[cross-posted from Dr. Jon's Dog Crazy Newsletter]

What would you do in case of an emergency with your dog? What if your dog suffered from poisoning or heat stroke? What if he was hit by a car? Emergencies like these happen all the time, just ask an emergency vet.  

I know most people think it will never happen to them; but trust me, things happen all the time. I have seen it over and over again.

Your dog's health is very important to me. That's why I want all of my PetPlace subscribers to be well prepared to deal with health related emergencies.

Over the next few weeks I will explain how pet emergency rooms operate. I will give you information about common emergencies, including tips on how to prepare for them and how to prevent them.  

I will also be going out to visit pet emergency rooms so I can give you the best and most useful information. I'm really excited about this!

So, what do you do in the case of an emergency? The best thing you can do is to be prepared. It is important that you know who to call, where to go and what to do. You also need to be financially prepared for this type of unexpected expense.

The first thing you can do is to find out how your vet handles emergencies. Does he see emergency cases himself or does he refer to a local emergency room? Call and find out. WRITE DOWN the phone number and directions. The best way to deal with an emergency is to prepare and plan ahead.

Another important thing you can do to prepare for an emergency is to evaluate your financial situation. If a $2,000.00 or $2,500.00 expense would be no big deal, then you may be financially prepared to deal with a difficult situation. However, if like most of us you would have difficulty dealing with that kind of expense, you really should consider the benefits of pet insurance. Pet insurance helps pay for your pet's treatments, surgeries, lab fees, X-rays and much more. This will give peace of mind and the financial resources to care for your dog should an emergency arise.

Why do I believe in pet insurance? It's because I've seen how it's saved the lives of so many pets by giving their owners the financial ability to do what is best for their pet. So take a minute now and find out if pet insurance is right for you.

I'm very excited to share my emergency room experiences and to give you valuable emergency information to help you and your dog. I have tons of ideas that I want to share and lots of great tips. So check your e-mail frequently for updates.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon