Emergency Help
Find emergency vets near you and access critical pet health resources.
⚠️ In a life-threatening emergency, call your nearest 24-hour emergency vet immediately.
Pettavo is not a veterinary provider. These resources are for informational purposes only.
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📚 Emergency Pet Health Resources
Tap any section to expand. All resources verified May 2026.
⚠️ DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING unless a vet or poison control specifically instructs you to.
Call poison control FIRST. Describe what was ingested, the amount, and your pet's weight. They will tell you the safest course of action.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
The #1 expert in animal toxicology in North America. Board-certified toxicologists provide immediate advice on ingested poisons, chemical exposures, and plant toxins.
Pet Poison Helpline
24-hour service staffed by board-certified vets and toxicologists. All follow-up guidance for the same case is included in the one-time fee. Chat option available.
Poison.org — webPOISONCONTROL (Free Online Tool)
Fully automated online triage tool. Answer questions about what was ingested, amount, and your pet's weight. The tool determines whether home monitoring is safe or emergency care is needed. 600+ articles on specific poisons. While this resource is designed for human poisoning, it contains a lot of helpful information about poisons.
AVMA — First Aid Tips for Pet Owners
Vet-reviewed guidance covering common emergencies: seizures, overheating, limping, bleeding, poisoning, choking, inability to urinate. Includes printable first-aid kit checklist. Core message: first aid buys time — immediately seek vet care after.
Red Cross Pet First Aid App & Online Course
Award-winning app with videos, quizzes, and step-by-step instructions for pet emergencies: choking, CPR, wounds, bleeding, seizures. Online course (~30 min) includes digital certification. Text GETPET to 90999 or search "American Red Cross" in app stores.
Cornell University — Canine Toxicity Emergency Guide
Peer-reviewed guide from Cornell Veterinary covering "DO NOT" actions (e.g., never induce vomiting for certain toxins), high-risk toxins (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, bromethalin), and step-by-step emergency response.
ASPCA Toxic & Non-Toxic Plants List
Searchable database of 391+ plants toxic to dogs, 397+ to cats. Each entry includes common/botanical names, photos, toxicity level, and clinical signs. Filter by species and plant name.
ASPCA Toxic Foods List
Comprehensive list of human foods dangerous to pets: chocolate, xylitol (sugar-free gum/candy), grapes/raisins, onions, garlic, alcohol, caffeine, macadamia nuts, avocado, raw dough, cooked bones. Includes toxicity levels and symptoms.
ASPCA Household Products Toxicity Guide
Safety guide covering cleaning chemicals, pest-control products, OTC & prescription medications, essential oils, fertilizers, and nicotine products. Includes storage best practices and pet-friendly alternatives.
Pet Poison Helpline — Toxic Substance Database
Database covering household products, medications, foods, and chemicals (antifreeze, rodent poison). Complements the ASPCA plant-focused database.
Ready.gov — FEMA Pet Disaster Guide
Official FEMA resource co-developed with AKC, ASPCA, AVMA, and Humane Society. Covers evacuation planning, emergency-kit checklist (3-day food/water, medications, ID tags, vaccination records), and identifying pet-friendly shelters. Download the FEMA App for real-time alerts.
Humane Society — Pet Disaster Preparedness
Comprehensive disaster guide covering lost-pet recovery, microchipping, evacuation planning, emergency kits, pet-friendly shelters and hotels, and emotional support for pet loss. Important note: many public shelters do NOT accept pets (except service animals).
📋 Emergency Kit Checklist
- 3-day supply of food & water
- Medications + medical records
- ID tag + microchip info
- Leash, harness, or carrier
- Sanitation supplies
- Comfort items (toy, blanket)
- Recent photo of your pet
Chewy Connect With a Vet
Free live chat with licensed vet techs (6am–midnight ET). Free chat not available in Alaska, Georgia and Hawaii. Paid virtual vet visits & prescriptions available in CA, IN, NY, OH, PA & VA. Best for: quick triage guidance before committing to an ER visit.
Vetster — Veterinary Telemedicine
Marketplace with 1,800+ licensed vets and 30+ specialists. Choose your vet, book a video call. Supports exotic pets (reptiles, horses, small mammals). Integration with VetsterRx online pharmacy.
Airvet — Emergency Triage
Teleadvice service (NOT prescription/diagnosis). Vets assess urgency and determine if an ER visit is needed. Average call time <10 minutes. Case stays open 72 hours for free follow-ups.
Pawp — 24/7 Vet Chat + Emergency Fund
Unlimited 24/7 video/text chat with licensed vets. Plan includes a $3,000 emergency-room fund (one qualifying emergency per year, up to 6 pets per subscription).
AAHA Universal Microchip Lookup Tool
Universal lookup that searches across multiple chip manufacturers and registries in one query. When a lost pet is scanned, enter the chip ID here to retrieve owner contact info. A microchip is NOT a GPS tracker — it only works when scanned by a vet, shelter, or animal control officer.
AKC Reunite — Microchip & Recovery
Nation's largest non-profit pet microchip and recovery service. Reunites a lost pet every 12 minutes. Microchipped pets are 300% more likely to be reunited with owners. No annual fees. 35+ companion animal species.
HomeAgain — Microchip & Recovery
Merck's branded microchip and recovery service. When a lost pet is microchipped and registered, any vet/shelter/animal control can identify your pet. Update contact info anytime online. Offers lost-pet advertising and shelter notification.
⚠️ DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING Without Veterinary Guidance
Some substances cause more damage coming back up than if left in the stomach:
- Caustic chemicals (bleach, drain cleaner, acids/bases) — burn the mouth and esophagus on the way back up
- Sharp objects (bone fragments, glass, needles) — cause additional injury during vomiting
- Bromethalin rat poison — requires immediate veterinary or poison control guidance. Do not attempt home vomiting induction unless specifically instructed by a veterinarian or poison control.
- Already vomiting pets — additional vomiting worsens dehydration and increases aspiration risk
✅ What TO Do Instead
- Remove the substance from the pet's environment (if safe)
- Identify the substance (keep packaging/label)
- Call poison control FIRST with: species, weight, age, what was ingested, amount, time since ingestion, symptoms
- Follow poison control's instructions exactly
- Contact your vet or emergency clinic if advised
Hydrogen Peroxide Warning
Hydrogen peroxide should only be used to induce vomiting if specifically directed by a veterinarian or poison control. Incorrect dosing or inappropriate use can cause severe stomach irritation, ulceration, aspiration pneumonia, or hemorrhagic gastritis/gastroenteritis.
Already-Vomiting Pets
Pets already vomiting should not have vomiting induced because this increases the risk of aspiration and worsening illness.
Cats & Hydrogen Peroxide
Cats should never receive hydrogen peroxide unless specifically directed by a veterinarian. Cats tolerate peroxide poorly compared with dogs.
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)
World's largest dedicated pet emergency company. 100+ hospitals across 29+ US states. All hospitals: direct vet access (speak to a vet immediately), open floor plan (you stay with your pet), rapid response times. Emergency-only care with consistent quality standards.
BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Pet Hospital
One of the largest specialty and emergency vet practices in the US. 100+ hospitals in 29+ states. Offers emergency medicine, specialty surgery, oncology, cardiology, and neurology. Board-certified specialists on staff.
AAHA Accredited Hospital Locator
Searchable database of 3,000+ AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada. Only 12–15% of practices are accredited (900+ quality benchmarks). Re-evaluated every 3 years. Best for finding high-standard emergency and critical care facilities near you.
All costs were accurate as of May 2026 and are subject to change. Verify current pricing directly with service providers before an emergency occurs. US & Canada coverage.