Hit By Car

     We all try to keep our animals safe but sometimes the delivery guy leaves the gate open or the back door is propped to allow a breeze and the dog or cat, in search of adventure, runs off.

     The worst case scenario is your beloved fur baby gets hit by a car.  If you happen to be nearby such an event I have some words of advice for you. 

     If the animal is in the road, pull over in a safe area and park your vehicle.  If you have someone with you have them help direct traffic, NEVER try to help an animal and risk your own life at the same time.  Your personal safety is essential to being able to help the pet.  If you have reflector signs, etc in your trunk kit, use them!

     If you have a blanket in your car, bring it with you to the animal.  Often times the animals are overwhelmed with pain and a blanket can help protect you from getting bitten trying to help.  If the animal is trying to bite you can use a heavy blanket over the animal’s head to enable you to move it to the side of the road.  It is always a good idea to secure the mouth closed when moving an injured animal- you can use a piece of rope or a belt to tie around the muzzle also.  Move the animal to a safe place off the road.  If the animal is cooperative you can use the blanket or a board (a car mat works great w medium to small animals) to transport with minimal movement in case of fractures.  Keep the animal warm with blankets or body heat; this will prevent shock which can make conditions worse.  If you have access hot water bottles or electric heating pads also can prevent shock, be careful to not apply on hot or for very long as skin can burn w prolonged contact to heating pads.  If there is heavy bleeding apply pressure or a tourniquet (only to legs if the wound is far enough away).  Open fractures (where bone is showing) should be covered w a towel or other cloth if possible.

     Call a veterinary clinic that has emergency service listed.  Most clinics have a veterinarian on call and can come in relatively soon after assessing a case over the phone.  If you are NOT the owner make sure to call the owner to arrange for them to meet you and that they want the animal taken care of, where they would like it to go (who their regular veterinarian is) and what their restrictions are for costs.  If possible, have the owner call the emergency vet to arrange when to meet and directly communicate their wishes. An animal who has been hit by car can be a severe financial burden and cost thousands of dollars.  It is much better to have the owner of the pet deal with the veterinarian directly where possible.

     After a veterinarian has been called and located, drive carefully to the clinic.  If possible have someone sit w the injured pet to help calm it and keep it from struggling. 

Use the blanket or board or car mat to transport the pet into the clinic.  A brief history and exam will ensue and then the pet will likely be taken in for lifesaving procedures, xrays and labwork.  Expect to leave the pet for hospitalized care.  A few lucky animals may be able to go home the same day with recheck appointments scheduled in the near future to reassess.  Not all damage from a vehicular trauma is apparent immediately and some animals can deteriorate over the next day or so from lung contusions (bruises) and other issues.

      Avoiding loose pets, keeping them on leashes or behind a fence is the best way to avoid this whole scenario.  Indoor only cats live twice as long as outdoor cats do.  HBC’s are only one of the reasons.

     We offer 24 hour emergency calls.  We are in a call sharing arrangement with 3 other clinics, a total of 7 clinicians who rotate through a week of call at a time.  Keep in mind that 4 clinics call can mean that the on call veterinarian is already seeing an emergency and you may need to call again to try to get ahold of the veterinarian.  There are times when three emergencies call in a short period of time.  If you are not getting a response please keep calling or call another veterinarian.  There are two emergency veterinary clinics within 2 hours’ time of Port Angeles- Animal Emergency and Trauma in Poulsbo and Animal hospital of Central Kitsap in Silverdale that can see you as well, but usually time is of the essence to stabilize a trauma victim.

     Our emergency number is (360) 912-2425. If you do not receive an answer or a call back within 10 minutes, call again.