Pet parents should be prepared during holidays

By Dr. Beth Leermakers

Cats and dogs have an uncanny knack for getting sick or injured when their veterinary clinic is closed. Throughout the years, I have spent several Sundays, and one memorable Christmas Eve, at a regular (not emergency) vet clinic that is open 24/7/365. Emergency vet clinics are fabulously expensive, often costing thousands of dollars for one night’s care, but there are more affordable options. With the holidays approaching, it’s wise to be prepared in case your pet needs veterinary care.  

What Constitutes a Veterinary Emergency? 

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, these 13 animal emergencies require immediate veterinary consultation and/or care: 

1. Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn’t stop within five minutes

2. Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing and gagging

3. Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood or blood in urine

4. Inability to urinate or pass feces (stool), or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool

5. Injuries to your pet’s eye(s)

6. You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous such as human medications, xylitol (artificial sweetener found in sugar free foods such as chewing gum), chocolate, rodent poison, a toxic plant such as a lily, etc. 

7. Seizures and/or staggering

8. Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s)

9. Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety

10. Heat stress or heatstroke

11. Severe vomiting or diarrhea — more than two episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these combined with obvious illness or any of the other problems listed here

12. Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more

13. Unconsciousness

When in doubt, call a vet and ask whether immediate care is necessary. 

If you think or know your pet ate something toxic, quickly refer to the list of poisonous substances at the website petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons, and call poison control immediately at 888-426-4435.

How to Prepare for an Emergency Vet Visit

Locate your closest alternate vet clinic in case your regular vet’s office is closed. See below for two “regular” (non-emergency) vet clinics in Dallas that have extended hours (both are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Ask your regular vet for a copy of your pet’s medical records. You’ll need to take those records, including vaccination history, to the alternate vet. Get your cat used to the carrier ahead of time. Forcing a scared cat who’s in pain into a carrier will increase everyone’s stress. At home, feed your cat in the carrier, with the door open, so she associates the carrier with something positive.

Muzzle train your dog, if he’s uncomfortable at the vet clinic. My personal dog is terrified of all people (not just veterinarians), so I muzzle and sedate him (using Trazodone) to reduce his anxiety and keep the vet staff safe while they’re treating him. Visit muzzleupproject.com for muzzle training tips (i.e., how to use treats and peanut butter so your dog enjoys wearing the muzzle). The vet clinic should have muzzles on hand, but I prefer to take my own so I know it fits my dog correctly and is familiar to him.

Dallas Vet Clinics with Extended and 

Holiday Hours 

Hillside Veterinary Clinic (6150 E. Mockingbird Ln., Dallas 75214; 214-824-0397; appointments or walk-ins). Until December 31, Hillside is open for emergency care Monday through Thursday 7 a.m.-12 a.m. (including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day); Friday through Sunday, open 24 hours. Starting on January 1, 2025, Hillside will be open 24 hours a day every day. You can walk in without an appointment (you may have to wait several hours in non-life-threatening situations), but the clinic staff recommend calling ahead so they can put you on the list. I’ve taken several dogs to this clinic throughout the years. While the prices are higher than they used to be, it is still probably more affordable than an emergency vet clinic. 

Dallas Animal Urgent Care (12835 Preston Rd., Suite 405, Dallas 75230; 972-910-2890; their website is 

dallasanimalurgentcare.com; walk-ins only — no appointments; they also have a clinic in Euless: 817-952-1440). This clinic provides urgent/emergency care at regular prices 7 days a week from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. (including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). I take my foster dogs to this clinic for health certificates (required for transport to their out-of-state adopters). The clinic has the most veterinarians available between 1-5 p.m., but you may still have to wait a couple hours (especially on weekends). Exam rooms have TVs with Netflix. I hope you won’t need to take your cat or dog to the vet over the holidays, but planning and preparation will make the experience less stressful for everyone involved.