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Sometimes, our pets need to go to the vet; it’s just a fact of life. Many times, when our pet requires a vet visit, we have enough time to set up an appointment for them in advance. The whole process is simple. But other times, we’re not so lucky. We may come home and realize our dog has thrown up all over the house and needs a vet appointment immediately, only to find no appointments available. Considering the boom in pet ownership during COVID-19, this isn’t an uncommon occurrence these days.
But what happens if you can’t get in to see your vet? What do you do if your vet clinic is booked for the day? The first thing to do is not to panic. The second thing you need to do is look at the steps and options below for what to do when your vet clinic is booked. These will give you an idea of the next step to take so your pet can receive the care they need!
Important Things to Remember When Your Vet Clinic Is Booked
You can do some things on your end that will help immensely when your pet has an emergency or needs regular vet care but can’t get in to see the vet.
1. Be Prepared
The more prepared in advance you are for a health emergency with your pet, the better off your pet will be. What does advanced preparation look like? Being prepared means:
- Having a pet first-aid kit that is well-stocked in the home and taking it with you when you travel with your pet.
- Having a list of emergency contacts for your pet stored safely somewhere (numbers for your regular vet, an emergency vet, a couple of other vet clinics in town, animal poison control, etc.)
- Taking a veterinary first-aid course, which will help you to deal with common pet emergencies while awaiting veterinary care.
- Learning how to do CPR on your pet
2. Be Kind
Not being able to get your pet the help they need right away is frustrating. But remember that your vet isn’t trying to be cruel when they can’t fit your pet into their schedule. They’re likely busy wearing themselves thin helping other animals, so please be kind when speaking with a busy vet clinic. This will help you maintain a positive and healthy relationship with your vet and their staff so there is no tension or awkwardness the next time you see them.
3. Don’t Wait
Don’t wait to call your vet! People often notice something off with their pet and decide to wait a day or two to see if the animal gets better. While this is understandable, the sooner you call your vet about your pet, the sooner they’ll get into the vet clinic. This avoids a situation where your pet gets worse instead of better and reduces the likelihood that you’ll need an emergency appointment. It is easier and more effective to treat an animal at the early stages of a problem, so seeing your vet sooner rather than later is likely to be more successful and cheaper.
Top 5 Options on What to Do When Your Vet Clinic Is Booked for the Day
While being unable to get your pet into the vet when they need to be seen isn’t great, it’s a manageable issue. Here are your options for when your vet clinic is all booked up.
1. See if There’s Anything Your Vet Can Do
Just because your vet can’t fit you in for an appointment, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing they can do to help. Depending on what is wrong with your pet, your vet clinic may still be able to offer resources or ways to help your pet while you’re on the phone trying to make an appointment. So, don’t just hang up in disappointment! Ask if they have any resources you can utilize outside a vet appointment.
What sort of resources might these be? If you explain what is wrong with your pet, your vet clinic may be able to give you advice on how to care for them at home, refill medications, or even schedule you with a veterinary nurse for a triage appointment. Of course, if your pet has a clear emergency and you know they need to be seen immediately, this isn’t the best option to take.
2. Visit a Different Vet Clinic
This option won’t be available for everyone, as some live in more rural areas with fewer vet clinics. However, if your usual vet clinic is booked and your animal needs to be seen urgently, try making an appointment with a different clinic in town. One clinic being overly busy doesn’t mean all the clinics where you live are too busy to see patients. So, call around and see if any other vet clinics or animal hospitals can see your animal at short notice. Doing this doesn’t mean you need to switch vets entirely; it’s just a one-off to ensure your pet gets the care they need.
3. Try Telehealth
Can’t find a different vet clinic that can fit your pet in? Try telehealth. Telehealth, like PangoVet, grew in leaps and bounds during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only for people but also for pets. Telehealth is convenient, as you can see a vet from the comfort of your own home, and it’s often fairly affordable.
There are some downsides to telehealth. Vets are limited in what they can do via telehealth, usually offering only advice, information for triage, or the ability to prescribe medications. Telehealth isn’t an option in an emergency. There are also rules and regulations that vets must follow for telehealth that vary by state; in some places, you may not be able to use telehealth unless you’ve already seen that particular vet and have an established relationship.
However, if you’re dealing with something fairly minor, like an itchy patch of skin or a pup who has thrown up a couple of times but otherwise seems fine, telehealth could be just what you need.
Did you know you can speak to a veterinarian without having to travel? Just head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
4. Utilize an Emergency Vet Clinic
If you’re out of other options, an emergency vet clinic is your last option. While this should be the first option for an actual emergency, such as a very sick animal or a pet getting injured, an emergency clinic can also help out in any situation. This clinic is especially helpful if your pet needs to see a vet after hours or on a holiday or weekend when regular vet clinics are closed, as emergency vet clinics are often open 24/7.
However, with an emergency vet clinic, be forewarned that the wait times may be long and the bill may be more than you are used to paying at your regular vet. This is because these clinics work like the ER at a hospital in that those animals with the most severe issues are seen first before those with less serious problems. So, if you’re taking your pet to the emergency vet because of a rash or diarrhea, they won’t be seen as quickly as an animal with a broken bone.
5. Ask the Internet
This option is for minor incidents only! But if your pet can’t get into the vet and they’re dealing with a non-emergency like a skin rash or a cut on the paw, hop online and ask the internet for tips on what to do. Places like PetMD or VCA Animal Hospitals are reputable sites that offer many articles about common ailments for pets. Be very careful with which websites you use as many sources are unreliable and can be dangerous.
Again, this is not a suitable option for anything other than questions about mild health concerns.
Final Thoughts
Not getting an appointment with your vet when you need one is frustrating, but you have other options. In most cases, your own vet will see you if they deem it an emergency. However, if your pet has a medical issue or emergency and your regular vet really cannot see you, or is shut, you can try to get them in at a different vet, or utilize an emergency vet. You can also try to get a telemedicine or telehealth consultation with a vet who will be able to guide you in your next steps. It is very important that you take steps to ensure your pet stays their healthiest by being prepared in advance for a situation to arise and not waiting days to call the vet in the first place.
So, if your vet clinic is booked, don’t panic! Just use the options and steps above to get your pet the care they need.
Featured Image Credit: Krakenimages.com, Shutterstock
