For families with pets, the biggest wish is for their pets to be healthy and happy every day. Accidents are inevitable, and if the furry children at home are not careful, they may develop some adverse physical conditions, which is very worrying. Today, this article will share some tips on treating pets, so that families with pets can be less at a loss and more prepared when their pets get sick!

 What symptoms do cats/dogs need to see a doctor for?

Cats and dogs have their own behavioral patterns and personality habits, and each furry child has their own way of life. We believe that the owner has a certain understanding of their furry child. When certain abnormal behaviors or conditions occur, it is possible that the children's bodies have issued a red light warning. At this time, the owners must pay more attention and seek medical attention in a timely manner if conditions permit. These situations typically include:

Frequent coughing and sneezing. Coughing and sneezing may indicate discomfort in the respiratory tract. If accompanied by other symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Loud breathing and difficulty breathing. If a pet at home experiences abnormally loud breathing sounds and respiratory rates without vigorous exercise, and appears to be struggling with breathing, it may be due to cardiovascular problems. It is recommended to seek help from a pet doctor as soon as possible. Sudden decrease/increase in water or urine intake.

If a pet at home suddenly does not urinate or drinks a lot of water and urinates, it may be a problem in the body. Not urinating may lead to urinary system problems, and excessive urination may also be a sign of disease. It is recommended to go to the hospital for a detailed examination to avoid delaying treatment. Vomiting and diarrhea. These two symptoms are relatively common, generally caused by improper diet or environmental adaptation. However, if there are multiple episodes of vomiting/diarrhea within a short period of time, or accompanied by symptoms such as excessive drooling and rising body temperature, it is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Significant changes in weight or appetite. Excluding sudden environmental changes, dietary changes, and other reasons, if any of the above situations occur, attention should be paid. Frequent scratching of the skin, abnormal skin surface, hair loss, etc.

If a pet suddenly scratches certain parts frequently, or if hair falls off or the skin becomes dry, the pet may have skin problems and needs to be diagnosed and treated with medication at a pet hospital. Long term soft stool, constipation, and vomiting. If adult pets experience symptoms for a week or if young pets experience them multiple times within a day, it is best to seek medical attention immediately. There are abnormalities around the eyes and nose.

If pets have red, cloudy eyes, excessive discharge, or dry nose, they also need to seek medical attention as soon as possible, which may be due to fever or other problems. Limb inflexibility or pain upon touch. If a pet suddenly limps or shows obvious pain when touching a certain area, it may be due to external or internal injuries. It is recommended to go to a pet hospital for X-ray examination.

 How to choose a veterinarian when treating pets?

If unfortunately the furry child at home is really unwell and needs treatment, or if you want to learn relevant knowledge just in case, choosing a suitable veterinarian can be said to be the first step in treating pets. The following factors need to be considered when searching for a veterinarian:

Distance from residential address. The timing of a pet's illness is unpredictable, and the severity of the condition is difficult for ordinary people to judge. Therefore, if a veterinarian is closer to their address, it is often more convenient and able to provide timely treatment for pets. Word of mouth and evaluation. You can directly view past customer evaluations of service and professional level on software platforms such as Google or Yelp, or search for relevant information online. Choosing a veterinarian with good reputation and evaluation can reduce the chance of stepping on landmines. Business Hours. It is crucial to pay attention to the operating hours of nearby veterinarians, and it is best to find a 24-hour veterinary institution nearby to prevent emergencies* It is best to take pets to the hospital by car. If it is a taxi, you need to inform the driver in advance or use a taxi app to call a pet friendly car model.

 Pet medical treatment process

After determining which veterinary institution to go to, there are certain procedures to follow when taking pets for medical treatment. The usual process for pet medical treatment is as follows:

Phone/Online Appointment Registration: After selecting a pet hospital or veterinary clinic, you can call or check the official website to make an appointment registration, in order to determine the time of treatment, doctor, condition and other information. We do not recommend on-site walk-in unless it is an emergency situation. Go to the pet hospital or veterinary clinic: Check in 10-15 minutes in advance according to the appointment time, pay attention to bringing the pet insurance card, pet medical records, and relevant examination reports, and wait for the veterinarian to call. Conduct examination: Upon entering the consultation room, communicate with the veterinarian about the pet's condition, diet, lifestyle habits, etc. The doctor will conduct a preliminary physical examination to confirm whether further examination is necessary, which may include blood tests, X-ray examinations, etc. Communicate with veterinarians for treatment: Based on the examination and results, as well as the specific situation of pets and families, veterinarians will provide treatment plans and prescribe medication, sometimes including relevant surgeries. Receiving medication/postoperative care: The doctor will provide medication prescriptions and postoperative precautions, and it is necessary to follow the doctor's orders to administer medication and care for pets. Payment: After the treatment is completed, payment needs to be made at the front desk. When checking out, it is necessary to present information such as the pet insurance card and medical records, and pay for treatment expenses. Organize and submit claims materials: If you have already purchased pet insurance, you can organize the required documents and submit them to the insurance company for claims. 4、 Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room for Pet Medical Care

Emergency care and emergency rooms are both institutions used to respond to sudden emergencies that occur in pets, and they share some common advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

Quick access to professional medical services: Both can provide pets with quick and professional services to respond to emergency situations. Access to advanced medical equipment and technology: Emergency centers and rooms are equipped with high-end medical equipment to rescue pets in emergency situations. Provide 24/7 service: Both are usually open 24 hours a day, providing the most timely assistance to pets. inferiority:

High cost: Maintenance, use of high-end equipment, and 24-hour business hours result in higher expenses for seeking medical treatment in emergency care centers and emergency rooms. During peak periods such as evenings and weekends, waiting times can be longer: periods when general veterinary clinics or pet hospitals are closed can become peak periods for both. The environment is not as relaxing for pets as in daily veterinary institutions: The environment in emergency medical institutions is usually full of tension and busyness, and is not as comfortable as in daily clinics and hospitals.

