If you have a dog, you probably do everything you can to help keep your pet safe and healthy. However, at some point or another, you might find yourself dealing with a veterinary emergency. It's easy to panic if you find yourself dealing with a veterinary emergency with your beloved pet, but knowing what to do will help you handle the situation better. These tips should all help you with taking your dog to an animal hospital when there's a serious emergency.

Look for an Emergency Vet

First of all, it's important to look for an emergency vet. For one thing, veterinary emergencies often don't happen at the most convenient times, so you might find yourself dealing with a seriously sick or injured dog on a weekend or holiday. Something might happen late at night, after your regular veterinarian's office is closed for the day, and you might worry that your dog cannot wait until the next day for treatment. An emergency vet will be open outside of regular hours; some emergency animal hospitals are actually open 24 hours a day. Additionally, these veterinarians are typically accustomed to dealing with emergency situations rather than just routine veterinary care. Therefore, they might be better equipped to provide the emergency care that your dog needs.

Make Sure Your Dog Is Secured

Many animal hospitals require that dogs be secured when they are brought into their office. This is especially important if your dog is suffering from an injury or serious illness, since you don't want your dog to be injured. Plus, dogs that have been injured can sometimes bite, even when they otherwise wouldn't. If your dog will fit in a carrier, this is a good choice. Otherwise, you should be sure your dog is properly leashed, and if you're concerned that your dog might try to bite while being treated, putting a muzzle on it isn't a bad idea.

Consider How You'll Pay for It

It's easy to end up with an expensive vet bill after you've had to take your dog to an emergency veterinarian. Of course, how much the bill costs will depend on the type of treatment that your dog needs. If you take your pet to the vet outside of regular business hours, then you might have to pay extra fees. Many emergency vets understand that dog owners sometimes struggle with these higher vet bills, so they often take steps to help. For example, they might offer payment plans, or they might be able to help you apply for a credit card or loan that will pay for your vet costs.