Finding The Right Vet

As painful as it may be to see your pet hit by a car, it's best not to panic if you want to save them from further agony. Here are four measures that will help you save your animal friend:

Approach with Caution

Your first instinct may be to approach the animal, and this is good and natural because you need to save them. However, you need to do so with caution because a wounded animal is a dangerous one. It doesn't mean that the dog will purposefully attack you, but they may do so as part of their survival instant. After all, the dog is likely to be scared, confused, and in pain; these ingredients can lead to unpredictable behavior of the animal.

Have a Muzzle Ready

You won't help anyone by getting attacked by your pet; even your dog may suffer more because you may not help them further. Therefore, protect yourself by muzzling the animal, as long as it's not vomiting. Muzzling a vomiting dog is dangerous because they may choke.

If you can't access a first aid kit fast, make an improvised muzzle using any fabric material that can stretch. A secured T-shirt, leash, or even scarf can work well.

Don't Strap it Down

An injured person can be strapped down to prevent further injuries, but the opposite may happen by strapping down an injured dog. Trying to strap down the dog won't help because they will be moving as much as they can. Often, injured animals will to try to get free, which can aggravate their injuries if they are strapped down. Therefore, while it's advisable to try to keep the dog still (for example by making calming sounds), it's not good to trap down the animal.

Call Ahead

Lastly, you can shorten the time required to save your dog by calling the emergency vet ahead. Supply the vet with the required information, such as the age of the dog and the nature of the injuries, so that they can prepare for the animal's arrival. This also gives the vet the chance to call any support staff that may be on call, so that the staff members are there when you arrive.

Note that the absence of blood doesn't always mean that an animal isn't hurt. Therefore, as long as you have seen the animal get hit or they are in discomfort, it is best to have the vet check the pet. That way you can avoid the risk of complications from internal injuries. For more tips or assistance, contact resources like Robert Irelan DVM.