The difference between Urgent Care and Emergency Room is that:

Different service targets: Urgent care mainly provides treatment for moderate emergency situations for pets, while Emergency rooms mainly deal with more serious and urgent situations, such as severe injuries, poisoning, etc. Medical equipment and expertise vary: Emergency rooms are typically equipped with more advanced medical equipment and more specialized medical staff, allowing for more complex and high-risk treatments. Urgent care usually has some commonly used medical equipment and professional medical staff, but may not have advanced medical equipment and expertise like emergency rooms. The cost and waiting time are different: because the services provided by Emergency rooms are more urgent and complex, the cost is usually higher and the waiting time is also longer. And Urgent care services are usually priced lower than emergency rooms, with relatively shorter waiting times. The overall treatment methods are different: Emergency rooms mainly deal with pets in life-threatening situations, usually requiring immediate treatment and surgery to save their lives; Urgent care mainly provides treatment for more urgent but not critical conditions, usually focusing on rehabilitation and prevention, helping pets recover their health as soon as possible. Overall, emergency care is more suitable for pets with mild conditions than the emergency room, as pets with milder conditions may require longer waiting times and higher costs in the emergency room. But for situations where the life of pets is seriously threatened, it is necessary to go to the emergency room in a timely manner. If you need medical examination or medication services, you can choose urgent care. In case of accidents such as car accidents, falls from heights, or accidental ingestion, you need to immediately go to the emergency room.

  How to prescribe medication for pets

Pets often need a cycle from illness to complete recovery and require medication according to medical advice. So, how can we obtain the necessary pet prescription drugs in the United States? If it is the first time using a specific medication, a doctor's prescription is required and the mentioned procedures must be followed to make an appointment for registration with the relevant institution. The process of seeing a doctor is consistent with the previous process. If you still need the same medication (Refill) in the future, you can call the pet hospital that previously prescribed the medication to request a backup, or you can use online platforms such as Chewy. When purchasing prescription drugs on online platforms, it is required to upload a doctor's prescription and authenticate it before shipping at checkout.

  What is included in pet insurance?

Pet insurance follows a process of advance payment before claims settlement, without distinguishing between medical institutions within and outside the medical network. Some pet insurance policies offer installment payment options. Generally speaking, standard pet insurance does not include preventive care and routine care, such as routine check ups, so people usually purchase a separate Pet Wellness Plan to reimburse routine services such as check ups and vaccines. Of course, some insurance companies may allow customers to purchase additional reimbursement plans for basic services on top of their existing pet insurance. You can learn more about pet insurance in the United States through the following link.

Taking Pumpkin pet insurance as an example:

Pumpkin claims project:

Testing fees for accidents and diseases, dental disease behavior correction, prescription dog/cat food, microchip options for daily care plans, such as vaccines, annual check ups, etc., within the scope of coverage. When purchasing, please check and add extra money. Pumpkin does not cover any claims

Diseases that occur during the waiting period (Pumkpin's waiting period is 14 days). Any prescription pet food for treating existing diseases, even if prescribed, distributed, or recommended by a veterinarian for pet grooming projects, is usually reimbursed for daily pet health expenses such as vaccines, deworming, and routine check ups. The pet health plan has different reimbursable items based on the cost. The most basic ones can only reimburse the most basic items, but more advanced plans can reimburse dental expenses and certain surgeries. Sometimes pet health plans may limit the expenses of pets on a certain project, such as reimbursing up to a few dozen dollars annually for deworming expenses. Click on pet insurance to get your quote!

  Precautions for pet medical treatment

In addition to understanding the basic knowledge related to pet medical treatment, Tiger Tiger also wants to share some precautions for pet medical treatment with everyone:

Confirm the qualifications and evaluation of veterinarians: Choose veterinarians with professional physician qualification certificates and high evaluations to avoid being diagnosed and treated by individuals without physician qualifications. Master the physical condition and daily habits of pets: When a pet's body is found to be abnormal, it is necessary to pay attention to recording the pet's mental state, diet, and excretion in a timely manner. You can also record videos to provide detailed information to veterinarians.

Bring all necessary documents: pet medical records, insurance policies, etc. Remember to bring them along.

Proper placement of furry children: Some pets may be more susceptible to fright, and pet hospitals often have the presence of other animals. Therefore, if pets at home are sensitive to changes in the environment and other animals, it is recommended to go to the pet hospital in pet bags or covered pet cages. If it is a pet that may exhibit aggression, the owner should also take control measures to avoid accidental injury.

Consider bringing a cushion and toys: bringing a cushion increases the comfort of the pet, and bringing items that the pet likes can reduce tension and distract attention. Preventing cross infection: Before taking pets to veterinary hospitals, try to avoid contact with other sick pets to reduce the risk of cross infection.

Fully cooperate with veterinarians: cooperate with veterinarians to complete examination or surgical procedures, follow veterinarian's diagnosis and treatment recommendations, take medication or receive treatment on time.

Timely disinfection: After returning home from the pet hospital, carefully disinfect the items carried, including the owner himself, to avoid carrying bacteria home.

Observe the pet's reaction: During the treatment period, carefully observe the pet's reaction and contact the veterinarian promptly if there are any abnormal symptoms. Pay attention to diet and rest: During pet illness, special attention should be paid to the pet's diet and rest, providing sufficient nutrition and rest time, which is beneficial for the pet's recovery.

Regular physical examinations and vaccinations: Regular examinations can detect adverse physical conditions in advance and provide treatment. Vaccination can prevent the spread and occurrence of certain diseases. Those who have the means must ensure the completion of physical examinations and vaccinations.