What to prepare before taking your sick dog to the vet

Even if you take meticulous care of your pet at home, it's inevitable that your dog will get sick and need to go to the vet for treatment. So what should we prepare before taking our dog to the vet? Here's a list of what you'll need to prepare before taking your dog to the vet, to avoid running around.

1. Bring a usual dog bed or blanket.

Sometimes dogs need IV treatment when they're sick. The place where IVs are given at pet hospitals is usually in iron cages. Bringing a blanket can keep your dog warm. In summer, you can also bring a disposable diaper to avoid the expense of buying one at the vet's office.

2. Learn in advance which nurse is more experienced with giving shots.

Some may think I'm making a big deal out of this, but I've seen intern nurses who have difficulty giving shots to dogs and cats. They've even drawn blood and had difficulty getting the medicine into the vein. Experienced vets not only have good shot technique but also take the time to play with your dog and make them obedient. They know that dogs are usually scared before injections, so they play with them first and then give the shot, making the dog less resistant.

3. Avoid "running the needle" – it's uncomfortable for both humans and dogs.

In the infusion room, there are many people, and the doctor can't only focus on your dog. So, we need to pay more attention to our dogs and try not to run the needle. If the needle runs, although it can be absorbed within a few hours, it's very painful for the dog. It's the same as for humans – if the fluid flows into the muscle, it will swell up and hurt badly!

4. Try to slow down the infusion speed.

Some owners see that the drip is too slow and speed it up themselves. If the injection is too fast for humans, it can lead to death on the spot, let alone for small animals! Especially for animals who have just undergone surgery, the infusion should be very slow and fast. It's terrible! Some drugs have large molecules (such as albumin), which drip at only a few drops per minute. If the drip is too fast, most dogs' hearts cannot withstand it. If you observe that your dog's heartbeat is too fast, you must slow down the infusion speed.

5. Try not to go to the vet during weekends and holidays.

During holidays, there are usually more sick dogs in the hospital, with various illnesses. For example, infectious skin diseases or parvovirus are likely to spread between dogs. So, it's best to avoid going to the vet when it's crowded.