This book is an online emergency preparedness ready-reference for dogs and cats. Wise preventive measures, intelligent use of first aid principles, coupled with recognition of abnormal symptoms and treatment of disorders, diseases, and problems, lead to effective health care. A working knowledge of prevention and first aid will help you eliminate some potentially dangerous circumstances and help you prepare for emergency situations.

The guide covers prevention, normal values, first aid, and some specific conditions. Also, information is provided on what to do and what not to do in specific emergency situations.

The authors encourage careful reading and occasional rereading. Consultants from the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) who specialize in emergency medicine, along with the cooperation of the original co-author Michael Thomas, DVM, have carefully reviewed the material. This book was written to be easy to understand, avoiding technical terms as often as possible, but defining them in context when they are necessary.

This information is provided as a guideline for you to learn what to do in an emergency situation, but it cannot replace emergency visits to the veterinarian. In an emergency, call your veterinarian or local emergency hospital and do not rely on anyone on the Internet to help.