Know your vet’s emergency number so you can call for advice any time of day or night – best to keep it in your mobile phone.
Find out where you will need to take your pet in an emergency out of normal working hours – many vets are covered by different practices at night and you need to know how to get there in an emergency.
Keep a basic first aid kit at home and in the car, with bandages and antiseptic cream.
Always have a supply of fresh water available when you’re out and about, especially in hot weather when it can be a life-saver for an over-heating dog.
Keep a thick blanket in the car to wrap up your pet if they are injured. This will help keep them warm and, if he’s a large dog, help you carry him to and from the car easily and without doing further damage to any injuries.
Research any problems that particularly affect your breed of dog – for example big dogs like Wolfhounds and Great Danes are prone to bloat and twisted stomachs and it’s important you know what to look for.
Take out good pet insurance so that money never becomes an obstacle to treatment.
