The holiday season can be stressful for both you and your pets but one of the best ways to combat additional problems are to try to prevent them in the first place. The next best thing to preventing pet emergencies is to know what to do, who to call, and where to take them for help. In the event of an emergency, the most important thing to remember is to stay calm but react quickly to prevent further problems.

If you are taking your dogs or cats with you when you go to visit friends and family during the holiday season, you should find out ahead of time where the closest animal clinic or veterinarian is located. That way in the event that something happens that you can’t handle on your own, you won’t be scrambling to figure out where to go. It would even be a good idea to program the phone number into your cell phone so you have quick access to it.

If you are the destination home for others to visit during the holidays, be sure to establish some ground rules with everyone, informing them of what foods are harmful and what foods are safe for pets, this way you can attempt to ward off any potentially dangerous situations from the start.

If you start to notice that your pets are acting peculiar, chances are they got into something that is affecting them. Start by running your hands over the animal from head to toe along the back, then do the same on the belly, then the legs and paws. Watch your pet’s face for signs of discomfort, as this will at least be a starting point in determining the problem. Also feel for any lumps or bumps, and take a close look at your hands when finished to ensure there is no blood.

Regardless of the emergency, it is extremely important to try to remain calm and quickly decide what the best course of action is. If you suspect that your pet has ingested a harmful food or drink, you should immediately contact the veterinarian so they can find out for sure.