Pet Emergency Info: What You Need Ready Before a Crisis Hits

TL;DR: Pet emergencies happen suddenly. Prepare now by knowing your nearest 24-hour emergency vet, having your pet's critical health info (allergies, medications, conditions) accessible in one tap, and setting up an emergency share button for pet sitters or family members who might be with your pet when crisis strikes.

It's 11pm. Your dog just ate something he shouldn't have. Or your cat is suddenly lethargic and won't move. Or your pet sitter texts: "Something's wrong, what do I do?"

In that moment, you need answers fast. Where's the nearest emergency vet? What medications is your pet on? What allergies should the vet know about? One Rover review noted: "If your sitter doesn't know the nearest emergency vet clinic or how to handle a crisis, this could be a serious problem."

The time to figure this out isn't during a panic. It's right now.

What Information Do You Need in a Pet Emergency?

Three categories matter: where to go (nearest 24-hour emergency vet, with address and phone number), what to tell them (current medications, allergies, chronic conditions, recent health history), and who to contact (your phone if you're not there, a backup contact, your regular vet's emergency line).

This information needs to be accessible instantly—not buried in an app you have to log into, not saved in a note you can't find, not dependent on your memory while you're panicking.

Why Can't You Just Google It?

You can Google "emergency vet near me"—but results vary in quality, and not all listed vets are actually open 24/7. Some emergency vets require appointments even for emergencies. Some only see certain species. Figuring this out while your pet is in distress costs precious time.

And Google can't tell the emergency vet that your dog is on heart medication, is allergic to certain antibiotics, or has a history of seizures. You need that information ready to communicate.

What Should You Prepare Now?

Step 1: Identify your emergency vet. Search "24 hour emergency vet" plus your city. Verify they're actually 24/7 (some close overnight). Save the address and phone number somewhere you can access instantly. Consider driving there once so you know the route.

Step 2: Compile your pet's critical health info. Current medications with dosages, known allergies (especially drug allergies), chronic conditions (diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy), and any recent health events. This should fit on one screen.

Step 3: Set up emergency contacts. Your phone, a backup person who knows your pet, your regular vet's after-hours number (many have emergency lines).

What If Someone Else Is With Your Pet?

This is where most emergency preparation fails. You know where the emergency vet is. But does your pet sitter? Does your partner? Does the family member watching your dog while you're traveling?

You need a way to share emergency information instantly. Apps like Wagabond Pets include an emergency records share button—one tap generates a link with your pet's critical info that you can text to whoever needs it. No app download required on their end. They get medications, allergies, conditions, emergency contacts, and vet information in seconds.

What Are Common Pet Emergencies?

Knowing what constitutes an emergency helps you respond appropriately. Get to an emergency vet immediately for: difficulty breathing, collapse or inability to stand, severe bleeding that won't stop, suspected poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, certain plants, medications), bloated abdomen with retching (especially in large dogs—can be deadly GDV), seizures lasting more than 3 minutes, or inability to urinate (especially in male cats).

Call your regular vet or emergency line for: vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours, refusal to eat for more than a day, limping or obvious pain, eye injuries, and minor wounds that might need stitches.

What About Pet Poison Control?

Save the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number: (888) 426-4435. They charge a consultation fee (currently around $95), but they can tell you whether what your pet ate is actually dangerous and what to do. For known toxic substances, this call can save you an unnecessary emergency vet trip—or tell you that yes, this is life-threatening, go now.

The Emergency Prep Checklist

Do this now, while you're calm: Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your contacts. Save ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435. Compile your pet's medications, allergies, and conditions in one accessible place. Set up a way to share this info instantly with pet sitters or family. Make sure anyone who might be alone with your pet knows where to find emergency info.

The Bottom Line

Pet emergencies don't send calendar invites. They happen at 2am, when you're traveling, or when someone else is watching your pet. The difference between a good outcome and a tragedy is often speed—how fast you get to the right vet with the right information.

Spend 15 minutes now setting up your emergency information. Hope you never need it. But if you do, you'll be ready.