veterinary treatment ensures that you and your pet can continue to spend time together for years to come.

Are you looking for a local emergency vet? We have an in-house diagnostic lab, and we provide emergency triage. Depending on the severity of the situation, we can keep your pet overnight. Please contact NB Animal Urgent Care if you have any questions.