WHO YOU GONNA CALL… …in a pet emergency?
Dr. Alex Hynes While many of us put contingencies in place for ourselves and our families in the case of an emergency, we often forget that pet emergencies also happen. When a medical emergency falls upon our furry friends, pet parents can be overwhelmed with making difficult and rational decisions, especially if something occurs in the middle of the
night. This is when having a crisis plan in place for pet emergencies is a smart idea. We spoke with emergency vet Dr. Alex Hynes about staying calm in a pet’s medical emergency and the items you should always have on hand in a petfriendly first aid kit. Dr. Hynes grew up surrounded by animals; dogs and cats to cattle and chickens. However, she didn’t always want to be a vet. Her path led her to finance and business, but after about a year, she realized a desk job and city life wasn’t for her, and she applied to veterinarian school. And while it takes a special type of person to be a vet, it takes another breed to work in emergency care. She explained, “I’ve always been a person who thrives on challenge, and being under pressure brings out the best in me. In an emergency we see the worst of the worst cases, but the flip side to that is that it creates an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of those pets very quickly. Often it’s at night or on the weekend when they nobody else to turn to. I get to save lives and reunite pets with their families every day, and that’s incredibly rewarding.” While a pet’s first aid kit looks similar to that of a human, there are key differences you should pay close attention to.
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